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Assumed Business Name Certificate
FILING AN ASSUMED BUSINESS NAME (DBA)
NC General Statute 66-68 requires that “before any person or partnership engages in business in any county in this State under an assumed name or under any designation, name or style other than the real name of the owner or owners thereof, before any limited partnership engaged in business in any county in this State other than under the name set out in the Certificate filed with the Office of the Secretary of State or before a corporation engages in business in any county other than under its corporate name, such person, partnership, limited partnership, or corporation must file in the office of the register of deeds of such county a certificate....”.
BEFORE FILING the “Doing Business As” (dba) or Assumed Name certificate, you should perform a name search to determine if the proposed business name has already been filed. Our office cannot perform the name search for you, but will be happy to assist you with the name search.
The fee for recording the Assumed Business Name form is $26.00.
Important Notice: On December 1, 2017, the Assumed Business Name law (also known as "doing business as") changed. You may read the Assumed Business Name Act to find out all the details (NCGS § 66-71.x). Filings of assumed names are still made at the Register of Deeds office. Some key advantages to the new statute are: Filing in Watauga County can cover all NC counties (or those you choose); You can register up to five names on one form; and Filings no longer have to be notarized.
All assumed names filed before December 1, 2017 will need to be refiled by December 1, 2022 or they will expire. We recommend filing early so that it is in the new system and there is no lapse.
The Register of Deeds handles filings for sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs) doing business under an assumed name. You must first perform a name search to find out if the name you want is already in use. Use the below links to assist with your name search and to download any needed forms.
Assumed Business Name Certificate
Amendment of Assumed Business Name Certificate
Withdrawal of Assumed Business Name Certificate
Note: The Watauga County Register of Deeds Office is only a recording office. You should consult with an attorney for legal advice for questions that pertain to the form of business structure that is best for you or registering your business name. If you have any questions please contact our office at 828-265-8052.