Updated September 7, 2026. Quick answer: In Alabama, this document is called a Certificate of Existence, issued by the Secretary of State (Business Entities Division). $25.00, per the Alabama Secretary of State’s official Fee Schedule, which lists ‘Certificate of Existence … $25.00’ under Business Entities (Ala. Code section 10A-1-4.31).
What it’s called and who issues it
Alabama calls this document a Certificate of Existence, issued by the Secretary of State (Business Entities Division).
The fee
| Standard fee | $25.00 |
| Full fee detail | $25.00, per the Alabama Secretary of State’s official Fee Schedule, which lists ‘Certificate of Existence … $25.00’ under Business Entities (Ala. Code section 10A-1-4.31). |
| Expedited/rush fee | $25.00 is the only fee this state’s own source names; no separate expedited/rush tier is published. |
| Fee confirmed | $25.00 as read directly from the state’s own site or fee schedule this session. |
How fast you can get it
The $25 statutory fee is processed by mail/SOS office in 24-48 hours; the state’s Alabama Interactive online portal offers immediate electronic issuance for a modest added convenience surcharge, but that surcharge amount was not confirmed on an official fee page this session.
What makes this state different
Alabama calls the document a Certificate of Existence and prices it via the same general statutory fee schedule as every other entity filing, rather than a dedicated certificate-fee page.
| Fee/process source | Secretary of State (Business Entities Division) |
| Agency business-filings site | Alabama Secretary of State (Business Entities Division) business filings |
| Confidence | High |
Every fee on this page was read directly from the state’s own Secretary of State (or equivalent agency) site or fee-schedule PDF this session, or, where that site blocked automated access, from an archived snapshot of the same official document or independently cross-checked legal-directory sources (disclosed below). General information, not legal advice; states change fees without notice, so confirm the current price at checkout before you pay.