Trade Name (DBA) Registration Notice - District of Columbia

TRADE NAME (DBA) REGISTRATION AND NOTICE

District of Columbia

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Under D.C. Code § 47-2855.02, any person who carries on, conducts, or transacts business in the District of Columbia under a trade name must register that name with the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) before commencing business under that name. A "trade name" under D.C. law means any name used in business that does not include the full legal name of all owners, or that includes words suggesting additional parties of interest (e.g., "& Company," "& Associates"). Trade name registrations must be renewed every two (2) years.

PART ONE: REGISTRANT INFORMATION

1.1 Registrant Identification

Full Legal Name of Registrant: [________________________________]

Entity Type (check one):

☐ Sole Proprietorship
☐ General Partnership
☐ Limited Partnership (Domestic)
☐ Limited Partnership (Foreign)
☐ Limited Liability Company (Domestic)
☐ Limited Liability Company (Foreign)
☐ Corporation (Domestic — For-Profit)
☐ Corporation (Domestic — Nonprofit)
☐ Corporation (Foreign — For-Profit)
☐ Corporation (Foreign — Nonprofit)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Jurisdiction of Formation (if entity): [________________________________]

D.C. Entity/Registration Number (if applicable): [________________________________]

1.2 Contact Information

Principal Business Address:

Street: [________________________________]

City: Washington State: DC Zip: [________]

Mailing Address (if different):

Street: [________________________________]

City: [________________________________] State: [____] Zip: [________]

Telephone: [________________________________]

Email: [________________________________]

1.3 Authorized Representative

Name of Person Authorized to File: [________________________________]

Title: [________________________________]

Address: [________________________________]

PART TWO: TRADE NAME INFORMATION

2.1 Trade Name (DBA)

Trade Name Under Which Business Will Be Conducted:

[________________________________]

Important D.C. Name Restrictions:

☐ The trade name must be distinguishable from all domestic and foreign business names and trade names already registered with the District.
☐ The trade name cannot include entity designations such as "LLC," "Corp.," "Inc.," "L.P.," or similar qualifiers (per DLCP policy).

2.2 Nature of Business

Description of Business Activities:

[________________________________]

[________________________________]

2.3 Date of Commencement

Date Business Will Commence Under Trade Name: [__/__/____]

☐ Business has not yet commenced under this trade name
☐ Business is already being conducted (commenced on: [__/__/____])

PART THREE: D.C. STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

3.1 Who Must Register (D.C. Code § 47-2855.02)

The following must register a trade name with DLCP:

☐ Sole proprietorships operating under any name other than the owner's full legal name
☐ General partnerships operating under any name other than the full legal names of all partners
☐ Corporations, LLCs, LPs, and LLPs operating under any name other than the name filed with the Mayor
☐ Any business using words suggesting additional parties of interest (e.g., "& Company," "& Sons," "& Associates")

3.2 Registration Requirements by Entity Type

Sole Proprietorships and General Partnerships must provide:

☐ The true and real name of each person comprising the business
☐ The post office address of each person
☐ The name of the general partnership (if applicable)

Limited Partnerships must provide:

☐ The limited partnership name as filed with the Mayor

LLCs must provide:

☐ The LLC name as filed with the Mayor

Corporations must provide:

☐ The corporate name as filed with the Mayor

3.3 Filing Fees

3.4 Filing Office

Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP)
Corporations Division
1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20024

Online Filing: https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/

PART FOUR: TRADE NAME REGISTRATION APPLICATION

(Form TN-1 Equivalent — D.C. Code § 47-2855.02)

TRADE NAME REGISTRATION

TO: Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Corporations Division

The undersigned hereby applies to register the following trade name pursuant to D.C. Code § 47-2855.02:

1. Trade Name: [________________________________]

2. Registrant Type (check one):

☐ Sole Proprietorship
☐ General Partnership
☐ Limited Partnership
☐ Limited Liability Company
☐ Corporation (For-Profit)
☐ Corporation (Nonprofit)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

3. Registrant's Full Legal Name: [________________________________]

4. Jurisdiction of Formation (if entity): [________________________________]

5. D.C. Registration/Entity Number (if applicable): [________________________________]

6. Principal Business Address in the District:

[________________________________]

[________________________________]

7. Mailing Address (if different):

[________________________________]

8. Name and Address of Authorized Filing Agent:

Name: [________________________________]

Address: [________________________________]

9. Nature of Business: [________________________________]

10. For Sole Proprietorships / General Partnerships — List All Owners:

11. Good Standing Requirement:

☐ If the registrant is a registered entity (LLC, corporation, LP, etc.), the entity must be in good standing with the District of Columbia before this trade name registration will be accepted.

12. Declaration:

I declare under penalty of perjury that the information contained in this registration is true, correct, and complete.

Signature: _________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

Print Name: [________________________________]

Title: [________________________________]

PART FIVE: RENEWAL OF TRADE NAME REGISTRATION

(D.C. Code § 47-2855.04)

5.1 Renewal Requirements

Under D.C. Code § 47-2855.04, trade name registrations in the District of Columbia must be renewed every two (2) years. The renewal deadline is April 1 of each second year following the year of initial registration.

