DBA/Assumed Name

Payment Information

Personal checks (as of October 28, 2024) and business checks (as of January 1, 2025) will no longer be accepted in Official Public Records. Payment may be made by cash (in person only), Money Order, credit cards (Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express), or cashier's check.

Notice: Effective September 1, 2019, Assume Name Certificates (DBAs) being filed as Corporations, Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies or Foreign Filing Entities are to be filed with the Secretary of State only. 

General Information

• A company doing business in Texas must file an Assumed Name Certificate (DBA or Doing Business As) with the County Clerk of each county in which the business will be conducted. 
• Assumed Name Certificates are good for a period of up to 10 years as indicated on the application. 
• Filing an Assumed Name Certificate does not prevent another party from using the same name. Direct any legal question regarding business name to an attorney. 
• The withdrawal of a partner or abandonment of an assumed name is recorded in the same office.
• Military veterans can obtain a partial waiver of fees. See Business & Commerce Code 71.155(a) Filing Fees.
• You can search here for Assumed Name Certificates (DBA) that are currently on file in Fort Bend County. 
• You can download and print DBA forms from the County Clerk Forms page. For instructions on how to complete the Assumed Name Certificate (DBA), please see the Texas Business and Commerce Code Section 71.052 Contents of Certificate.  
• For additional resources, please go to the Starting a New Business page. 

Recording Fees

The County Clerk accepts MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express credit card payments. See the Credit Card Payments page for more information.