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Location: Judicial Center, Room 305, 9311 Lee Avenue, Manassas, Virginia 20110
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays Cashier Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 703-792-6036; E-mail: courts@pwcgov.org
The Circuit Court Clerk's Public Service Center handles filing of Trade Names (Fictitious Names).
General Information
A Fictitious Trade 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 may 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. All persons who register a trade name who do not reside in the Commonwealth of Virginia are required to provide the name, address and phone number of a Virginia registered agent for purpose of service of process. Instructions to Register a Trade Name
1. 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. The application must be completed in black ink only. Applications entered online will only be available for 72 hours. 2. Only cash, checks and money orders are accepted. Please make checks payable to “Clerk of Circuit Court”. 3. Have all signatures notarized. The Fictitious Trade 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. 4. If filing by mail, enclose 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. 5. Mail completed form and payment to:
Forms
Fees
Links
Please notify the Circuit Court Clerk's Office by e-mail if you find that any of the links on this page do not work.
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