Pennsylvania Legal Name Search
An important step in opening a business is to register the name of the company. Upon incorporation, a Pennsylvania business is automatically registered under the owner`s official name. However, many owners want to operate under a different name. To do this, they must register a fictitious name. If an owner does not register the fictitious company name but uses the name for business purposes, the Pennsylvania courts will not confirm contracts entered into under that name. If this does not render the contracts concluded under this name null and void, it prevents the court from enforcing them. Companies that register the fictitious name after being taken to court will receive a penalty. Due to the laws surrounding trademark protection, fictitious names make them unique compared to other companies. Owners must register a company name in PA when setting up their business.
It`s a simple process with online and mail-in form options.3 min spent reading If you`re doing business with a name that`s not yours, for example, “Jane`s Gift Shop,” you`ll need to register the name with the state. OFAC is the agency within the Department of Finance that enforces trade sanctions against various foreign countries, groups, and individuals. Transactions with countries or persons sanctioned by persons from or within the United States are prohibited. While there is no law requiring people to review these sanctions lists, it is illegal to do business with anyone on these sanctions lists. Pennsylvania allows owners to start a sole proprietorship without submitting legal documents to the state government. To ensure availability, owners should perform a name search on the following websites: The process of registering a business name in Pennsylvania is easy with online and mail-in form options. Here are the steps owners should follow when registering a name in Pennsylvania: A business does not automatically acquire ownership of the name when registering a fictitious name. To obtain exclusive rights, an owner must establish their business by filing the regulations with the Pennsylvania Department of State. Submit regulations online on the state website or by mail. If the name is too similar to another name already integrated, it is rejected. Submit fictitious names to the Secretary of State, as required by Pennsylvania law.
The filing fee for the fictitious business name registration form is $70. The application required for the first stage can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of State website. It is important to note that this registration is only required if the owner does not wish to use their legal name for the business. Again, the publication of an advertisement in a local newspaper and, if necessary, a legal publication is required. Owners do not need to send proof of these listings to the Crown; However, you must keep a copy in the files. A sole proprietorship owner can use their legal name as a business name or create a fictitious name. If the owner chooses a fictitious name, the name must stand out from names already used by other companies. Owners must register a company name in PA when setting up their business.
The State of Pennsylvania does not require registration if you operate the business under your own name. So if you`re John Doe and you open the John Doe Store, you don`t need to register the name. However, if you do business under another name, such as “Jane`s Gift Shop,” you will need to register the name with the state. To find out if a name is available, visit the State Department website. When placing an advertisement in both newspapers, it is preferable that one of these newspapers is a legal journal. If there is no legal newspaper in an owner`s area, he may publish it in two general newspapers. If the owner`s location has only one paper, the ad will be published only in this newspaper. NOTE: Registering a name and checking the Pennsylvania database does not grant you federal trademark protection, nor does it mean that others will not use your name in other states. If you wish to protect your name or other applicable trademarks, you should contact the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.