Business Records Overview
Business Records is responsible for issuing certificates of existence, authorization, and other certificates of fact and for providing certified copies of documents on file with the Secretary of State.
Business Records also authenticates documents intended for use abroad by use of an apostille or authentication.
To search the Secretary of State's business database for information on a business or organization, please click here.
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Apostilles & Authentications of Documents |
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Some documents intended for use abroad (such as birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, grade transcripts and diplomas, adoption papers, and corporate documents) require some form of authentication.
The Secretary of State provides this authentication in the form of either an apostille or a certificate of authentication. Authentications are often called legalizations or incumbencies. An apostille is a form of authentication used for countries which are parties to the Hague Convention, which abolished the need for legalization of foreign public documents.
Please click here for more information on apostilles and authentications of documents.
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Certificates Issued by the Secretary of State |
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A certificate of existence and a certificate of authorization may be relied upon as conclusive evidence that a domestic corporation or domestic limited liability company is in existence or a foreign corporation or foreign limited liability company is authorized to transact business in this state. Anyone may request a certificate of existence or certificate of authorization for $10 per certificate.
Certificates can be purchased online by clicking here.
Domestic: Corporation, Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Partnership
Certificate of Existence
Foreign: Corporation, Limited Liability Company
Certificate of Authorization
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Certified and Regular Copies |
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A certificate attached to a copy of a document filed by the Secretary of State, bearing the Secretary of State's signature and the seal of the state, is conclusive evidence that the original document is on file with the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State may certify a copy of any filed document of record. A certification is $5.00 up to 5 pages, then $0.50 a page thereafter and $5.00 for the document being certified. If a regular copy is needed without certification, the cost is $5.00 up to 5 pages, then $0.50 a page thereafter . To request documents, please use the Request for Corporate Documents Form.
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Contact |
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For more information regarding filings, please review the options located on the left navigation bar.
Contact the Records Branch:
- by phone at (502) 564-3490;
- by fax at (502) 564-5687;
- by Email; or
- by mailing your inquiry to: Office of the Secretary of State
Records Branch
700 Capital Avenue, Suite 158
PO Box 718
Frankfort, KY 40602
The Office of the Secretary of State is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm ET
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