A Fictitious Trade Name is required if a business is conducted in Virginia under a name other than the owner’s legal name. 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 Office of the Clerk of Commission pursuant to §59.1-69 of the Code of Virginia.
***As of January 1, 2020, the Clerk’s Office of the State Corporation Commission is the central filing office in Virginia for ALL Certificates of Assumed or Fictitious Name. The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office will ONLY be filing Certificate of Release of Assumed or Fictitious Trade Names that were previously filed in our office.***
Registering a Fictitious Trade Name
All forms and instructions for filing a fictitious trade name can be found on the Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission website.
After completing the form, go to https://cis.scc.virginia.gov/ to record/register your trade name.
Releasing a Fictitious Trade Name
If you have previously filed a fictitious trade name in our office and would like to release it you must:
- Complete the Certificate of Release of Assumed or Fictitious Name form (which can be found in our office). Please wait to sign the form until you are in front of a notary or someone in our office.
- Record/file the release in our office.
If your trade name was filed with the Commission and would like to release it, you must:
- Complete the Certificate of Release of Assumed or Fictitious Name on File with the Commission (PDF)
- Record/file it with the State Corporation Commission’s Clerk Office.
The filing fee for a Release of Assumed or Fictitious Trade Name is $10.00 cash or check only.