(a) If the Secretary of State finds that an application for a certificate of authority conforms to law and all requisite fees and any penalty due pursuant to Code Section 14-8-52 have been paid, the Secretary of State shall:

(1) Stamp or otherwise endorse his or her official title and the date and time of receipt on the application;

(2) File in his or her office a copy of the application; and

(3) Issue a certificate of authority to transact business in this state.

(b) The certificate of authority must be returned to the person who filed the application or such person's representative.

(c) If the certificate of authority is issued by the Secretary of State, a foreign limited liability partnership shall be deemed authorized to transact business in this state from the time of filing its application for the certificate of authority.