Delaware Trade Names Move to a Centralized DOR Registry

At-a-Glance: How the New System Behaves

• What remains valid without action
  Trade Names filed with the courts before February 2, 2026 remain valid, do not expire, and were not automatically transferred into the DOR registry.
• When the system requires you to act
  Any new Trade Name registration, re-registration, certificate request, update, or termination must be processed through the DOR registry and is subject to eligibility checks at the time of filing.
• Where filings now happen
  All new Trade Name filings and future Trade Name actions are submitted online through Delaware One Stop.

What Actually Changed on February 2, 2026

Before the transition, Delaware Trade Names were filed on paper using original notarized wet signatures with county Superior Courts. Each court maintained separate records, and Trade Name filings operated independently of state licensing systems.

As of February 2, 2026:

• New Trade Name filings are submitted through a single statewide online portal
• Paper filings and notarization are no longer accepted
• Trade Name records are consolidated into a centralized DOR-managed registry
• Certain Trade Name actions are now blocked unless licensing prerequisites are met

These changes affect how filings are processed, not the underlying validity of existing Trade Names.

What Is Not Changing

Trade Names filed with the Delaware Superior Courts before February 2, 2026 remain valid and continue to exist.

Trade Names do not expire and are not subject to a new annual or periodic renewal requirement.

Delaware is not requiring universal re-registration, and court-filed Trade Names were not automatically transferred into the DOR registry.

What has changed is how new Trade Name actions are processed going forward.

How the New Two-Part Model Works

Delaware now administers Trade Names through two connected components:

1. The Trade Name record, which reflects the public-facing name used in commerce. 
2. The Delaware business license, which reflects the business’s licensing relationship with the state.

While Trade Names themselves are not legal entities and do not expire, Trade Name filings processed through DOR must be associated with an active business license. Delaware uses this licensing relationship as the administrative basis for accepting or rejecting Trade Name filings.

In practice, this means Trade Name filings succeed or fail based on license status and good standing at the moment an action is submitted.

Certificates of Good Standing and Filing Eligibility

After the transition, the Division of Revenue will issue Trade Name certificates only for Trade Names that are registered in the DOR registry.

To complete either:

• a new Trade Name registration, or
• the re-registration of an existing court-filed Trade Name into the DOR system,

the business must meet both conditions below at the time the filing is submitted:

• Hold an active Delaware business license; and
• Be in good standing with the Delaware Secretary of State

If either condition is not met, the Trade Name registration or re-registration cannot be completed. The system will not accept the filing until the underlying issue is resolved.

Court-filed Trade Names that remain outside the DOR system continue to exist and remain valid. However, they are not eligible for Trade Name certificates issued by the Division of Revenue.

Selecting the Appropriate Business License

Trade Name filings frequently fail due to selection of an incorrect license type. Delaware distinguishes between entities that are actively conducting business in the state and entities that require Trade Name registration without an in-state operating presence.

General Delaware Business License

A general Delaware business license is required when an entity is actively conducting business in Delaware, such as maintaining a physical presence, employing personnel, or engaging in ongoing revenue-generating activity within the state.

Where a general business license is already in place, it supports Trade Name registration without the need for a separate license type.

Trade Name–Only Business License

Many Delaware entities are formed in the state but do not actively conduct business there. These entities may nevertheless require Trade Name registration for purposes such as banking, contracting, or branding.

In such cases, Delaware provides a Trade Name–Only business license. This license allows a Trade Name to be registered and administered through DOR without treating the entity as actively operating in Delaware.

The appropriate license depends on the nature of the entity’s activities.

When Re-Registration Becomes Necessary

Re-registration of an existing court-filed Trade Name is not mandatory. It becomes necessary only when a business requires DOR to process a Trade Name-related action.

Re-registration should be evaluated when a business needs to:

• obtain a Trade Name certificate issued by DOR;
• update or terminate an existing Trade Name;
• administer the Trade Name within the centralized DOR registry; or
• consolidate management of multiple Trade Names within a single system.

If a business proceeds with re-registration, the filing is subject to the same eligibility requirements described above.

Practical Considerations Going Forward

Because the new system is already in effect, businesses should consider whether future activities will require interaction with the DOR registry.

Trade Name filings are most commonly triggered by:

• requests from banks for Trade Name certificates;
• contractual or counterparty requirements for DBA documentation;
• planned rebranding, name changes, or Trade Name terminations; or
• the need to centrally administer multiple Trade Names.

Absent one of these triggers, no immediate action is required for existing Trade Names.

Key Takeaways

Delaware’s Trade Name modernization affects how Trade Name filings are processed, not whether existing Trade Names remain valid.

Trade Names continue to exist without expiration. However, new registrations, re-registrations, and certificate requests are now processed through the DOR registry and are subject to licensing and good-standing checks at the time of filing.

Understanding these conditions in advance allows businesses to avoid rejected filings, delays, and unnecessary compliance activity.

As states continue modernizing registries, many teams rely on structured annual/periodic compliance support and a centralized system of record, such as Entity Central^®, to keep filings, renewals, and entity data current as requirements change.

This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered, or relied upon, as legal advice.