Assumed Name Information

North Carolina law requires individuals, limited and general partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, and other persons that engage in business in this state under an assumed name to file a certificate with a register of deeds in a county in which the person or entity will be engaging in business.  Filing fee for Assumed Name Certificate is $26.00, and we accept cash or local check.

Moving to Online System

Effective December 1, 2017, certificates must comply with content and execution requirements specified in the statutes for a certificate of assumed business name. The requirements are different than they were for a certificate of assumed name recorded under prior law.

Amendments to and withdrawals of certificates of assumed business names also must comply with new content and execution requirements.

Certificates of assumed business names and amendments to and withdrawals of them will be transmitted into a statewide, central database maintained by the North Carolina Secretary of State, which will be available for searches by the public. A single registration can be effective for multiple counties. The Secretary will maintain an assumed business name website for this purpose.

Identification Number Required

The Secretary will assign an identification number (SOS ID) to each assumed business name that is recorded, to which amendments and withdrawals must refer.

Certificates Expire

Certificates of assumed names filed under the prior law will expire December 1, 2022. Someone desiring to engage in business in North Carolina under the assumed name after that date must file an assumed business name certificate in the new form.

Law Details

For details about the filing requirements for assumed business names, amendments, and withdrawals review
please see NC Session Laws 2016-100 and 2017-23 (codified at Article 14A of Chapter 66 of the NC. General Statutes).