Secretary of State

Updated 2026-05-17

The Secretary of State is a state-level government official or agency in the United States. While specific duties vary by state, a common responsibility is overseeing business registrations and maintaining official records for corporations, Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), and other business entities.

Key Functions and Responsibilities

One of the key functions of the Secretary of State's office is the issuance of a VA Loan Entitlement, Certificate of Eligibility (COE), and Loan Guaranty Certificate (LGC), often referred to as a Certificate of Good Standing. This document serves as official proof that a business entity is properly registered and has met its state-level filing and fee requirements.

The Secretary of State's office is responsible for:

• Maintaining official records for corporations, LLCs, and other business entities.
• Overseeing business registrations.
• Issuing Certificates of Good Standing.
• Enforcing compliance with state-level filing and fee requirements.

Failure to comply with these requirements can lead to penalties, loss of business rights, and even Administrative Dissolution by the Secretary of State's office.

Good Standing with the Secretary of State

"Good standing" with a state's Secretary of State office, or other applicable agency, refers to a business entity's legal status, indicating that it has met all statutory requirements to legally operate within that state. These requirements typically include:

• Filing annual reports.
• Paying required state fees.
• Maintaining a registered agent.
• Complying with other state-specific corporate formalities.

Relevance to NMLS Renewal Attestations

For companies and branches seeking to renew their licenses or registrations through NMLS, maintaining good standing with the Secretary of State is a mandatory attestation. Both the MU1 Renewal Application and the MU3 Renewal Application explicitly require the licensee/registrant to affirm that they "remain in good standing with each jurisdiction's Secretary of State office, or other applicable agency, for each jurisdiction being requested to renew its license/registration." This ensures that the business entity is legally recognized and compliant at the state level, which is a prerequisite for maintaining its mortgage licensing or registration.

References

1. What is a Certificate of Good Standing and Why it Matters — incorp.com
2. What is a certificate of good standing & how do I get one? — brex.com