Foreign registration · Form 972

Delaware LLC Foreign Registration in Louisiana

An LLC formed in Delaware that wants to do business in Louisiana files Form 972, with $190 in state fees. Louisiana also wants Delaware's Certificate of Good Standing ($50), dated within 90 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division from your Delaware records, then serve as your registered agent there for year one.

Delaware vs Louisiana: the paperwork

	Delaware formed here	Louisiana registering here
Document	Delaware Certificate of Good Standing	Form 972, Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company
State fee	$50	$190 at order (filing fee $185 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	Delaware: through the Division of Corporations request service, sent by first-class mail unless a FedEx or UPS account is supplied	Filed with Louisiana
Paid expedite		24-hour $35, 2 to 4 hour $60
Office	Delaware Department of State, Division of Corporations	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division
Official page	corp.delaware.gov	sos.la.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 90 days
Yearly filing	Annual LLC Tax, $400, every year	Annual Report, $35, every year
Due	On or before June 1	On or before the anniversary date of registration in Louisiana
Agent	Your Delaware registered agent	Our Louisiana registered agent

How Delaware companies register with Louisiana

Order the Delaware certificate
The Certificate of Good Standing ($50) is ordered from Delaware separately; it is not part of our Louisiana order. It comes as a short form ($50) or a long form ($175). Delaware mails it, and Louisiana counts the 90 days from issue, so it is ordered with transit in mind.
We prepare and file Form 972
It lists us as your Louisiana registered agent, next to your Delaware name and formation date, with the certificate attached. Allow for the days Delaware takes to send the certificate before the Louisiana filing goes in. After approval, your Delaware LLC is registered with Louisiana.

First-year cost, Delaware to Louisiana

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$190
Certificate of Good Standing, paid to Delaware	$50
Our service, with a year of Louisiana registered agent service	$199
First-year total, Delaware certificate included	$439

Louisiana's paid expedite is optional and not in the total.

Will your Delaware name work for Louisiana?

We check your exact Delaware name against Louisiana's records before filing.

Your Louisiana agent and the Delaware one

Delaware and Louisiana both call it a registered agent. Your current registered agent stays for Delaware; ours takes Louisiana's papers and notices.

Staying in good standing in Delaware and Louisiana

Each year your LLC files Delaware's Annual LLC Tax ($400) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($35). With our $149 registered agent renewal, Delaware plus Louisiana comes to $584 a year. Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Delaware to Louisiana

A corporation formed in Delaware files Form 326 with Louisiana ($160 in state fees). After that come Delaware's Annual Franchise Tax Report ($50) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($30). See the corporation filing.

The other way: Louisiana into Delaware

An LLC formed in Louisiana that registers with Delaware files Delaware's registration (no form number) with $200 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Good Standing ($25) dated within 180 days. See that filing.

Common questions: Delaware to Louisiana

Does my Delaware company need to register in Louisiana?

Yes, once a Delaware business operates there; Louisiana law lists 10 activities that do not count on their own.

How much does it cost to register a Delaware LLC in Louisiana?

$389 at checkout plus $50 to Delaware for the Certificate of Good Standing, $439 in all (checkout is $190 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Delaware's certificate of good standing?

Yes: Louisiana wants it ($50), no more than 90 days old at filing.

What are the yearly costs for Delaware and Louisiana?

$584 a year: our $149 registered agent renewal, $400 to Delaware and $35 to Louisiana for the yearly reports.

What if I don't register with Louisiana?

A Delaware company cannot sue in court there until it registers, and Louisiana can add a civil penalty of up to $1,000.

Does Louisiana require a registered agent?

Yes: the Delaware registered agent stays, and ours covers Louisiana for year one.

Can I form a new Louisiana LLC instead?

Yes, but Delaware keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Louisiana's Annual Report ($40), and the original keeps Delaware's Annual LLC Tax.

What does a Louisiana company file to register in Delaware?

It files Delaware's registration with $200 in state fees, plus Louisiana's good standing certificate.

Official sources

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