Search Existing Fictitious Business Name Filings

Filing Requirement
State law (Business & professions §17910) requires that every person, partnership, corporation, or other association, who regularly transacts business in this State for profit under a fictitious business name, shall file a statement with the County Clerk. Within 30 days after the statement has been filed, the registrant shall cause it to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the County in which the business is located, and the Affidavit of Publication filed with the County Clerk within 30 days after the completion of the publication.

Filing Instructions
Submissions for Fictitious Business Name Statements must be complete, accurate, and legible to be accepted. Any missing, incomplete or illegible information will cause the form to be rejected, with the forfeiture of all filing fees. Please review the submission checklist before submitting the registration forms.

• Complete in triplicate (1 original & 2 copies) the Fictitious Business Name Form
• Enclose a Cashiers Check or Money Order made payable to the "Solano County Clerk" for the total amount of the filing fees.
• Review the form to ensure that all fields are complete.
• If you elect to appear in person, the application must be completed online before coming to the County Clerk's office and please bring a valid form of payment for all fees.

Renewal Requirements
Fictitious Business Name Statements remain in effect for 5 years from the date of filing. To renew an expiring statement the following requirements must be met.

• Submission in triplicate of the Fictitious Business Name Form
• Payment of filing fees
• If you elect to appear in person, the application must be completed online before coming to the County Clerk's office and please bring a valid form of payment for all fees.

If the renewal filing is identical to the initial filing, and the renewal filing is completed within 40 days of the original expiration date, it is not necessary to publish the renewal filing.

Abandonment of Fictitious Name
Per section §17922 of the Business and Professions code, "A person who has filed a fictitious business name statement may, upon ceasing to transact business in this state under the fictitious business name, file a statement of abandonment of use of fictitious business name."
To abandon use of a Fictitious Business Name Statement on file in Solano County, you will need to complete and submit a Statement of Abandonment and pay the applicable filing fee.

Withdrawal From Partnership
Per section §17923 of the Business and Professions code, "the withdrawal of a partner does not cause a fictitious business name statement to expire."
To withdraw from an existing partnership on file in Solano County you will need to complete and submit a Statement of Withdrawal and pay the applicable filing fee.

Instructions for Publication
California Business and Professions Code §17917 instructs as follows:

(a) Within 30 days after a fictitious business name statement has been filed pursuant to this chapter, the registrant shall cause a statement in the form prescribed by subdivision (a) of Section 17913 to be published pursuant to Government Code Section 6064 in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the principal place of business of the registrant is located or, if there is no such newspaper in that county, then in a newspaper of general circulation in an adjoining county. If the registrant does not have a place of business in this state, the notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in Sacramento County.

(b) Subject to the requirements of subdivision (a), the newspaper selected for the publication of the statement should be one that circulates in the area where the business is to be conducted.

(c) If a refiling is required because the prior statement has expired, the refiling need not be published unless there has been a change in the information required in the expired statement, provided the refiling is filed within 40 days of the date the statement expired.

(d) An affidavit showing the publication of the statement shall be filed with the county clerk within 30 days after the completion of the publication. 

Business License
Filing a fictitious business name statement does not license you to conduct business, it will only register your fictitious business name. Contact the appropriate local agency to obtain a business license.