Automate SOS status verification for a Delaware LLC using direct Delaware Division of Corporations bulk data

Verified steps

1. Access the Delaware Division of Corporations entity search at https://icis.corp.delaware.gov/ecorp/entitysearch/namesearch.aspx for manual lookups, or use the paid XML web service at https://icis.corp.delaware.gov/Ecorp/NameSearch/NameSearchWebService.asmx for automated access
2. For the XML web service, send a SOAP request with GetEntityName operation including parameters for entity name or file number; retrieve EntityName, FileNumber, EntityKind, EntityType, ResidentAgentName, and EntityStatus
3. Parse EntityStatus values: 'Good Standing' indicates current; 'Void' indicates tax default; 'Cancelled' or 'Merged' indicate dissolution
4. For annual franchise tax good-standing confirmation, extract ResidentAgent and TaxStatus fields; 'Good Standing' in Delaware requires both filing of annual report and payment of franchise tax
5. For API access at scale, use a third-party aggregator (e.g., Cobalt Intelligence, Middesk) which already wraps the Delaware XML service and normalizes the SOAP response to JSON
6. Store file_number (Delaware's persistent entity identifier) as the canonical key; it never changes even on name amendments