5.2 Renewal Timeline

5.3 Renewal Checklist

☐ Calendar the biennial renewal deadline (April 1) at least sixty (60) days in advance
☐ Verify that all registration information remains current
☐ File renewal application (Form TN-2) with DLCP online or by mail
☐ Pay the $55.00 renewal fee
☐ If filing after April 1 but before August 31, include the additional $55.00 late fee
☐ Retain confirmation of renewal in business records

5.4 Consequences of Failure to Renew

☐ The trade name registration will be administratively cancelled if not renewed by August 31 of the renewal year
☐ The registrant must cease using the trade name in the District
☐ A new trade name registration application must be filed to resume use of the name
☐ The name may become available for registration by third parties

PART SIX: AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION

(D.C. Code § 47-2855.03)

6.1 When Amendment Is Required

Under D.C. Code § 47-2855.03, a registrant must file an amendment within thirty (30) days of any change in:

☐ The trade name itself
☐ The registrant's legal name or entity type
☐ The principal business address
☐ The mailing address
☐ Ownership (for sole proprietorships and partnerships)
☐ The authorized filing agent

6.2 Amendment Filing

☐ File Form TN-4 (Trade Name Amendment) with DLCP
☐ Pay the $55.00 amendment fee
☐ The amendment takes effect upon acceptance by DLCP

PART SEVEN: CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION

(D.C. Code § 47-2855.05)

7.1 Voluntary Cancellation

When the registrant ceases to conduct business under the trade name:

☐ File Form TN-3 (Trade Name Cancellation) with DLCP
☐ Pay the $55.00 cancellation fee
☐ Cease all use of the trade name in the District upon cancellation
☐ Cancellation is effective upon acceptance by DLCP

7.2 Involuntary Cancellation

DLCP may cancel a trade name registration:

☐ For failure to renew by the applicable deadline (August 31 of the renewal year)
☐ Upon dissolution or revocation of the underlying entity
☐ For fraud or material misrepresentation in the registration

PART EIGHT: PUBLICATION NOTICE (OPTIONAL)

The District of Columbia does not impose a statutory requirement for newspaper publication of trade name registrations. However, certain lenders, landlords, or contractual counterparties may require publication. The following form is provided for voluntary use.

PUBLICATION TEXT

NOTICE OF TRADE NAME REGISTRATION

Notice is hereby given that [Legal Name of Registrant], [entity type], located at [Business Address], intends to conduct business in the District of Columbia under the trade name "[Trade Name]". This registration has been filed with the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection pursuant to D.C. Code § 47-2855.02.

Date of Registration: [__/__/____]

[Legal Name of Registrant]

Publication Checklist

☐ Select a newspaper of general circulation in the District of Columbia
☐ Publish once per week for two (2) consecutive weeks
☐ Obtain Affidavit of Publication upon completion
☐ Retain Affidavit in business records

PART NINE: PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT

9.1 Failure to Register

Under D.C. law, conducting business under an unregistered trade name may result in:

☐ Fines and penalties imposed by DLCP
☐ Inability to bring suit: A person using an unregistered trade name may face obstacles in maintaining legal actions on contracts entered under that name in D.C. courts
☐ Enforcement actions by the D.C. government

9.2 False Statements

Any person who knowingly makes a false statement in a trade name registration, renewal, or amendment may be subject to penalties for perjury and other sanctions under District of Columbia law.

PART TEN: NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT (OPTIONAL)

The District of Columbia does not generally require notarization for trade name registration filings with DLCP. However, the following notary block is provided for use where required by counterparty or local practice.

District of Columbia

On this [____] day of [____________], [________], before me, the undersigned Notary Public, personally appeared [________________________________], who proved to me through satisfactory evidence of identification to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are signed on the preceding document, and acknowledged to me that he/she/they signed it voluntarily for its stated purpose.

Notary Public Signature: _________________________________

Notary Printed Name: [________________________________]

My Commission Expires: [__/__/____]

[NOTARY SEAL]

PART ELEVEN: EXECUTION

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Trade Name Registration and Notice as of the date set forth below.

Registrant: [________________________________]

Signature: _________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

Print Name: [________________________________]

Title: [________________________________]

PART TWELVE: FILING INSTRUCTIONS AND CHECKLIST

Complete Filing Guide

Step 1: Check Name Availability

☐ Search the DLCP entity database at https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/
☐ Confirm the trade name is distinguishable from existing registered names
☐ Ensure the trade name does not include prohibited entity designations (LLC, Corp., Inc., etc.)
☐ Consider conducting a federal trademark search at www.uspto.gov

Step 2: Verify Good Standing

☐ If registrant is a business entity, confirm good standing with the District of Columbia
☐ Resolve any outstanding filings, taxes, or penalties before applying

Step 3: Complete and File the Registration

☐ Complete Form TN-1 (Trade Name Registration) or Part Four of this template
☐ File online at https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/ or by mail to DLCP
☐ Pay the $55.00 registration fee
☐ Retain confirmation of filing

Step 4: Calendar Renewal Deadline

☐ Note the biennial renewal deadline: April 1 of every second year from registration
☐ Set a reminder at least sixty (60) days before the renewal deadline
☐ Ensure renewal is filed and paid before April 1 to avoid late fees

Step 5: Maintain Records and Compliance

☐ Retain all filed documents and confirmations for a minimum of seven (7) years
☐ File amendments within thirty (30) days of any material change
☐ File cancellation (Form TN-3) when the trade name is no longer in use
☐ Ensure the underlying entity remains in good standing with the District

Sources and References

• D.C. Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection — Trade Names: https://dlcp.dc.gov/node/1619191
• D.C. Code § 47-2855.01 et seq. (Trade Names)
• DLCP Trade Name Registration Form (TN-1): https://dlcp.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/DLCP/publication/attachments/TN-1%20Trade%20Name%20Registration.pdf
• DLCP Online Filing Portal: https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/
• D.C. Code § 47-2855.02 (Registration Required)
• D.C. Code § 47-2855.04 (Renewal of Registration)

This template is provided by ezel.ai for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. Consult a District of Columbia-licensed attorney before filing.