Home Business Delaware Entity Search (Step-By-Step)

Delaware Entity Search (Step-By-Step)

Are you forming a corporation, LLC, or business entity in Delaware?

How do you do a Delaware Entity Search?

Looking for an awesome step-by-step guide?

We are super excited to begin!

Let’s search in the Delaware Entity Search database!

Are you ready?

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Business Search Registry

In Delaware, the state offers an online database to the public allowing anyone to perform a search to locate any business entity registered in the state.

To search for a business entity, you’ll need to access the Delaware Entity Search registry.

It looks like this:

Delaware Entity Search - Step 1 Business Search Registry

Once you access the online business database, proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Database search methods

You can search for different types of business registered with the state, such as:

  • Domestic Profit Corporation
  • Domestic Nonprofit Corporation
  • Foreign Corporation
  • Domestic Limited Liability Company
  • Foreign Limited Liability Company
  • Domestic Limited Partnership
  • Domestic Limited Liability Partnership
  • Domestic Limited Liability Limited Partnership
  • General Partnership
  • Foreign Limited Partnership
  • Foreign Limited Liability Partnership

Also, there are different methods that you can use to search for business entities, such as:

  • Search by Entity Name
  • Search by File Number
Delaware Entity Search - Step 2 Database search methods

On the business entity search page, the State of Delaware provides us with some useful information:

  • The search results will retrieve both active and inactive entities from the database
  • The information shown in the database is in real-time
  • If you need more information than the information made available by the state freely, it can be obtained for a fee 
  • If you are looking to order a Certificate of Status, certified copy of a filed document or a regular copy, you are asked to contract a Delaware online agent.

Let’s look at each of these search methods one by one.

Method 1: Search by Entity Name

The search by Entity Name function is a widely used type of business entity lookup in Delaware.

Delaware Entity Search - Step 2 Method 1 Search by Entity Name

All you have to do is to enter the name of the business entity you are searching for to see if there is a match in the database or not.

Once you have entered the required fields, click the button “Search”.

Method 2: Search by File Number

The next possibility is to search using a File Number attributed by the State of Delaware (Department of State: Division of Corporations).

This is a unique number allowing you to target a specific file and entity.

Once you’re done, you hit the “Search” button.

Delaware Entity Search - Step 2 Method 2 Search by File Number

Step 3: Search results 

Once you’ve performed your desired search, you will then be presented with the business entity search results.

If you did a search using a corporation, LLC, or entity name, you will see the following search results page:

Delaware Entity Search - Step 3 Search results

The search results page presents to you the following information:

  • Entity Number
  • File Number

If there is a company or business having a name that matches your search query, you will see it on the search results page.

Step 4: Select entity 

If you have found a business matching your query or a business entity that you would like to get further information on, you should click on the hyperlinked business entity name from the search results page.

Delaware Entity Search - Step 4 Select entity

Step 5: Business entity information

To complete your business entity search in Delaware, you’ll end up getting the business entity records or information made available publicly by the state.

The entity information page looks like this:

Delaware Entity Search - Step 5 Business entity information

The business entity information provides some valuable information about the business entity selected.

The State of Delaware provides a disclaimer that the business entity information page should not be considered as a statement of good standing of the business entity.

Here is a quick overview:

Business Entity Details:

  • File Number
  • Entity Name
  • Entity Kind
  • Residency
  • Incorporation Date or Formation Date
  • Entity Type
  • State

Registered Agent Information: 

  • Registered Agent Name
  • Registered Agent Address
  • Registered Agent County, City, State
  • Registered Agent Phone

Additional Options:

From the business entity information page, you are given some additional options:

  • You can retrieve the status of the company for a $10 fee
  • You can get more detailed information about the entity including current franchise tax assessment and filing history for a $20 fee

You can make the selection and click on the “Submit” button.

Takeaways 

There you have it!

You have now performed a Delaware Entity Search?

Let’s look at a summary of the process.

  • Step 1: Go to the Delaware business registry website
  • Step 2: Do a search by entity name or other search options offered by the state
  • Step 3: Assess the search results 
  • Step 4: Select the matching company in your search result
  • Step 5: View the business entity information made available by the state 
How to start a business in Delaware
How to incorporate in Delaware 
How to form a Delaware LLC
How to register a trade name in Delaware 
Delaware business license 
Delaware Certificate of compliance
How to register for an EIN
Registered agent services 
Incorporation services
LLC formation services 
Document filing services 
Delaware name reservation 
Delaware corporation search
Author
Editorial Staff
Hello Nation! I'm a lawyer by trade and an entrepreneur by spirit. I specialize in law, business, marketing, and technology (and love it!). I'm an expert SEO and content marketer where I deeply enjoy writing content in highly competitive fields. On this blog, I share my experiences, knowledge, and provide you with golden nuggets of useful information. Enjoy!

Most Popular

What Is A Special Purpose Entity (All You Need To Know)

What Is A Special Purpose Entity (Explained: All You Need To Know)

What Is Corporate Raiding (Explained: All You Need To Know)

What Is Corporate Raiding (Explained: All You Need To Know)

What Are Golden Shares (Explained: All You Need To Know)

What Are Golden Shares (Explained: All You Need To Know)

What Is A Targeted Repurchase (Explained: All You Need To Know)

What Is A Targeted Repurchase (Explained: All You Need To Know)

What Is A Friendly Takeover (Explained: All You Need To Know)

What Is A Friendly Takeover (Explained: All You Need To Know)

Editor's Picks

Hold Harmless Agreement (Definition: All You Need To Know)

Hold Harmless Agreement (Definition: All You Need To Know)

Naked Put (What Is It And How It Works: Option Strategies)

Naked Put (What Is It And How It Works: Option Strategies)

How To Start A Business In Iowa [Step-By-Step Ultimate Guide]

How To Start A Business In Iowa [Step-By-Step Ultimate Guide]

How To Start A Hot Shot Business (Complete Guide)

How To Start A Hot Shot Business (Complete Guide)

CP 575 (What Is It And How It Works: All You Need To Know)

CP 575 (What Is It And How It Works: All You Need To Know)