How to search Connecticut business entities online
Updated August 2026
Quick Answer
Connecticut's business search is at service.ct.gov/business/s/onlinebusinesssearch, part of the Business.CT.gov portal. Search by business name, ALEI (Connecticut's entity ID), or filing number — searching is public, an account is only needed to file or order certificates. Business.CT.gov runs on a Salesforce-based platform — worth knowing if the interface looks more like a customer-service portal than a typical government search tool.
- Go to service.ct.gov/business/s/onlinebusinesssearch.
- Search by business name, ALEI, or filing number (complete the reCAPTCHA).
- Open the result to see its status, registered agent, and filed documents.
A legacy search URL no longer works
Connecticut's business entity search lives at service.ct.gov/business/s/onlinebusinesssearch. An older URL path — /s/onlinebusiness — no longer works, so old bookmarks or links using that path will fail; use the current /s/onlinebusinesssearch path instead.
Entity types covered
The search covers all entity types registered with the Office of the Secretary of the State:
- Domestic and foreign LLCs
- Domestic and foreign stock corporations
- Domestic and foreign non-stock corporations (the form Connecticut uses for nonprofits)
- Limited partnerships and limited liability limited partnerships
- Limited liability partnerships
- Statutory trusts, cooperative associations, religious corporations, credit unions
How to search
The search form accepts three types of input: business name, the entity's ALEI (Connecticut's business entity identifier), or a filing number. An "exact name" toggle is available for name searches. The form includes a reCAPTCHA verification step. Advanced search options appear within the results interface after the initial query runs.
Entity detail page
Selecting an entity from search results opens a detail record showing the business name, ALEI, entity type, current status (active, dissolved, withdrawn, etc.), state of formation, formation or registration date, registered/statutory agent name and address, principal office address, and a list of filed documents.
Obtaining certificates and copies
Connecticut issues Certificates of Legal Existence — the state's equivalent of a good standing certificate. They are ordered through Business.CT.gov with a free account. Three formats exist for LLCs and corporations: an Express certificate (single-page status confirmation, $50), a Short-form certificate (includes all name changes, $50 for LLCs or $80 for corporations), and a Long-form certificate (full domestic entities only, $100–$120 depending on entity type). Long-form certificates cannot be expedited. Verifying a previously issued certificate is free at service.ct.gov — Verify Certificate.
Separate searches for trademarks and UCC
Trademark and service mark searches use a dedicated tool at service.ct.gov/business/s/trade-and-service-marks-search. UCC lien searches are at service.ct.gov/business/s/onlineenquiry. Both are accessible without an account.
Why Connecticut calls it 'Forfeited,' not 'Dissolved'
Connecticut's status label for a business that missed its annual report isn't Dissolved — it's Forfeited. The state gives 3 months after the annual report notice before forfeiture takes effect, then posts the entity on a public notice for 60 or more days beyond the original due date. Unlike most states, Connecticut doesn't hold the business name in reserve once forfeiture happens — it becomes available to other filers immediately, with no grace period.
Reinstatement eligibility depends on why the entity closed, not just that it did. An administratively dissolved corporation or LLC can reinstate, but an LLC dissolved by court decree cannot reinstate at all — only administrative dissolution qualifies under Connecticut law. If the entity's name was taken by someone else while it was forfeited, reinstating requires filing a name change as part of the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't Connecticut's old business search link work anymore?
The legacy URL path service.ct.gov/business/s/onlinebusiness no longer works. The current business entity search lives at service.ct.gov/business/s/onlinebusinesssearch — update any old bookmarks or links to that path.
What is a Certificate of Legal Existence in Connecticut and what does it cost?
It's Connecticut's equivalent of a good standing certificate. An Express certificate (single-page status) costs $50, a Short-form (includes name history) costs $50 for LLCs or $80 for corporations, and a Long-form (domestic entities only) runs $100–$120 and can't be expedited.
Can I search Connecticut trademarks or UCC filings in the same tool as business entities?
No, they're separate tools. Trademark and service mark searches use a dedicated tool, and UCC lien searches use another — both accessible without an account, apart from the main business entity search.
What does 'Forfeited' mean on a Connecticut business search?
It's Connecticut's specific term for administrative dissolution — a business that missed its annual report, given after a 3-month notice period and a further public-notice window. The business name becomes available to other filers immediately, with no reserved period.
Can every dissolved Connecticut LLC reinstate?
No — only one dissolved administratively. An LLC dissolved by court decree can't reinstate at all under Connecticut law, unlike an administratively dissolved one.