Assumed Names (DBA): A sole proprietor or a general partnership conducting or transacting business in Montmorency County is required by statute to file their business names in this county on forms provided by the County Clerk's Office. Assumed Names Certificates protect the name of the business in Montmorency County only: therefore, an Assumed Name Certificate must be filed in every county where business is conducted. A Co-Partnership Certificate must only be filed in the county where the business address is located. The fee to file, renew, amend or dissolve an Assumed Name Certificate is $10.00. The certificate expires after five (5) years. If a business registration is not renewed, the name can be given out to someone else. The Clerk's Office sends out a renewal notice a few weeks prior the expiration date. At the time of filing, this office will verify if the business name is available in this county. Once accepted, two (2) certified copies of the certificate are provided to the business owner. It is your responsibility to check local telephone books and news media to make certain there are no existing businesses using the name you have selected. The Certificate of Assumed Name/Co partnership is not complicated, but they are legal documents. A person must be at least eighteen (18) years of age (legal age for an adult) to file a DBA. Information given on them should be as complete and accurate as possible. This office reserves the right to refuse any name that is "so nearly similar thereto as to lead to confusion or deception." Notarization of the certificate is required. This office will notarize the document if the owner has a current valid driver's licenses or state-issued ID. If more than one person owns the business and you wish the Clerk's office to notarize, everyone listed on the DBA must appear in the Clerk's office with proper ID. Please note: the only function of this office is to file business names at the county level. There may be other local, state and federal requirements and regulations, which affect your business. Please contact MI.Gov/Help
If you wish to obtain a certified copy of an Assumed Name on file, mail your request to: Montmorency County Clerk PO Box 789 Atlanta, MI 49709
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I use any name I want? No. The Co-partnership Act and Fictitious Name Act require that the name of a sole proprietorship or co-partnership cannot be that same or similar to a name already on file with the county so as to cause confusion or deception to the public. I need a DBA for my bank, but my business is incorporated. What should I do? If you are incorporated, the only place you should file an assumed name is with the State of Michigan--the same as your Articles of Incorporation. The instructions and application for filing electronically can be found on the State of Michigan website. The bank should not be advising corporations to file at the county. Effective October 30th, 2017. Go to Michigan.Gov for more information.
If I file a DBA in all 83 counties of Michigan, will that protect my business name? No. Filing your business name does not create substantive rights to the use of that name.
Why do I have to register my business with the County? Michigan law requires that persons, who own, conduct or transact business in a county, register the business name in the county as a matter of public record. If my business has been incorporated with the state, do I still need to file with the County? No, the following entities do not file at the county level:
Corporations
Limited partnerships
Limited liability companies
Assumed names owned by corporations
Non profit organizations
To obtain a state tax ID number, contact the Department of Treasury at (231) 922-5230. To obtain a federal tax ID number contact the Internal Revenue Service at (800) 829-1040 (Service Center). Profit and not-for-profit corporations Go to Michigan.Gov for more information. You can also contact Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center. Or you can write Montmorency County Clerk PO Box 789 Atlanta, MI 49709 For more information, call the Montmorency County Clerk's office at (989) 785-8022.