When doing a D.C. Secretary of State business search, you can use the online search tool provided by the Secretary of State's office.

District of Columbia Business Search Tool

In addition to every state and Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia has a Secretary of State office that stores information related to every business entity in the state. You can access the records through an online search tool on the Secretary of State's website.

The registry found through the District of Columbia's office lets you look up information about the following types of businesses:

  • Corporations.
  • Limited companies.
  • Limited liability companies.
  • Limited liability partnerships.
  • Limited partnerships.

Step-By-Step Instructions

When searching a specific business from the Secretary of State's website, you must have at least one of the following:

  • Document tracking number.
  • Entity name.
  • File number.
  • Registered agent name.
  • Trade name.

From there, you can visit The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs page. You must have an SCRA CorpOnline Web Portal Account before you can proceed. Then you can begin to use the search tool provided by the District of Columbia's Secretary of State search tool. Log into your account and find the Business Filings Search.

When searching by the name of the business entity, enter the information into the correct field. For more accurate results, select Entity Status and complete the fields. You can also search for entities that start with or include specific words. Select the search button when you're done.

The results include a variety of information such as name, file number, and locale. You can peruse through the list, which shows the most accurate matches first.

The Secretary of the District of Columbia handles several divisions, so the results include information from the following:

  • Ceremonial Services Unit.
  • Office of Documents and Administrative Issuance.
  • Office of Notary Commission and Authentication.
  • Office of Protocol and International Affairs.
  • Office of Public Records and Archives.
  • Office of the Secretary.

Clicking on the search result name redirects you to its own page. On that page, you can view and download additional information. You can also have access to annual reports as well as register or renew certificates with the Secretary of State's Office in Washington D.C.

D.C. Secretary of State Information

There are several offices found in the District of Columbia, but the main one is the Secretary of the District of Columbia. This one completes numerous responsibilities and duties within the state, including safeguarding the Seal of the State.

It also establishes protocol, maintains public records, and manages the D.C. Corporation Search. Currently, Secretary Lauren C. Vaughan serves as the chief of office.

Find a Business Entity in Another State

As mentioned, each state along with Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico has its own Secretary of State office where you can conduct a business entity search. Click on the information below to find out more about each state's business search.

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