To run a Connecticut LLC lookup, go to the Secretary of the State’s Business Records Search at service.ct.gov/business/s/onlinebusinesssearch and enter the company’s name. The search is free, covers every domestic LLC formed in Connecticut and every foreign LLC registered to do business here, and returns the legal name, status, registered agent, principal office address, and formation date in under a minute.1Business.CT.gov. Business Records Search
This is the database to use. Third-party sites pull from the same source, sometimes with a delay, and some charge for information the state provides at no cost.
How to Run the Search
The search bar accepts three inputs: the LLC’s name (full or partial), its ALEI number, or a filing number. ALEI stands for Authoritative Legal Entity Identifier, Connecticut’s unique ID assigned to every registered entity. If you don’t have one, a name works.
Type the term and click the search icon. The system returns a list of matches. Common names produce long result lists; check the “Search on exact name” box to narrow them. The advanced filters also let you search by a principal’s name, registered agent name, or city. Click any entity name to open the full record.
What the Record Shows
The results summary lists each entity’s name, ALEI number, principal, registered agent, and current status. Opening the detailed record adds:1Business.CT.gov. Business Records Search
- Formation date, meaning when the LLC was created or registered in Connecticut
- Business entity type, such as domestic LLC or foreign LLC
- Principal office address on file
- Registered agent name and address
- Annual report due date
Most filed documents, including the original certificate of organization, are available as PDF downloads from the record page at no charge.
One caveat on how current the information is: the fields above are refreshed each year when the LLC files its annual report. If a report hasn’t been filed recently, the address and contact details may be stale. The annual report due date on the record tells you when it was last supposed to update.
Reading the Status Label
Status is usually the reason people run the search, and it’s where results are most often misread. Connecticut uses several labels:
- Active. The LLC is in good standing. It has filed its required annual reports and is legally authorized to conduct business in Connecticut.
- Delinquent. The LLC has fallen behind, typically by missing an annual report. It still legally exists, but if the report stays unfiled for more than a year, the Secretary of the State can administratively dissolve it.2Business.CT.gov. Reasons for Administrative Dissolutions
- Dissolved. The LLC has formally ceased to exist in Connecticut. Dissolution can be voluntary, by a vote of the members, or involuntary through administrative action by the state.3Connecticut General Assembly. Connecticut Code Chapter 613a – Uniform Limited Liability Company Act
- Withdrawn. This applies only to foreign LLCs formed in another state that have ended their Connecticut registration. A withdrawn LLC may still be active in its home state.3Connecticut General Assembly. Connecticut Code Chapter 613a – Uniform Limited Liability Company Act
If you’re vetting a company before signing a contract, Active is what you want. Delinquent doesn’t automatically mean a company is untrustworthy, but it tells you someone isn’t keeping up with basic filings, which is worth knowing before you send money.
What You Will Not Find
The database only shows records filed with the Secretary of the State. Several things people expect to see aren’t there.
Operating agreements are the biggest gap. An operating agreement sets out how the LLC is managed, how profits are split, and what happens when a member leaves. Connecticut doesn’t require LLCs to file it, so the document stays internal. You also won’t find ownership percentages, financial statements, tax returns, or the LLC’s federal Employer Identification Number. The EIN is issued by the IRS and isn’t part of any state filing.
To get any of that, you generally have to ask the LLC directly or, in litigation, obtain it through a court order.
The Registered Agent in the Result
Every record lists the LLC’s registered agent by name and address. Connecticut law requires every LLC to designate and continuously maintain one. The agent must be a Connecticut resident or a business entity authorized to operate in the state, with a physical Connecticut address where legal documents can be delivered in person.4Justia Law. Connecticut Code Title 34 Section 34-243n – Registered Agent
The agent exists to receive service of process, meaning the formal delivery of lawsuits and legal notices. If you need to serve legal papers on a Connecticut LLC, the registered agent shown in the search result is who you serve. Small LLCs often list an owner as the agent; larger companies and out-of-state owners tend to use a commercial service.
When You Need a Certificate of Legal Existence
Sometimes the search result on screen isn’t enough. Banks, lenders, and business partners may ask for a Certificate of Legal Existence, Connecticut’s version of what most states call a certificate of good standing. It’s an official document from the Secretary of the State confirming the LLC is registered and current on its filings.5Business.CT.gov. Certificate of Legal Existence (Good Standing)
You request the certificate through the Secretary of the State’s office, and the LLC’s annual report must be up to date before it can be issued. If you’re the owner and your report is overdue, file the report first, then request the certificate. If you’re checking on someone else’s LLC, the search result is usually enough for informal due diligence; the certificate adds an official layer of confirmation when a third party requires one.