A New York bar certificate is the Certificate of Good Standing issued by the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA). It confirms that you were admitted to the New York State Bar through one of the four Appellate Divisions, that you are currently registered, and that you are not suspended, disbarred, or otherwise subject to discipline.1New York State Unified Court System. Second Judicial Department – Certificates of Good Standing You request it through OCA’s online portal, and it arrives by email in one to two business days.
If another state’s bar admissions office or a prospective employer asks for your “bar certificate,” this is the document they want. New York doesn’t issue anything by that name; the Certificate of Good Standing is the official equivalent.
What the Certificate Actually Confirms
The certificate is a short official statement from the court system verifying four things at once: that you have been admitted to practice in New York, that you are not currently suspended or disbarred, that you are registered with OCA, and that you are current on the biennial registration fee required under Judiciary Law 468-a.1New York State Unified Court System. Second Judicial Department – Certificates of Good Standing If any one of those is not true at the moment you ask, OCA will not issue it.
How to Request It Online
The Second Department’s official guidance directs attorneys to OCA’s online Certificate of Good Standing portal rather than to a department-specific office, and the certificate is delivered electronically.1New York State Unified Court System. Second Judicial Department – Certificates of Good Standing
To submit the request, the portal asks for:2New York State Unified Court System. Certificate of Good Standing Request
- Your Attorney Registration Number, assigned at admission. If you don’t have it, you can look it up through the Attorney Online Services search tool on the OCA website.
- Your full name and suffix as they appear in your registration records. If you changed your name since admission, update your record with OCA first so the request doesn’t bounce.
- The email address on your Attorney Online Services account. The certificate is sent there, so confirm the address is current before submitting; the “Change Account e-mail” option sits under “My Account.”
You also certify on the form that you are either the admitted attorney or someone authorized to request the certificate on that attorney’s behalf.2New York State Unified Court System. Certificate of Good Standing Request If you don’t already have an Attorney Online Services account, create one through the OCA website before you start.
How Long It Takes and What It Costs
Processing is typically one to two business days, and the certificate is emailed to the address on your Attorney Online Services account.4New York State Unified Court System. Second Judicial Department – Certificates of Good Standing
The portal does not list a fee for the certificate itself. You do, however, need to be current on the $375 biennial attorney registration fee before OCA will issue it, so settle that obligation first if there is any doubt.3New York State Senate. New York Judiciary Law 468-A – Biennial Registration of Attorneys
What Can Block Issuance
Three ongoing obligations determine whether the certificate will issue on request.
Biennial registration. Every attorney admitted in New York must register every two years and pay the $375 fee, whether or not they actively practice in the state. The only exemption is for attorneys who certify retirement from practice. Defaulting is treated as conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice and gets referred to the Appellate Division for disciplinary action.5New York State Unified Court System. Delinquent Registration
CLE compliance. Experienced attorneys must earn 24 CLE credit hours each biennial cycle. Attorneys who fall short may be referred to the Appellate Division, which can affect your standing and block the certificate.6New York State Unified Court System. FAQs for Experienced Attorneys
Disciplinary status. Attorneys who have been censured, suspended, or disbarred will not receive a Certificate of Good Standing, because the certificate specifically attests the opposite.1New York State Unified Court System. Second Judicial Department – Certificates of Good Standing Resolve any pending matter before you request.
If Your Registration Has Lapsed
You cannot simply pay the overdue fee the night before and get your certificate the next morning. Reinstatement after a 468-a suspension has real steps and takes weeks.
First, update your contact information on the OCA Attorney Registration site, file all past-due registrations, and pay what you owe. OCA will issue a receipt confirming you are current. Then you must file a formal motion for reinstatement with the Appellate Division, with proof of service on the Attorney Grievance Committee.7New York State Unified Court System. 468-a Reinstatements Until the court reinstates you, you cannot practice law in any form in New York, which includes appearing before any New York court or offering opinions on New York law. If you have a deadline for the certificate, don’t wait to address a registration lapse.
Using the Certificate for Admission in Another State
The most common reason attorneys request this certificate is to apply for admission in another jurisdiction, whether by motion or after transferring a UBE score. The certificate establishes the “good standing” piece of what the receiving state is checking.
Two things it does not do. It does not transfer your UBE score; that goes through NCBE’s score services separately.8NCBE. UBE Score Services And it is not a disciplinary history report. If the receiving jurisdiction asks for a full disciplinary history, that is a separate document you request from your admitting Appellate Division. Read the receiving state’s admission rules before you assume the certificate alone covers you.
Finding Your Attorney Registration Number
You can’t submit a request without the number. OCA runs a public Attorney Online Services search that lets you (and employers, courts, and the public) look up an attorney’s registration number and current status.2New York State Unified Court System. Certificate of Good Standing Request Because the same tool is what others use to verify you, keep your record accurate; a name mismatch between the search tool and your request form is a common reason processing stalls.