The most-used incorporation registry in the country, with well over a million entities. The free name search covers active and inactive entities.
Delaware Secretary of State | Business Entity Search
The Delaware Division of Corporations is the home base for more U.S. companies than any other state. Its free General Information Name Search confirms whether an entity exists and shows its core details — though Delaware deliberately keeps the free record lean, with deeper tax and history data available for a small fee.
Business Name Availability Check
State of Delaware
What the Delaware Entity Search Covers
The free record shows the file number, name, formation date, entity type, and registered agent — but not owners or officers.
The basic search is free. Franchise tax status and filing history require a small paid request per entity.
How to Search by Business Name
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Open the General Information Name Search
Go to the Division of Corporations' entity name search, or use the direct link below. It is free and covers active and inactive entities.
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Search by entity name or file number
Enter the entity name or the file number. That is all you need — Delaware's search is built around these two fields.
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Read the results
Matching entities are listed with their file number. Note the page's warning that the list itself is not an indication of current standing.
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Open the entity record
The free record shows the file number, entity name, formation/registration date, entity type, and the registered agent. Ownership and officers are not published.
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Pay for tax & history if you need more
To see franchise tax status and filing history, use the record's tax-and-history option, which charges a small fee (around $20) per entity.
Ready to try it? Open the official name search and run your query.
Search Delaware entities ↗All the Ways to Search Delaware Records
Entity Name
Find a business by name. Returns matching entities with their file numbers and status.
Open this search ↗File Number
Go straight to one record using the entity's Delaware file number.
Open this search ↗Registered Agent
The registered agent name and address appear on the free record; Delaware also publishes a list of authorized registered agents.
Open this search ↗Tax & History (paid)
For a small per-entity fee, view franchise tax status and the filing history that the free search omits.
Open this search ↗Rules That Make Your Search Work
- The search is built around just two fields: entity name and file number.
- The free record shows the file number, name, formation date, entity type, and registered agent — but not owners or officers.
- The results list is not an indication of current standing; confirm status on the record itself.
- Franchise tax status and filing history require a small paid request (about $20 per entity).
- Delaware is the most popular U.S. incorporation state, with well over a million entities on file.
- Corporations file an annual report and franchise tax; LLCs and LPs pay a flat annual tax instead.
Reading the Entity Detail Page
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| File Number | The number the Division of Corporations assigned to the entity. |
| Entity Name | The registered legal name of the business. |
| Entity Type | The structure, such as a General or Close Corporation, LLC, or Limited Partnership. |
| Residency | Whether the entity is Domestic (formed in Delaware) or Foreign (formed elsewhere and registered there). |
| Formation / Registration Date | The date the entity was formed in Delaware or registered as a foreign entity. |
| Registered Agent | The name, address, and phone of the agent designated to receive legal documents — included on the free record. |
| Status (paid) | Current good-standing status is shown through the paid tax-and-history option, not the free results list. |
| Franchise Tax (paid) | Tax amounts owed and payment history are available through the paid request. |
| Filing History (paid) | The list of filed documents is available through the paid tax-and-history option. |
Two official references help you go further:
How to Get a Company's Details and Documents
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Open the entity’s record
Search by entity name or file number and open the record to see the free basics.
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Read the free details
The record shows the file number, name, formation date, entity type, and registered agent at no cost.
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Pay for tax & history
To see franchise tax status and filing history, use the record’s tax-and-history option, which charges a small fee (around $20) per entity.
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4
Order a certified document
Order a certified copy or a Certificate of Good Standing from the Division of Corporations when a bank, court, or contract requires one.
Franchise tax: Delaware corporations file an annual report and franchise tax by March 1. LLCs and LPs file no annual report but pay a flat $300 annual tax by June 1.
Delaware Business Search - Common Questions
Is the Delaware entity search free?
The basic General Information Name Search is free and shows the file number, name, formation date, type, and registered agent. Franchise tax status and filing history require a small paid request.
Why can't I see a company's owners?
Delaware does not publish ownership or officer information. The free record shows only the registered agent and basic registration details.
What does the "not an indication of current status" notice mean?
The results list itself does not confirm good standing. To verify current status, use the entity record and, if needed, the paid tax-and-history option.
Does Delaware require an annual report?
Corporations file an annual report and franchise tax (due March 1). LLCs and LPs do not file an annual report but pay a flat annual tax (due June 1).
Why do so many companies incorporate in Delaware?
Delaware's business-friendly law and specialized Court of Chancery make it the most popular U.S. state for incorporation, with over a million entities on file.
A name is available in Delaware. Does that mean I can use it?
Not necessarily. State availability does not clear a name against federal trademarks. Run a USPTO trademark screen and check domain and social-handle availability before committing.