Minnesota Certificate of Assumed Name: Who Must File

Over the years, as a business lawyer in St. Paul, I have had questions from my clients about whether they are supposed to register their assumed name with the Minnesota Secretary of State. In this short essay, I briefly address this issue.

Generally, pursuant to Minn. Stat. §333.01, Subd. 1, any individual, corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company that conducts business in Minnesota under a name other than their full legal name, must register its Assumed Name with the Office of Minnesota Secretary of State along with a required filing fee.

Here are three most common situations where Minnesota law requires you to file the Certificate of Assumed Name:

1. Any person conducting business under a name which is not his or her true full name (first and last name) must file. For example: Robert Stuart has a plumbing business and operates under the name of “Stuart Plumbing”. In this case, he has to file the Certificate of Assumed Name with the Office of Minnesota Secretary of State. If, on the other hand, in the same situation, Mr. Stuart operates under the name of “Robert Stuart Plumbing”, then he may not need to file the Certificate (absent other circumstances).

2. A corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company conducting business under a name other than the legal name, must file. For example, a company called “Versatile Minneapolis Business Advising and Consulting Services, Inc.” would have to file a Certificate of Assumed Name with the Secretary of State if the company decides to operated under the name of “Versatile Minneapolis Advising Services, Inc.”

3. A partnership must file if the name of the partnership does not include the true full name of each partner.

In addition to the Certificate filing requirements, there are publication of legal notice requirements that must be followed.

Sherayzen Law Office can help you determine whether you need to file a Certificate of Assumed Name (or choose to create a business entity under the name in question), draft the Certificate, and help you comply with all procedures necessary to register your Assumed Name.