FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME REGISTRATION AND PUBLICATION NOTICE

State of Rhode Island

[// GUIDANCE: This template is designed for Rhode Island filings under the state’s fictitious-business-name (a/k/a “DBA” or “assumed name”) statutory scheme. It is intentionally more comprehensive than the simple newspaper notice most publishers accept, allowing counsel to repurpose the same instrument for (i) Secretary of State or municipal clerk filing, (ii) statutory newspaper publication, and (iii) internal record-keeping. Delete inapplicable sections before release for publication.]

I. DOCUMENT HEADER

1. Title: Fictitious Business Name Registration and Publication Notice (the “Notice”).
2. Effective Date: [EFFECTIVE_DATE].
3. Registrant: [LEGAL NAME OF REGISTRANT], a [ENTITY TYPE – e.g., Rhode Island limited liability company / sole proprietorship], with its principal place of business at [BUSINESS ADDRESS] (“Registrant”).
4. Fictitious Business Name (DBA): [FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME] (the “Fictitious Name”).
5. Governing Law: Rhode Island state business-entity and trade-name law, as amended (the “Governing Law”).
6. Filing Authority: Office of the Rhode Island Secretary of State, or the clerk of the city/town where the principal place of business is located, as applicable (each, a “Filing Authority”).

II. RECITALS

A. Registrant desires to transact business in Rhode Island under the Fictitious Name.
B. Governing Law requires (i) registration of the Fictitious Name with the appropriate Filing Authority, (ii) public notice by newspaper publication, and (iii) timely renewal or amendment upon certain events.
C. Registrant issues this Notice to comply with all such requirements.

III. DEFINITIONS

For ease of reference, capitalized terms have the meanings set forth below:

1. “Business Address” means the physical street address (not a P.O. Box) where Registrant conducts or will conduct business under the Fictitious Name.
2. “Publication Window” means the period prescribed by Governing Law during which this Notice must be published (currently once a week for two (2) successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality of the Business Address).
3. “Renewal Deadline” means December 31 of the fifth (5th) calendar year following the year in which the Fictitious Name is first registered, or such other period as Governing Law may prescribe from time to time.
4. “Signatory” means the individual executing this Notice on behalf of Registrant who represents that he/she is duly authorized to do so.

IV. OPERATIVE PROVISIONS

1. Adoption of Fictitious Name. Registrant hereby adopts and will conduct business under the Fictitious Name within the State of Rhode Island from and after the Effective Date.
2. Business Address. The Fictitious Name will be used at the following address: [BUSINESS ADDRESS].
3. Nature of Business. Registrant will engage in the following business activities under the Fictitious Name: [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS].
4. Registration Filing.
   a. Registrant shall file this Notice (or the statutory form containing equivalent information) with the applicable Filing Authority within ten (10) business days after the Effective Date.
   b. Registrant shall pay all statutorily-mandated filing fees in immediately available funds.
5. Publication.
   a. Registrant shall cause this Notice, or a condensed version containing the information required by statute, to be published once per week for two (2) successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the city or town where the Business Address is located.
   b. Proof of publication (affidavit of publication) shall be filed with the Filing Authority no later than the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days after the final publication date or (ii) any earlier statutory deadline.
6. Renewal, Amendment, Abandonment.
   a. Registrant shall renew the Fictitious Name registration on or before the Renewal Deadline and every five (5) years thereafter, unless a shorter or longer period is later mandated by Governing Law.
   b. Registrant shall file an amendment within thirty (30) days after any material change in (i) Registrant’s legal name or entity type, (ii) the Business Address, or (iii) the nature of business conducted under the Fictitious Name.
   c. Registrant shall file a withdrawal/abandonment notice within thirty (30) days after ceasing to use the Fictitious Name in Rhode Island.

V. REPRESENTATIONS & WARRANTIES

1. Authority. Signatory represents and warrants that he/she is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Notice on behalf of Registrant.
2. Uniqueness of Name. Registrant represents that, to the best of its knowledge after reasonable inquiry, the Fictitious Name is distinguishable from any name already on file with the Filing Authority and is not prohibited by Governing Law.
3. Accuracy of Information. Registrant represents that all information contained herein is true, correct, and complete as of the Effective Date.

VI. COVENANTS & UNDERTAKINGS

1. Compliance. Registrant will comply with all present and future requirements of Governing Law relating to the use of the Fictitious Name.
2. Record-Keeping. Registrant will retain an executed copy of this Notice, the filed acknowledgment from the Filing Authority, and the proof-of-publication affidavit for a period of not less than seven (7) years from the Effective Date.
3. Notification. Registrant shall promptly notify the Filing Authority in writing of any change that renders the information in this Notice inaccurate or incomplete.

VII. DEFAULT & REMEDIES

[// GUIDANCE: Rhode Island statutes impose administrative penalties (and may limit the Registrant’s ability to sue until compliance) for failure to register or publish. Criminal penalties are possible if false statements are willfully made. Modify as needed.]

1. Failure to File or Publish. If Registrant fails to timely file or publish this Notice, the Filing Authority may reject the registration, void an existing registration, or impose statutory penalties.
2. False Statements. Any person who knowingly makes a false statement in this Notice may be subject to fines and/or other sanctions under Governing Law.

VIII. RISK ALLOCATION

Indemnification, limitation of liability, and insurance provisions are intentionally omitted as they are not customarily included in statutory fictitious-name notices.

IX. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Because this Notice is a statutory filing and not a bilateral contract, separate dispute-resolution provisions (arbitration, jury waiver, injunctive relief) are not applicable. Any controversy regarding compliance with this Notice will be determined by the appropriate Rhode Island state court or administrative tribunal having subject-matter jurisdiction.

X. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. Amendments. This Notice may be amended only by filing an amended fictitious-name statement with the Filing Authority and, if required, republishing notice of such amendment.
2. Severability. If any provision of this Notice is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
3. Entire Notice. This document constitutes the entire notice required for registration and publication of the Fictitious Name under Governing Law.
4. Electronic Filing. Registrant authorizes the Filing Authority to accept electronic signatures and filings to the fullest extent permitted by Governing Law.

XI. EXECUTION BLOCK

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Notice as of the Effective Date.

[// GUIDANCE: Add notarization or witness lines below only if required by local clerk’s office. Most Rhode Island municipal clerks do not require notarization for DBA filings, but confirm before filing.]

OPTIONAL NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT

State of Rhode Island
County of ___

On this ___ day of ____, 20__, before me, the undersigned notary public, personally appeared [SIGNATORY NAME], who proved to me through satisfactory evidence of identification to be the person whose name is signed on the preceding or attached document, and acknowledged to me that he/she signed it voluntarily for its stated purpose.

Notary Public
My Commission Expires: _____

[// GUIDANCE: Save a fully executed copy for your records and attach the clerk’s file-stamp and newspaper affidavits once obtained. Calendar the Renewal Deadline immediately upon filing to ensure timely renewal.]