Requirement to File a Fictitious Business Name in Orange County:
- For an individual, it is a name that does not include the surname of the individual or a name that suggests the existence of additional owners.
- For partnerships, it is a name that does not include the surname of any general partner or suggests the existence of additional owners.
- For a corporation, it is a name not stated in the Articles of Incorporation.
- The statement is a public record. You do not need to list your phone number.
- Must be filed with the Clerk-Recorder in the county housing your principal place of business.
- Must be filed no later than forty (40) days from the time you commence business.
- The registrant must publish the statement in a newspaper of general circulation in the county housing the principal place of business within thirty (30) days after filing.
- The statement expires five (5) years from the date it is filed. A statement must be re-filed prior to the expiration date.
- There is no need to republish the statement if there has been no change of information.
- Check the name availability to ensure the name you are going to submit is available. You can send a request using InfoTaxSquare.com free business name search online form.
- Owner must sign (corporate officer if corporation; manager or officer if limited liability company; general partner if partnership; trustee if trust).
- Street address of principal place of business and county must be listed (corporation/limited liability companies must include address as set out in its articles of incorporation on file with the Secretary of State and the state of incorporation/organization).
- All owners and their residence addresses must be listed.
- County Clerks are responsible for determining the acceptability, not the legal sufficiency of all documents presented for filing.
- As per CA law, persons doing business for profit under a fictitious name do not need to register it if the business name includes persons surname. But some financial institute who are not aware of the law are asking to file a fictitious name to open a bank account.
- You can check the estimated state processing time on InfoTaxSquae.com website.
