How to Check Your LLC on the Secretary of State (DIY)
We do not query state databases for you. Step-by-step DIY guide: open your state's business search, see what is public on your LLC filing, and grade your exposure.
Current as of May 2026 · Reviewed 2026-05-22 · General information, not legal advice
Important: Default Privacy does not search Secretary of State databases on your behalf. There is no automated “LLC scan” in our product today. This guide links you to official state search pages and tells you what to look for once you open your filing yourself.
Step 1 — Open your state's business search
Find your formation state below, open the link, and search for your LLC by legal entity name.
| State | Official search |
|---|---|
| Wyoming | Wyoming Business Filing Search — search by filing name |
| New Mexico | NM Business Search |
| Delaware | DE Entity Name Search |
| Nevada | NV Entity Search |
| Texas | Texas Comptroller search |
| Florida | Sunbiz name search |
| California | CA BizFile search |
| New York | NY Corp search |
| Colorado | CO business search |
| Arizona | AZ entity search |
| Montana | MT business search |
| South Dakota | SD filing search |
All 50 states: LLC University — Secretary of State business search directory
Step 2 — Check these fields on the detail page
For each row, note whether your personal information appears.
Member / manager name
- Exposed: Your legal name is listed as member, manager, or organizer.
- Better: Only a company name or registered agent appears on the public-facing record.
- Risk: Your name is searchable and linked to this entity in state databases and data brokers.
Principal / mailing address
- Exposed: Your home address is the principal or mailing address.
- Better: A registered agent or commercial address is listed.
- Risk: Your home address can be scraped and republished on people-search sites.
Registered agent
- Exposed: You are your own registered agent (your name + address on file).
- Better: A professional registered agent service is listed.
- Risk: Self-service RA often publishes both name and address on the filing.
Entity status
- Problem: Delinquent, administratively dissolved, or not in good standing.
- Better: Active and in good standing.
- Risk: A neglected entity may weaken liability separation — separate from privacy, but worth fixing.
Step 3 — Grade your exposure (self-score)
Start at 100 points and subtract for each issue you found:
| Issue | Points |
|---|---|
| Personal name on filing | −30 |
| Home address on filing | −30 |
| You as your own registered agent | −25 |
| Not in good standing | −15 |
| Grade | Score | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| A | 90–100 | Minimal public exposure on the filing you checked |
| B | 75–89 | Minor issues — often fixable |
| C | 60–74 | Some personal info exposed |
| D | 40–59 | Significant exposure — act soon |
| F | Below 40 | Name, address, and agent likely all exposed |
Example (worst case): 100 − 30 − 30 − 25 − 15 = 0 (F)
This grade is your assessment from what you saw on the state site — not output from Default Privacy.
What to do next
If you found exposure on state records
- Cheap LLC trap guide — why DIY filings often publish your identity
- Entity restructure — gap review if you already formed
- Privacy assessment — structure recommendation for a privacy-first stack
- Canonical pricing — Core from $299 + state fees
If brokers still list your address
State filings are the plumber (fewer new public records). People-search sites are the mop — compare removal services.
Limits
What an anonymous LLC does NOT do — banks, courts, and the IRS still see what they must.
FAQ
Does Default Privacy run an automated LLC search?
No. We do not have a unified database of all 50 Secretary of State registries. This guide is DIY until we offer a real lookup product.
Why did you remove /guides/check-llc-on-secretary-of-state?
The old “scanner” URL only linked to state websites — it did not query records. We retired that route so marketing matches what we actually deliver.
Can agents help via MCP?
Yes. The get_llc_public_records_checklist tool returns the same checklist and state search links for assistants — still DIY for the human.
I scored an F. Am I doomed?
Usually not for going forward. You may need restructure or a new privacy-friendly entity; historical filings often stay in state archives.
General information, not legal advice. Default Privacy is not a law firm.
Tags
Related Tools
Not sure what structure you need?
Eight questions — recommendation for Wyoming/NM privacy-friendly formation or restructure if you already DIY-filed.
DIY SoS checklist