Trade Name Certificates

If your business is located in Willington under an assumed name, you must file a trade name certificate with the Town Clerk's Office. 

What does "doing business as" mean?

Trade Names, Sole Proprietorship, or "Doing Business As"

A trade name is a fictitious name under which business is transacted, sometimes referred to as “doing business as” or “d/b/a.” A trade name can be registered by: (1) one individual; (2) a group of individuals; or (3) a business organization registered with the Secretary of the State.

A trade name is not a business organization and provides no liability protection itself. It does not protect that business name from use by someone else. A trade name merely provides public notice that an individual or individuals are conducting business under an assumed name or that a business organization is conducting business under a name that is different than the name under which it is registered with the Secretary of the State.

Where to file:

A trade name is filed with the local town clerk where the business is primarily transacted. For individuals, this is the address you provide on the trade name application.

Domestic businesses (formed with the CT Secretary of the State), file in the town of your “business address” on file with the Secretary. That is also the address you should list on the trade name application.

Foreign businesses (formed elsewhere but registered with the CT Secretary of the State), use the business’s principal location in CT or, if none, the town of your resident agent.

Fees to file:

When you deliver the trade name application to the town clerk, you must pay a $20 filing fee payable to the town clerk.

Trade name forms

The forms below should be used for a trade name filed on or after January 1, 2025. The forms must be hand signed by the applicant(s) and notarized by the town clerk or another notary.

You must complete this form and file it along with a fee of $20.00 with the Town Clerk~ as of January 1, 2025 (PA 24-111).

We can notarize this form for you at our office at no additional charge before filing. Please do not sign your document if you are bringing it to our office for notarization. If you are closing a business previously registered with this office, please complete and submit the cancellation form also below.

Registering with the Secretary of State's Office:  

Please use the following link; so you will get the most up to date information for the Secretary of the State's Office.

https://business.ct.gov/knowledge-base/articles/trade-names?language=en_US.

Corporations, Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies must register with the Secretary of State's Office.

View the Secretary of State's website. 

https://portal.ct.gov/tninstructions. 

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