How to Conduct a Maryland Business Entity Search

A Maryland business name search helps provide insights into the process, resources, and guidelines to ensure your desired business name is available and compliant with state regulations. Read our detailed instructions below to help guide you through the process.

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There are many points throughout the entity creation process in which utilizing the entity search feature of a given state, in this case Maryland, will save time and provide you with a dearth of information. Unlike most states which typically defer the responsibilities of entity creation and management to the secretary of state, Maryland delegates these responsibilities to the Department of Assessments and Taxation (DAT), and it is from their website (linked here) that you will be able to search their entity database by either name or department ID.

Maryland Secretary of State Contact Information

Mailing Address: 16 Francis St. Annapolis, MD 21401	Office Hours: 8:30 – 4:30 Certification Hours: 9:00 – 1:00
Telephone: 410-974-5521	Website: https://sos.maryland.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Search Maryland Secretary of State by Name

Step 1- If you would prefer to search for an entity by name Maryland has lain the infrastructure for you to do so. Simply navigate to this webpage and select NAME in the dropdown menu. The site will load the corresponding search page, displayed below. Input the name of the entity you are seeking information on and select continue.

Step 2- You will be presented with a list of entities based on your search criteria (displayed below). For any given entity you can select general info, amendments, or personal property to be transported to that entity’s individual page within the DAT website.

Step 3- Once you’ve been redirected to the entities main information page you will be able to find information relating to multiple facets of the entities’ existence as well as request a Certificate of Status from the DAT.

Search MD Entity by Department ID

Step 1- If you know the specific department ID of the Maryland entity you are looking for you may find this search method to be a more economic use of your time. To perform a search based on an entity’s department ID you must navigate to this webpage and select department ID from the dropdown menu. The site will load the appropriate search form (pictured below) with which you will be able to conduct your search.

Step 2- Due to the fact that a Maryland entity’s department ID is unique to that entity, and assuming you have entered the department ID correctly, your search should return only one result, such as the one displayed below. From this page you can select general info, amendments, or personal property to be redirected to the entity’s DAT webpage within which you will find all the information you may need and, as well, within which you can request a Certificate of Status for the entity.

Maryland Business Resources

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Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.

Written by Team ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 800,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.

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