LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeBusiness and Professions CodeDiv. 7Pt. 3Ch. 5§ 17916 Fictitious Business Name Filing

§ 17916 Fictitious Business Name Filing

Business and Professions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 17916 Fictitious Business Name Filing

Key Takeaways

  • •To register a fake business name, you must give the county clerk the right papers, pay a fee, and show who you are.
  • •The clerk will write down when you filed and when it expires, then give you a copy.
  • •You might need to prove who you are in person or online, depending on the county.

Example

You want to open a lemonade stand called 'Super Lemonade' but your real name is Jane Doe.

You have to tell the county clerk your fake business name, show your ID, pay a fee, and they’ll give you a paper saying it’s official.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 17916 Fictitious Business Name Filing

Presentation for filing of an original fictitious business name statement and one copy of the statement, with proper identification, accompanied by a completed and notarized affidavit of identity, if required by the county clerk, and other documents required in accordance with Section 17913, payment of the filing fee, and acceptance of the statement by the county clerk constitute filing under this chapter. The county clerk shall note on the copy the file number, the date of filing the original, and the date of expiration and shall certify and deliver the copy to the registrant or the registrant’s agent. A county clerk may use a remote identity proofing process as described in subdivision (f) of Section 17913 for purposes of this section. (Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 15, Sec. 2. (AB 716) Effective January 1, 2020.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

fictitious business name statementaffidavit of identityremote identity proofing process

Related Statutes

  • § 17913 Fictitious Business Name Statement Form
  • § 17914 Fictitious Business Name Signatures
  • § 17915 Fictitious Business Name Filing
  • § 17917 Fictitious Business Name Publication
  • § 17918 Fictitious Business Name Enforcement

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Business and Professions Code. Section 17916.
View Official Source