The headquarters of the Department of Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk is located at 12400 Imperial Highway in the City of Norwalk. There are also branch offices in Van Nuys, Lancaster and near the Los Angeles Airport (La Cienega Blvd. - see below) where assistance with business filings is offered.

DISTRICT OFFICES DO NOT PROCESS MAIL REQUESTS.

NOTE:  This office does not issue Business Licenses. To obtain a License, contact the City Hall within the city where the business will be conducted. For a business to be conducted in an unincorporated area of the County, contact the Los Angeles County Business License office at (213) 974-0093.

TRADEMARKS AND TRADENAMES

Contact the Commissioner for Trademarks, 2900 Crystal Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22202-3513

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME (FBN) STATEMENT:

Prior to opening a business, a business name must be selected that is not already in use and then registered. Business and Professional Code 17918 specifies "No person transacting business under a fictitious business name contrary to the provisions of this chapter, or his assignee, may maintain any action upon or on account of any contract made, or transaction had, in the fictitious business name in any court of this state until the fictitious business name statement has been executed, filed, and published as required by this chapter. For the purposes of this section, the failure to comply with subdivision (b) of Section 17917 does not constitute transacting business contrary to the provisions of this chapter.

The first time filing fee for the Fictitious Business Name Statement is $23.00 for one business name and two registrants. The renewal filing fee for the Fictitious Business Name Statement is $18.00 for one business name and up to two registrants. There is an additional fee of $4.00 for both first time filing and renewal filing for each additional name and/or registrant.

Renewals:  A fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it is filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date if you intend to continue doing business under that name. A renewal only requires completion of the application and a $18.00 fee and $4.00 for each additional name/registrant. A renewal does not require publication.

State law requires that within 30 days the registrant must publish a statement in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the principal place of business is located once a week for four successive weeks.

Click here for A LIST OF NEWSPAPERS OF GENERAL CIRCULATION.

You may use the Fictitious Business Name Application Form to file an FBN.

Click here for APPLICATION FOR FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT 

If you choose to mail your FBN application instead of filing it in person, please use the following address:

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME SEARCH:

Locating a fictitious business name may be conducted in person, by mail, or over the Internet if at the Norwalk office.

Click here for AN INTERNET SEARCH OF A NAME.

We cannot accept telephone requests for business name searches.

Business name searches and/or filings can be conducted in person at the following Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's office locations:

Van Nuys District Office
14340 W. Sylvan Street
Van Nuys, CA 91401
Search hours:  8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F, except holidays
Business name filing hours are 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
(818) 376-3777

LAX District Office
11701 S. La Cienega Bl., 6th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Search Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F , except holidays
Business name filing hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
(310) 727-6142

Lancaster District Office (Filings only - no searches at this time.)
1028 W. Avenue J2
Lancaster, CA 93534
Business name filing hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
(661) 945-6446

Please note that searches at the branch offices only yield the business name, document number, and the date filed. Additional information regarding the business in question can only be obtained from our Norwalk office via mail or visit to the Norwalk office.

Detailed searches can be ordered by mailing a written request to:

AND should include the following information:

1. Name of the business
2. Address of the business

PLEASE MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO L.A. COUNTY CLERK

The search fee is $5 per name. If a search reveals the company name, the copy fee per page is .46¢ unless a certified copy is needed and then the fee is $2 per page. A check or money order payable to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk must accompany the written request and should also include a stamped self-addressed return envelope. The search fee is non-refundable. A "No Record Statement" will be issued if a record is not found.

Renewals:  A fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it is filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed prior to that date if you intend to continue doing business under that name. A renewal only requires completion of the application and a $18.00 fee and $4.00 for each additional name/registrant. A renewal does not require publication.