Effective: April 12, 2021
Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 276 - 133rd General Assembly
(A) As used in sections 1329.01 to 1329.10 of the Revised Code:
(1) "Trade name" means a name used in business or trade to designate the business of the user and to which the user asserts a right to exclusive use.
(2) "Fictitious name" means a name used in business or trade that is fictitious and that the user has not registered or is not entitled to register as a trade name. It does not include the name of record of any domestic corporation that is formed under Chapter 1701. or 1702. of the Revised Code, any foreign corporation that is registered pursuant to Chapter 1703. of the Revised Code, any domestic or foreign limited liability company that is formed under or registered pursuant to Chapter 1705. or 1706. of the Revised Code, any domestic or foreign limited partnership that is formed under or registered pursuant to Chapter 1782. of the Revised Code, or any domestic or foreign limited liability partnership that is formed under or registered pursuant to Chapter 1775. or 1776. of the Revised Code.
(3) "Person" includes any individual, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, corporation, association, professional association, limited liability company, society, foundation, federation, or organization formed under the laws of this state or any other state.
(B) Except as provided in section 1701.041 of the Revised Code and subject to sections 1329.01 to 1329.10 of the Revised Code, any person may register with the secretary of state, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, any trade name under which the person is operating, setting forth all of the following:
(1) The name and business address of the applicant for registration and any of the following that is applicable:
(a) If the applicant is a general partnership, the name and address of at least one partner or the identifying number the secretary of state assigns to the partnership pursuant to section 1776.05 of the Revised Code;
(b) If the applicant is a limited partnership, a corporation, professional association, limited liability company, or other entity, the form of the entity and the state under the laws of which it was formed.
(2) The trade name to be registered;
(3) The general nature of the business conducted by the applicant;
(4) The length of time during which the trade name has been used by the applicant in business operations in this state.
(C) The trade name application shall be signed by the applicant or by any authorized representative of the applicant.
A single trade name may be registered upon each trade name application submitted under sections 1329.01 to 1329.10 of the Revised Code.
The trade name application shall be accompanied by a filing fee of thirty-nine dollars, payable to the secretary of state.
(D) Any person who does business under a fictitious name and who has not registered and does not wish to register the fictitious name as a trade name or who cannot do so because the name is not available for registration shall report the use of the fictitious name to the secretary of state, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, setting forth all of the following:
(1) The name and business address of the user and any of the following that is applicable:
(a) If the user is a general partnership, the name and address of at least one partner or the identifying number the secretary of state assigns to the partnership pursuant to section 1775.105 of the Revised Code;
(b) If the user is a limited partnership, a corporation, professional association, limited liability company, or other entity, the form of the entity and the state under whose laws it was formed.
(2) The fictitious name being used;
(3) The general nature of the business conducted by the user.
(E) The report of use of a fictitious name shall be signed by the user or by any authorized representative of the user.
A single fictitious name may be registered upon each fictitious name report submitted under sections 1329.01 to 1329.10 of the Revised Code.
The fictitious name report shall be accompanied by a filing fee of thirty-nine dollars, payable to the secretary of state.
A report under this division shall be made within thirty days after the date of the first use of the fictitious name.