Business Search
Field Descriptions and Status Definitions
Field Descriptions
- Entity Number: The identification number assigned to a business entity by the Secretary of State at the time of filing.
- Date Filed: The date of formation of a California (domestic) business entity, the date of qualification or registration of a foreign (out-of-state or out-of-country) business entity doing business in California, the date of registration of a domestic or foreign limited partnership, or the date a business entity converted to a California corporation, California limited liability company or California limited partnership.
- Status: See Status Definitions.
Note: The status of a foreign business entity in California is applicable only to the entity's registration in the State of California. Information regarding the status of the entity must be obtained from the entity's state or country of formation.
- Jurisdiction: The state or country under which laws a business entity was organized.
- Entity Address: The executive office or mailing address of a business entity.
- Agent for Service of Process: An individual (officer, member or any other person, whether or not affiliated with a business entity) or a corporation designated to receive the service of process (court papers) if a business entity is sued by another party.
Note: If the agent for service of process of a limited liablity company or limited partnership is a corporation, the address of the agent may be requested by ordering a status report. For information on ordering a status report, refer to Information Requests.
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Status Definitions
- Active:
- Domestic entities – Subject to any other requirements imposed by law, the domestic entity has filed its formation document in California and is authorized to carry out its business activities.
- Foreign entities – Subject to any other requirements imposed by law, the foreign entity has registered and is authorized to transact intrastate business in California.
- Canceled: Domestic and foreign corporations – The formation or qualification filing was canceled by the Secretary of State because the payment for the filing fee was not honored by the financial institution.
- SOS Canceled: Domestic and foreign limited partnerships and limited liability companies – The formation or registration filing was canceled by the Secretary of State because the payment for the filing fee was not honored by the financial institution.
- Suspended or Forfeited: The business entity's powers, rights and privileges were suspended or forfeited in California 1) by the Franchise Tax Board for failure to file a return and/or failure to pay taxes, penalties, or interest; and/or 2) by the Secretary of State for failure to file the required Statement of Information and, if applicable, the required Statement by Common Interest Development Association. Information regarding the type of suspension can be obtained by ordering a status report. For information on ordering a status report, refer to Information Requests.
- Dissolved: Domestic corporations – The business entity filed a Certificate of Dissolution, or a copy of a court order, decree or judgment declaring the business entity dissolved, and the powers, rights and privileges of the entity have ceased in California.
- Surrender: Foreign corporations – The business entity surrendered its right to transact business in the State of California.
- Dissolved: Domestic limited partnerships and limited liability companies – The business entity has voluntarily elected to wind up the business operations.
- Pending Cancel: Limited liability companies – The business entity filed a Certificate of Cancellation without a valid Tax Clearance Certificate prior to September 29, 2006, when the requirement for a Tax Clearance Certificate was eliminated from statute. Questions about the pending cancel status and/or the process required to complete the cancellation of the entity can be directed to our Sacramento office.
- Canceled:
- Domestic limited partnerships and limited liability companies – The business entity filed a Certificate of Cancellation and the powers, rights and privileges of the domestic entity have ceased in California.
- Foreign limited partnerships and limited liability companies – The business entity filed a Certificate of Cancellation and the foreign entity is no longer authorized to transact intrastate business in California.
- Merged Out: The business entity merged out of existence in California into another business entity. The name of the surviving entity can be obtained by ordering a copy of the filed merger document containing the name of the surviving entity, or by ordering a status report. Note: If ordering a status report, include a specific request for the name of the surviving entity. For information on ordering a copy of a filed document and/or a status report, refer to Information Requests.
- Converted-Out: The business entity converted to another type of business entity or to the same type under a different jurisdiction as provided by statute. The name of the new entity can be obtained by ordering a copy of the filed conversion document containing the name of the new entity, or by ordering a status report. Note: If ordering a status report, include a specific request for the name of the new entity. For information on ordering a copy of a filed document and/or a status report, refer to Information Requests.
- Term Expired: Domestic corporations – The business entity's term of existence has expired, as provided by the entity's Articles of Incorporation.
- Inactive: There is more than one reason for this status. The reason for an inactive status can be obtained by ordering a status report. Note: If ordering a status report, include a specific request for the reason for the inactive status. For information on ordering a status report, refer to Information Requests.
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Disclaimer: This tool allows you to search the Secretary of State's California Business Search database for abstracts of information for domestic stock, domestic nonprofit and qualified foreign corporations, limited liability companies and limited partnerships that have filed with this office. This search tool groups corporations separately from limited liability companies and limited partnerships and returns all entities for the search criteria in the respective groups regardless of the current status.
Although every attempt has been made to ensure that the information contained in the database is accurate, the Secretary of State's office is not responsible for any loss, consequence, or damage resulting directly or indirectly from reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of the information that is provided. All such information is provided "as is." For information on ordering copies of the official business entity records for a particular entity, please refer to Information Requests.
