New York Secretary of State Entity Search
How bridge lenders verify an LLC or corporation in New York — portal, steps, returned data, and the gotchas.
Methodology authored by Zach Wade, Wade Intel — operator-led lender tech methodology firm. State-specific procedures validated against production validation runs with working bridge lenders. · Last reviewed 2026-07-10
How do I look up an LLC or corporation in New York?
Use Division of Corporations. Free, real-time results. Real-time processing.
LLCCorporationLPLLP
Step-by-step lookup
- Step 1. Go to the NY Division of Corporations entity search portal.
- Step 2. Enter the entity name and select ‘Contains’ or ‘Begins with’ for the search type.
- Step 3. Click Search. Results appear immediately.
- Step 4. Click the entity name to view details.
- Step 5. Note: New York shows limited information online. Formation date, jurisdiction, status, and process address are available.
- Step 6. For registered agent details or full filing history, you may need to order certified copies (fee-based).
What data the Division of Corporations returns
- Entity name
- DOS ID
- Formation date
- Status
- County
- Process address
New York gotchas for lenders
- New York’s online database shows less information than most states. You won’t see officer names, member names, or annual filing status online.
- New York requires LLCs to publish articles of organization in two newspapers within 120 days of formation. Non-compliance can result in suspension.
- The ‘Process Address’ is where legal papers are served — it may differ from the registered agent in other states.
- NY charges $9 per entity for certified status letters. The online search only confirms basic existence.