Fictitious Name (Trade or Assumed Name)
The Circuit Court Clerk's Public Service Center, Room 305, processes the filing of Fictitious (Trade or Assumed) Names.
General Information
A Fictitious/Trade/Assumed Name is required if a business is conducted in Virginia
under a name other than the owners legal name. An assumed or fictitious name certificate must be filed in the office of the Clerk of Circuit Court in each county or city where business is to be conducted. No person, partnership, limited liability company or corporation may conduct or transact business in the Commonwealth under any assumed or fictitious name until they file a certificate in the Circuit Court Clerk's Office in the county or city in which their business is conducted pursuant to Virginia Code §
59.1-69.
Businesses registered with the State Corporation Commission should file a Trade Name at the local Clerk's Office if it is
conducting business under a different name other than the name that is registered with the State Corporation Commission. If you are conducting business under the name registered with the State Corporation Commission, you are not required to file a trade name on the county level. The types of businesses registered with the State Corporation Commission are General Partnership, Limited Partnership. Foreign Limited Partnership, Corporation or Limited Liability Company.
Businesses registered with a Foreign State Corporation Commission must register with the Virginia State Corporation Commission in Richmond as a foreign corporation before registering a trade name on the county level.
You are strongly encouraged to consult with an attorney concerning the protection of your business trade name. A trade name filed at the local level does not have the same status as those filed with the State Corporation Commission.
To avoid duplication of a business name, it is recommended that the owner review the Trade Name Index on the Land Records Management System (LRMS) in the Circuit Court Clerk’s Public Service Center for names already recorded or online using the Clerk’s
Records for Occasional User.
Instructions to Register a Trade Name
- To help expedite the process, complete the
form online. When you arrive at the Public Service Center, go to the counter and staff will print out the form or you may print it out and mail it to Circuit Court Clerk's Office. The application must be completed in black ink only. Applications entered online will only be available for 72 hours.
- Only cash, checks and money orders are accepted. Please make checks payable to “Clerk of Circuit Court."
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Have all signatures notarized. The Fictitious Assumed Name certificate must be signed by the owner(s) of the business before a Notary Public or Circuit Court Deputy Clerk. A certificate for registration of a partnership must be signed by all partners. Businesses registered with the State Corporation Commission must be signed by an officer of the Corporation, General Partnership, Limited Partnership or Limited Liability Company.
- If filing by mail, enclose $.55 to cover the cost of mailing or a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of your certified copy. If no self-addressed stamped envelope is enclosed, you will not receive a certified copy of your Registered Trade Name.
- Mail completed form and payment to:
| | Clerk of Circuit Court
Public Service Center
9311 Lee Avenue
Manassas VA 20110 |
Forms
Fees
| Fictitious Name Registration | $12.50 | $10 fee + $2.50 for one certified copy |
| Corporate Fictitious Name Registration | $12.50 | $10 fee + $2.50 for one certified copy |
|
Dissolution of Fictitious Trade Name | $12.50 | $10 fee + $2.50 for one certified copy |
Links
Please notify the Circuit Court Clerk's Office by
email if you find that any of the links on this page do not work.
