Missouri Enforces Fictitious Name Renewal Deadlines
Mar 31, 2009
Earlier this month, the office of Missouri’s Secretary of State, Robin Carnahan, announced the renewal period for fictitious name registrations of Missouri businesses is in effect, as of March 1, 2009. As a result of the new law, which is expected to affect more than 560,000 individuals and businesses, Missouri business owners are required to register or renew registration of their businesses’ fictitious names prior to state-imposed deadlines. Particular deadlines for registrations and renewals are as follows:
- Any business operating under a name other than their true name or the actual name of their business must register a fictitious name by August 28, 2009.
- Any fictitious name registration filed on or before August 28, 2004 must be renewed by August 28, 2009.
- Fictitious names registered after August 28, 2004 will expire five years after the date they were filed and must be renewed before that date.
If an individual or business does not file a renewal, their registration will expire and they will not be able to legally conduct business in Missouri. In fact, if a business is presented under a name not registered with the Secretary of State’s office, it may be considered fraud.
To renew your business’ fictitious name registration, or to verify its expiration date, visit the website of the Missouri Secretary of State. You may also download a printable registration form, which may be mailed to: Corporations Division, P.O. Box 2050, Jefferson City, MO 65102. To view the full press release issued by the office of the Secretary of State, click here.
The specialized Intellectual Property attorneys at Hovey Williams are available to answer any questions you may have about your business’ fictitious name registration. For more information, please contact us at (913) 647-9050 or visit http://www.hoveywilliams.com.