California Law (Last Updated: March 4, 2014) |
Business and Professions Code - BPC |
Division 7. GENERAL BUSINESS REGULATIONS |
Part 3. REPRESENTATIONS TO THE PUBLIC |
Chapter 5. Fictitious Business Names |
Section 17913.
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(a) The fictitious business name statement shall contain all of the information required by this subdivision and shall be substantially in the following form:
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT
The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as
*
at ** :
***
This business is conducted by ****
The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on
*****
I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. (A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to Section 17913 of the Business and Professions Code that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).)
Registrant signature
Statement filed with the County Clerk of ____ County on
NOTICE—IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENT GENERALLY EXPIRES AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE ON WHICH IT WAS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK, EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION.
THE FILING OF THIS STATEMENT DOES NOT OF ITSELF AUTHORIZE THE USE IN THIS STATE OF A FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME IN VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL, STATE, OR COMMON LAW (SEE SECTION 14411 ET SEQ., BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE).
(b) The statement shall contain the following information set forth in the manner indicated in the form provided by subdivision (a):
(1) Where the asterisk (*) appears in the form, insert the fictitious business name or names. Only those businesses operated at the same address and under the same ownership may be listed on one statement.
(2) Where the two asterisks (**) appear in the form: If the registrant has a place of business in this state, insert the street address, and county, of his or her principal place of business in this state. If the registrant has no place of business in this state, insert the street address, and county, of his or her principal place of business outside this state.
(3) Where the three asterisks (***) appear in the form: If the registrant is an individual, insert his or her full name and residence address. If the registrants are a married couple, insert the full name and residence address of both parties to the marriage. If the registrant is a general partnership, copartnership, joint venture, limited liability partnership, or unincorporated association other than a partnership, insert the full name and residence address of each general partner. If the registrant is a limited partnership, insert the full name and residence address of each general partner. If the registrant is a limited liability company, insert the name and address of the limited liability company, as set out in its articles of organization on file with the California Secretary of State, and the state of organization. If the registrant is a trust, insert the full name and residence address of each trustee. If the registrant is a corporation, insert the name and address of the corporation, as set out in its articles of incorporation on file with the California Secretary of State, and the state of incorporation. If the registrants are state or local registered domestic partners, insert the full name and residence address of each domestic partner.
(4) Where the four asterisks (****) appear in the form, insert whichever of the following best describes the nature of the business: (i) "an individual," (ii) "a general partnership," (iii) "a limited partnership," (iv) "a limited liability company," (v) "an unincorporated association other than a partnership," (vi) "a corporation," (vii) "a trust," (viii) "copartners," (ix) " a married couple," (x) "joint venture," (xi) "state or local registered domestic partners," or (xii) "a limited liability partnership."
(5) Where the five asterisks (*****) appear in the form, insert the date on which the registrant first commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed, if already transacting business under that name or names. If the registrant has not yet commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed, insert the statement, "Not applicable."
(c) The registrant shall declare that all of the information in the statement is true and correct. A registrant who declares as true any material matter pursuant to this section that the registrant knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).
(d) At the time of filing of the fictitious business name statement, the registrant or agent filing on behalf of the registrant shall present personal identification in the form of a California driver's license or other government identification acceptable to the county clerk to adequately determine the identity of the registrant or agent filing on behalf of the registrant as provided in subdivision (e) and the county clerk may require the registrant to complete and sign an affidavit of identity statement. In the case of a registrant utilizing an agent for submission of the registrant's fictitious business name statement for filing, the county clerk may also require the agent to complete and sign an affidavit of identity statement declaring the registrant has authorized the agent to submit the filing on behalf of the registrant.
(e) If the registrant is a corporation, a limited liability company, or a limited liability partnership, an original certificate of status issued by the Secretary of State certifying the current existence and good standing of that business entity shall be deemed acceptable and shall be attached to a completed affidavit of identity statement, if required by the county clerk, for purposes of subdivision (d).
(f) The county clerk may require a registrant that mails a fictitious business name statement to a county clerk's office for filing to submit a completed and notarized affidavit of identity statement. A registrant that is a corporation, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership, if required by the county clerk to submit an affidavit of identity statement, shall also submit an original certificate of status issued by the Secretary of State certifying the current existence and good standing of that business entity.
(g) A county clerk that chooses to establish procedures pursuant to this section shall prescribe the form of affidavit of identity statement for filing by a registrant or its agent in that county.
(h) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2014.