Assumed Name and Copartnership
Persons who own, conduct, or transact business in Livingston County are required by Michigan law to file a certificate with the County Clerk's Office. Persons must file a separate certificate for each individual business name.
The following entities
do not file at the county level:
- Corporations
- Limited Liability Companies
- Limited Partnerships
- Nonprofit Organizations Owned by Corporations
This office will verify if the business name is available at the time of filing. To ensure the business name you are interested in has not been registered with the state, search the State of Michigan LARA website at
State of Michigan Business Entity Search - LARA.The County Clerk is authorized to reject any assumed name which is likely to mislead the public or is so closely similar to other business names as to lead to confusion or deception.
Please note final approval of a business name is the decision of the Livingston County Clerk.
There are two types of certificates filed at the county level: an assumed name and a copartnership.
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An Assumed Name consists of one or more parties. It is more binding since all parties listed must sign the documents in front of a notary public and no changes can be made without the signatures of all parties involved.
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A Copartnership consists of two or more parties and may be dissolved or changed by the signature of any party.
Notarization of the form is necessary. This office will provide notarization when filing in person. Make sure to bring your state issued photo identification (i.e. driver's license or Michigan state I.D. card).
Both Assumed Name and Copartnership certificates are legal documents. The Clerk's Office is prohibited from providing legal or accounting advice to individuals interested in filing certificates. Please consult your legal or tax experts for such advice.
A person owning, conducting, or transacting a business must be at least 18 years of age. Each business name is valid for 5 years from the date of filing, subject to renewal.
Forms of Payment Accepted: Cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards (credit cards will be assessed a service fee). Make checks and money orders payable to Livingston County Clerk.