How to File a DBA in Delaware
In Delaware a DBA is a trade name certificate filed statewide with the Division of Revenue for $25, with no newspaper publication and no fixed renewal. Attorney review available.
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Introduction
Delaware is the rare state that registers a DBA through its Division of Revenue rather than a court or the Secretary of State; filed as a trade name, it lets a person or business use a name different from the owner's legal name and creates no separate legal entity. Delaware changed how this works: as of February 2, 2026, trade names are managed by the Delaware Division of Revenue instead of the Superior Court, so you no longer file with the Prothonotary in each county. You file one trade name certificate statewide with the Division of Revenue, through the Delaware One Stop portal, when your business name does not disclose the legal name of each owner (6 Del. C. 3101). The statewide filing fee is $25 (6 Del. C. 3103), and the Division of Revenue records the certificate in the Delaware Trade Name Registry. Filing a trade name does not create a corporation or an LLC, does not shield the owner from liability, and does not give a trademark or an exclusive right to the name. Delaware does not require you to publish a trade name notice in a newspaper, and the statute sets no fixed expiration or periodic renewal for the certificate. The person signing provides an affidavit that the facts stated are true and correct, and if the membership of the business changes you file a supplemental certificate within 10 days (6 Del. C. 3102). DocDraft builds your Delaware trade name certificate from your facts, with attorney review available before you file.
Key Things to Know
- 1
Delaware registers a DBA as a trade name filed statewide through the Division of Revenue's One Stop portal since February 2026. It is a business name different from the owner's legal name, and it creates no separate legal entity.
- 2
You file one trade name certificate with the Delaware Division of Revenue, not with a county and not with the Secretary of State (6 Del. C. 3101). As of February 2, 2026 the Division of Revenue manages trade names, which the Superior Court handled before.
- 3
Delaware registers trade names statewide, so there is one filing and one fee. The filing fee is $25 (6 Del. C. 3103), and you file through the Delaware One Stop online portal.
- 4
You must register a trade name when your business name does not disclose the legal name of each owner (6 Del. C. 3101). A sole proprietor using their own full legal name may not need one.
- 5
Delaware does not require you to publish a trade name notice in a newspaper. There is no publication step and no affidavit of publication to file after you register.
- 6
The Delaware trade name statute sets no fixed expiration and no periodic renewal for the certificate. You file a supplemental certificate within 10 days if the membership of the business changes (6 Del. C. 3102).
- 7
A trade name does not give you ownership of or an exclusive right to the name, and it does not limit your liability. A sole proprietor with a trade name is still personally responsible for the business.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a DBA (Doing Business As) in Delaware, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The DBA (Doing Business As) guide walks through them.
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Delaware Requirements for DBA (Doing Business As)
File With the Division of Revenue
In Delaware a DBA is a trade name certificate filed with the Delaware Division of Revenue, not with a county and not with the Secretary of State (6 Del. C. 3101). Since February 2, 2026 the Division of Revenue manages trade names, which the Superior Court handled before.
Statewide Filing and 25 Dollar Fee
Delaware registers trade names statewide, so you file one certificate and pay one fee. The filing fee is 25 dollars (6 Del. C. 3103), and you file through the Delaware One Stop online portal.
The Trade Name
The exact trade name to register. It must not include a word such as Corporation, Incorporated, LLC, or Limited unless the registrant is that type of entity, and a registration is required when the name does not disclose the legal name of each owner.
Registrant and Members
The full legal name and address of the registrant, the type of registrant, and the legal name of each member who makes up a firm or association, since a trade name must disclose the legal name of every owner.
Principal Place of Business
The Delaware street address and county of the principal place of business under the trade name, plus a mailing address if it differs. The filing itself is statewide with the Division of Revenue.
No Newspaper Publication
Delaware does not require you to publish a trade name notice in a newspaper. Once the Division of Revenue records the certificate in the Delaware Trade Name Registry, there is no publication step and no affidavit of publication to file.
No Fixed Expiration
The Delaware trade name statute sets no fixed expiration and no periodic renewal for the certificate. File a supplemental certificate with the Division of Revenue within 10 days if the membership of the business changes (6 Del. C. 3102).
No Entity, No Trademark, No Liability Shield
A Delaware trade name is only a name registration. It creates no separate legal entity, gives no exclusive right or trademark in the name, and does not limit the personal liability of a sole proprietor or general partner.