No person (as defined in Va. Code § 1-230), partnership, limited liability company or corporation shall conduct or transact business in this Commonwealth under any assumed or fictitious name until they file a certificate with the Circuit Court Clerk’s office in the county or city in which their business is conducted. The person, partnership, limited liability company or corporation shall sign and acknowledge this certificate setting forth:

• Name under which business is to be conducted or transacted;
• Names of each person, partnership, limited liability company or corporation owning the same;
• Post office and residence addresses; and
• When (i) the partnership or limited liability company is a foreign limited partnership or limited liability company, the date of the certificate of registration to transact business in this Commonwealth issued to it by the State Corporation Commission, or (ii) when the corporation is a foreign corporation, the date of the certificate of authority to transact business in this Commonwealth issued to it by the State Corporation Commission.

Expiration of Fictitious Name

When business is no longer conducted in this Commonwealth under an assumed or fictitious name by a limited partnership filing a certificate under Va. Code § 50-73.11, by a foreign limited partnership required to register with the Commission under Va. Code § 50-73.54, or by a limited liability company or corporation, the domestic or foreign limited partnership, limited liability company or corporation may file with the clerk of the State Corporation Commission a copy of a release certificate, duly attested by the clerk of the court in which the certificate is on file. Va. Code § 59.1-70. The notice should be recorded for which the clerk would receive the applicable recordation fee. For more information, refer to:

• Va. Code § 13.1-781
• Va. Code § 50-73.83
• Va. Code § 59.1-69 through 59.1-76
• Va. Code § 17.1-275 (A)(2) and 17.1-275 (A)(37)