(703) 691-7320
TTY 711
John T. Frey,
Clerk of the Court
On January 1, 2020, the Fairfax Circuit Court Clerk’s Office stopped accepting new Certificates of assumed or fictitious names (also known as Trade Names). All new Certificates of assumed or fictitious names are filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. You may contact the Virginia State Corporation Commission for questions regarding the filing of new Certificates of assumed or fictitious names. The Fairfax Circuit Court Clerk’s Office accepts Trade Name Dissolutions (also known as Certificates of Release) for filing, if the original Certificate of assumed or fictitious name was filed with the Fairfax Circuit Court.
A Fictitious Trade Name is required if a business is conducted in Virginia under a name other than the owner's legal name. Until December 31, 2019, Assumed or Fictitious Name Certificates were filed in the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office in each county or city where business was to be conducted. As of January 1, 2020, pursuant to Virginia Code §59.1-69, Certificates of Assumed or Fictitious Name are filed with the State Corporation Commission. If a Certificate of Assumed or Fictitious Name was filed with the Fairfax Circuit Court Clerk’s Office prior to January 1, 2020, and you want to file a Dissolution of a Trade Name (also known as a Certificate of Release), you may file the Dissolution of Trade Name with Fairfax Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.
The Trade Name index may be researched on Court Public Access Network (CPAN). Access to CPAN is available at public computer terminals at the Fairfax County Courthouse in the Public Service Division on the 1st floor (Suite 116) or the Land Records Research Room on the 3rd floor. The Research Room is open to the public from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Access to CPAN is also available via the web by paid subscription.
If you want to file an Assumed or Fictitious Name Certificate for a new business, please contact the Virginia State Corporation Commission.
Virginia State Corporation Commission
804-371-9733
www.scc.virginia.gov
Fairfax Circuit Court
4110 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 116
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
ATTN: Trade Name Dissolutions
Hours for filing a Dissolution of a Trade Name are 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you have any questions call the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 703-691-7320. Press 3, 4 (TTY 711).
Certificate of Release of Assumed or Fictitious Name on File in a Circuit Court
Virginia Code Sections Pertaining to Trade Names:
§59.1-69, §59.1-70, §59.1-70.1, §59.1-74
