Do Attorneys in New York State Have to File Business Certificates for Their Own Law Firm?

A business certificate is used to register an assumed name when starting a business. In New York, business certificates are issued by a county clerk's office.

Sole Businesses

Attorneys who conduct business under their own name are not required to file a business certificate with their local county Clerk. If the Attorney wishes to operate under an assumed business name, then he is required to register that name.

LLPs

Limited Liability Partnerships register an assumed name along with the rest of their business filings. Once the filings have been processed, the county will issue the members of an LLP a Certificate of Registration.

Certificate of Assumed Name

Under New York Law, all limited partnerships are required to operate under their legal name, the name on the certificate of registration as of December 2010. Conducting business under a different name requires filing a Certificate of Assumed Name.

References

• State of New York: Limited Liability Partnerships Filings
• State of New York: Filing a Certificate of Assumed Name
• Business.gov: Starting a Business in New York