Significant changes are coming to Delaware’s trade name (DBA/fictitious name) registration process. Beginning February 2, 2026, Delaware will transition away from its long-standing county-level filing system and move to a statewide platform administered through the Delaware Division of Revenue. All filings will be handled online through the Delaware One Stop Portal, and applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
What is Changing?
This new system introduces several important shifts. First, none of the trade names currently filed at a county level will automatically transfer into the new statewide platform. Existing trade names will need to be re-registered, with each registration requiring payment of the state’s $25 fee. Second, once a trade name is registered in the new system by a business that is actively conducting business in Delaware, that trade name will no longer expire or require renewal. For entities that do not actively conduct business in the state, but still wish to secure a Delaware trade name, the state will instead require the purchase of a “Trade Name Only” business license. This license will cost $25 per year and will expire on December 31 annually.
Who Will be Impacted?
These changes will impact Delaware-based businesses and out-of-state entities that maintain a trade name in Delaware. Because existing trade name filings are not being transitioned into the new platform, entities with a current Delaware trade name will need to proactively take steps to re-register.
How Can Businesses Prepare?
To prepare for the transition, businesses should create or ensure they have access to a Delaware One Stop account prior to the go-live date of February 2, 2026. Whether done internally, or with assistance from counsel, having this account ready will allow you to act immediately once the new system opens. Businesses should also begin assembling the information that will be required for each trade name registration, including:
- Trade name
- Legal name of entity
- Entity address
- Ownership information (i.e., names and addresses of officers, directors, and/or shareholders with more than a 10% equity interest)
- Entity formation date
- State of formation
- Nature of business
What Are the Next Steps?
It is important to register your trade name as soon as the new system goes live. Because new applications will be processed in the order in which they are received, delaying registration introduces the risk that another business could register the same or a sufficiently similar trade name before you do. Since existing records are not being automatically transitioned over, failing to re-register promptly may result in your company losing the name it has been operating under. If you have questions about how these updates may affect your existing or planned trade names, or if you would like assistance managing the transition, contact the Attorneys at Dvorak Law Group for assistance or visit https://onestop.delaware.gov/ for more information.
About Dvorak Law Group, LLC
Dvorak Law Group, LLC is a full-service business, estate and wealth transfer planning, and litigation law firm with offices in Omaha, Hastings, Sutton, and Columbus, Nebraska, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It serves individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations, and government entities in Nebraska, South Dakota, and throughout the country. To learn more about Dvorak Law Group, please visit www.dvoraklawgroup.com.
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