To get a copy of Articles of Organization in Louisiana, order one from the Secretary of State’s office online, by mail, or in person. A single document costs $15 whether you want a certified or uncertified copy, and online orders typically arrive within about 3 to 5 business days.
Decide Which Copy You Actually Need
Before you pay, be sure you’re ordering the right thing. Two documents get confused often enough that people regularly buy one when they needed the other.
An uncertified copy is a plain reproduction of your filed Articles of Organization. It’s fine for internal records or personal reference, but it carries no official endorsement.
A certified copy is the same document with a seal or endorsement from the Secretary of State confirming it’s a true reproduction of the original filing. Banks, courts, and other states’ filing offices almost always require the certified version. If you’re registering your Louisiana LLC as a foreign entity in another state, you’ll usually need a certified copy of your articles alongside a Certificate of Good Standing.
That Certificate of Good Standing is a separate document, not a copy of your articles. It confirms your LLC currently exists and is up to date on its filings with Louisiana. It costs $20, compared to $15 for a copy of a single filed document.1Louisiana Secretary of State. Order Documents and Certificates If a bank or another state’s office asks for “proof your LLC is in good standing,” they want that certificate, not your articles.
Look Up Your LLC First
You can find your LLC’s basic information for free through the Secretary of State’s Commercial Search portal before you spend anything.2Louisiana Secretary of State. Search for Louisiana Business Filings This step confirms the exact legal name, charter number, and current status of the entity, which you’ll need when placing the order.
You can search three ways:
- By entity name — use the full legal name to narrow results; partial names return broad lists.
- By charter number, which pulls up the exact record immediately.
- By officer or registered agent name, using first and last name.
Once you locate your LLC, opening the details page shows its status, filing history, and registered agent. If you only needed to check basic information, this alone may be enough. If you need the actual document, the ordering options live on the same details page.
Order Online
From your entity’s details page in the Commercial Search, look for the option to buy certificates and certified copies. Choose certified or uncertified, select the specific filing, and check out with a payment card.1Louisiana Secretary of State. Order Documents and Certificates
Standard online orders process within roughly 3 to 5 business days. Expedite options are available if you’re in a hurry.
Order by Mail
Write a letter with your LLC’s exact legal name, the charter number if you have it, the document you need, and whether you want it certified. Enclose a check or money order payable to the Secretary of State for the applicable fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Send it to:
Louisiana Secretary of State
P.O. Box 94125
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Mail requests typically take two to three weeks under standard processing, so plan ahead if you have a deadline.
Order in Person
Walk-in service is available at 8585 Archives Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70809, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.3Louisiana Secretary of State. File Business Documents This is the fastest route, especially paired with priority expedite service, which produces the document while you wait.
Fees and Expedite Options
The base fee depends on how much you’re ordering, not on whether it’s certified:
- Single document: $15
- Multiple documents from the same entity, or the complete file: $25
- Certificate of Good Standing: $20
Two expedite levels stack on top of the base fee:4Louisiana Secretary of State. Fee Schedule
- 24-hour expedite: $30 surcharge, document ready within one business day.
- Priority expedite: $50 surcharge, processed while you wait, in person only.
A certified copy of a single document walked out of the Baton Rouge office the same day runs $65 total ($15 plus the $50 priority surcharge). Most people ordering online without a rush pay $15 and wait a few business days.
When You’ll Be Asked for One
A certified copy tends to come up in a handful of predictable situations:
- Opening a business bank account, where banks verify the LLC’s legal existence.
- Registering to do business in another state as a foreign entity, usually along with a Certificate of Good Standing.
- Court filings and legal proceedings where the LLC’s formation must be established.
- Loan applications and investor due diligence.
If you’ve lost your original, there’s no penalty and no special process. Order a new copy through any of the methods above. The Secretary of State keeps filed originals on record indefinitely.