IMPORTANT UPDATE: Beginning January 1, 2024, Publication Fees for Trade Name Applications, Amendments and Cancellations will be paid directly to the Champion Newspaper.
Trade Name Applications, Amendments and Cancellations are filed electronically through eFileGA ONLY.
1. IMPORTANT: TO AVOID REJECTION, PLEASE READ BEFORE FILING: Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-490) requires every "person, firm, or partnership, carrying on in this state any trade or business under any trade name or partnership name or other name" to register the trade name of the business with 30 days from "commencing to do business." As provided by law, the registration shall be eFiled with the Clerk of the Superior Court in the County where the business is chiefly carried on or the county of its legal domicile.
2. IMPORTANT: Check Your Trade Name Availability
Before you file! You are responsible for checking the Trade Name Index Books (located in our office) to confirm availability of your chosen Trade Name. If the trade name you choose is already registered, it cannot be filed. If you file without confirming the availability and the name is already registered, you will have to file a new Trade Name Application and pay a new application fee to register another Trade Name. CHECK FOR YOUR TRADE NAME FIRST AND INITIAL APPLICATION VERIFYING THAT YOU VERIFIED AVAILABILITY. There is no refund for duplicate name filings.
PLEASE READ: These are the common reasons your application will be rejected:
- · Your chosen Trade Name is Already Registered (You MUST come to our office to confirm Trade Name availability. You must initial to verify that you searched and verified availability).
- · Name Search Verification Not Initialed (You must verify that you searched the Trade Name Books in our Office)
- · Trade Name can not be your name. You cannot create a trade name from your name.
- · Trade Name Application unreadable. If you file a faded, unreadable application, it will be rejected.
- · Improper filing: Your Trade Name CANNOT be LLC or INC
- · Corporation addresses must match what's on file with the Secretary of State's Office.
- · Notary is missing (Application MUST be Notarized!)
- · Only one (1) Trade Name per business entity name allowed
- · Trade Name Address CANNOT be a Post Office Box. You must have a physical address.
- · Incomplete Application (i.e. Phone Number, Signature is missing)
- · Application filed in the wrong County (It must be filed in your county of the business location)
- · Application Not Signed - You must sign your application.
- · Application MUST be typed, not handwritten, with no scratches or scribbles. No marked through mistakes. Altered Aplications are not accepted.
Once you have verified the availability of your chosen Trade Name, follow these steps:
- A. Select: The appropriate form below, complete, print, sign and have notarized.
- B. Register or Sign In: to your eFileGA Account below. Scan and upload your completed documents.
- Upon receipt of an approved Trade Name Application - you will receive and email confirmation with a file case number. You are required to Publish Notice of your Trade Name in the county organ (The Champion Newspaper). No person, firm, or partnership already registered shall be required to re-register except in the event of a change of ownership.
Contact The Champion Newspaper with a File-Stamped copy of the approved Trade Name Application to publish notice. Go to https://www.dekalblegalnotices.com for more information or call (404) 373-7779 ext. 1009. Legal Notices can be emailed to legalads@dekalbchamp.com.
FORM - NEW APPLICATION TO REGISTER BUSINESS UNDER TRADE NAME
NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE NOTARIZED PRIOR TO FILING.
** To ensure accuracy, please type to complete the fillable forms.
1. Download Application, Complete, Print, Sign and Notarize:
Failure to provide a phone number will result in a REJECTION of your Application.
2. eFile Completed Form through eFileGA: https://efilega.tylertech.cloud/OfsEfsp/ui/landing
FORM - AMENDMENT TO TRADE NAME APPLICATION
Use this form to AMEND your original Trade Name Application.
NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE NOTARIZED PRIOR TO FILING.
** To ensure accuracy, please type and complete the fillable forms. To minimize the possibility of rejection, include phone number on the application.
1. Select option below, Complete, Print, Sign and Notarize:
2. eFile Completed Form Through eFileGA: https://efilega.tylertech.cloud/OfsEfsp/ui/landing
FORM - AFFIDAVIT TO CANCEL REGISTERED TRADE NAME
Use this form to CANCEL your original Trade Name Application.
To Avoid Rejection, complete all REQUIRED FIELDS.
NOTE: ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE NOTARIZED PRIOR TO FILING
** To ensure accuracy, please type and complete the fillable forms online. To minimize the possibility of rejection, include phone number on the application.
1. Select option below, Complete, Print, Sign and Notarize:
2. eFile Form Through eFileGA: https://efilega.tylertech.cloud/OfsEfsp/ui/landing
TRADE NAME FEES
Trade Name Fees
- New Trade Name Registration Fee: $170.00*. (EFFECTIVE 1/1/2024)
- *The Publication Fees will be paid directly to the Champion Newspaper prior to filing. Find more information here: https://www.dekalblegalnotices.com
- Amend Trade Name Information Fee: $170.00.
- Cancel Trade Name Fee: $170.00.
All Registration Fees payable online by Credit Card or Debit Card.
**PLEASE READ THE TRADE NAME eFILING INSTRUCTIONS BELOW TO MINIMIZE
THE CHANCE OF YOUR FILING BEING REJECTED**
E-Filing is a way to securely transmit legal documents to a court. This is a paperless method for the court and provides easy access to customers. Documents can be filed from home/office (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Additional benefits include: instant access to file stamped copies; online tracking and proof of submission, acceptance, and/or rejection; and searching capabilities.
This process reduces data entry errors and the possibility of documents being misfiled. Any scanned or eFiled document will be available via Odyssey Portal immediately upon acceptance of the eFiled documents.
eFILING HELP
(Download a Trade Name Instructions PDF)
The Self Help section contains FAQs, User Guides, Self-Service and Web Training Sessions to help make the eFiling process easier.
Or contact eFiler Technical Support: 1-800-297-5377 - Press Option 2, then Option 2 again.
CONTACT US
If you have questions about the Trade Name eFiling process, please contact one of our direct support numbers for assistance (404) 371-2250 OR send a message here: Contact Us
Notice of the filing shall be published in the legal organ, The Champion Newspaper. No person, firm, or partnership already registered shall be required to re-register except in the event of a change of ownership.
DEPARTMENTS LIST
DeKalb Clerk of Superior Court
Notary/Trade Name Division
DeKalb County Courthouse
556 North McDonough Street
Ground Floor, G 50
Decatur, GA 30030
Contact Us/Send Message
*Credit card surcharge of 2% fee +$1.00.