A friend of mine bought a GSD puppy 6 months ago and has now been told that the breeder has gone out of business. The problem is that she has tried to get the KC paperwork and apparently in her contract it states that this takes 16 weeks. The certificate she needed never arrived even though she tried everything she could to get hold of the paperwork since she got the pup home.
Without this, is there anyway that she can register her dog with the KC? Also, is it nomal to take so long to get the certificates from the KC, or has she just found a dodgy breeder? she is now not sure that the family line she was shown is correct.

Whether or not the breeder has "gone out of business" is irrelevant.

To get a KC registration document both the sire and dam must be KC registered.

This is totally separate from a pedigree which can be fabricated by anyone.  This is where you must trust the breeder.

She did at the time, but having had no luck in getting hold of him, she now realises she may have made a mistake with the breeder. I said I would come and ask on here if there was anything she can do.

If she has something in writing she may have a case.  Does it mention that the KC registration papers will be sent ont her?

It might be worth contacting the GSD Breed Council just to see if the person is known to a local GSD  club(good or bad)

If your friend wants to do one of the activities rather than conformation showing/breeding they can registed him on the activities register & take part