Assumed Business Name (DBA) Registration - Maine

ASSUMED BUSINESS NAME (DBA) REGISTRATION — MAINE

Choose the filing path

☐ Sole proprietor using a name other than the proprietor's own name exclusively: Complete and swear to the municipal certificate below under 31 M.R.S. § 2. File it with the clerk of each city or town where the business will be carried on before commencing business there.

☐ Two or more persons associated for a mercantile enterprise: Complete and swear to the municipal certificate below under 31 M.R.S. § 1. File it with the clerk of each city or town where the enterprise will be carried on before commencing business there. A departing member may file a sworn withdrawal certificate with the clerk where the original certificate is recorded.

☐ Business corporation or LLC: Prepare the entity answers below, then complete and submit the Maine Secretary of State's current Statement of Intention to Do Business Under an Assumed Name, Form ASUM 5. Business-corporation filings are governed by 13-C M.R.S. § 404; LLC filings by 31 M.R.S. § 1510. A foreign business corporation or LLC must already be authorized or qualified to transact business in Maine. The official form also lists limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and nonprofit corporations; use its instructions for those entities.

Filing office: [MUNICIPAL CLERK AND CITY/TOWN / SECRETARY OF STATE]
Requested assumed name: [________________________________]
Legal name of person or entity: [________________________________]

A municipal certificate under § 1 or § 2 must be signed and sworn to. A false sworn statement may be prosecuted as perjury under § 3. Section 5 imposes a $5-per-day fine for late deposit of a certificate required by § 1 or § 2. Check proposed names against § 6's restricted terms before signing.

PART A — MUNICIPAL CERTIFICATE OF ASSUMED BUSINESS NAME

To the Clerk of the City/Town of [________________________________], Maine
Date: [__/__/____]

The undersigned certifies under oath the following information for filing under 31 M.R.S. § [1 / 2]:

Filing type (choose one):

☐ Sole proprietor under § 2. I intend to carry on business under the assumed name below and am its sole proprietor.

☐ Partnership or other association under § 1. We are associated for a mercantile enterprise and intend to transact business under the name below.

Business name, style, or designation: [________________________________]

Nature of business or mercantile enterprise: [________________________________]

Place where business will be carried on in this municipality: [________________________________]

Name and place of residence of sole proprietor or each partner/associate:

The undersigned swear or affirm that the statements in this certificate are true.

Jurat — notary or other officer authorized to administer oaths

State of Maine, County of [________________________________]. Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) before me on [__/__/____] by [NAMES OF SIGNERS].

Signature of officer: ______________________________
Printed name and title: [________________________________]
Commission expiration, if applicable: [__/__/____]
Seal, if applicable: [________________________________]

For clerk's use: Date deposited [__/__/____]; record reference [________________________________].

PART B — ENTITY FILING WORKSHEET

Use these answers to complete the Secretary of State's current Form ASUM 5. This worksheet itself is for preparation; submit the official form with its required signature and fee. The official form currently lists a $125 for-profit entity fee and a $25 nonprofit corporation fee. Confirm the form and fee at filing.

Exact legal name on Secretary of State records: [________________________________]

Entity type: ☐ Domestic corporation ☐ Foreign corporation ☐ Domestic LLC ☐ Foreign LLC ☐ Limited partnership ☐ Limited liability partnership ☐ Nonprofit corporation

Assumed name: [________________________________]

Will the name be used at all places of business in Maine? ☐ Yes ☐ No

If no, list the locations where it will be used: [________________________________]

For a foreign entity — jurisdiction of incorporation or organization: [________________________________]

For a foreign entity — date authorized to transact business in Maine: [__/__/____]

Authorized signer and title: [________________________________]

The corporation or LLC must file a separate statement for each assumed or fictitious name it proposes to use. A corporation may terminate an assumed or fictitious name by the statement described in 13-C M.R.S. § 404(8); an LLC may do so under 31 M.R.S. § 1510(7).

SUBMISSION CHECKLIST

Municipal certificate:

☐ Confirm the correct municipality or municipalities under § 1 or § 2.
☐ Complete all required names and places of residence.
☐ Have every required signer swear or affirm the certificate before an authorized officer.
☐ Ask the municipal clerk for the current local filing fee and retain a recorded copy.

Entity statement:

☐ Use the Secretary of State's current Form ASUM 5 and its signing instructions.
☐ Check name availability and the filing fee with the Secretary of State.
☐ Submit a separate signed form for each proposed assumed or fictitious name.
☐ Retain the filing confirmation.

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• 31 M.R.S. § 1 — partnership or association certificate
• 31 M.R.S. § 2 — sole proprietor certificate
• 31 M.R.S. § 3 — sworn statement
• 31 M.R.S. § 5 — late-filing penalty
• 31 M.R.S. § 6 — restricted name terms
• 13-C M.R.S. § 404 — corporate assumed or fictitious name
• 31 M.R.S. § 1510 — LLC assumed or fictitious name
• Maine Secretary of State Form ASUM 5
• Secretary of State trade-name guidance