Updated September 7, 2026. Quick answer: In North Carolina, this document is called a Certificate of Existence (domestic LLC) / Certificate of Authorization (foreign LLC), issued by the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division. $15.00, per the NC Secretary of State’s official fee schedule: ‘Certificate of Existence or Certificate of Authorization’ for Limited Liability Companies.
What it’s called and who issues it
North Carolina calls this document a Certificate of Existence (domestic LLC) / Certificate of Authorization (foreign LLC), issued by the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division.
The fee
| Standard fee | $15.00 |
| Full fee detail | $15.00, per the NC Secretary of State’s official fee schedule: ‘Certificate of Existence or Certificate of Authorization’ for Limited Liability Companies. |
| Expedited/rush fee | $15.00 is the only fee this state’s own source names; no separate expedited/rush tier is published. |
| Fee confirmed | $15.00 as read directly from the state’s own site or fee schedule this session. |
How fast you can get it
Certificates can be ordered through the Secretary of State’s online business services portal (account required); the fee schedule page does not state a guaranteed instant-download turnaround.
What makes this state different
NC splits the name by entity origin – Certificate of Existence for domestic LLCs but Certificate of Authorization for foreign ones.
| Fee/process source | Secretary of State, Business Registration Division |
| Agency business-filings site | North Carolina Secretary of State, Business Registration 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.