The filing fee for filing a Statement of Abandonment is $39.00 for one business name being abandoned, plus $10 for each additional business name being abandoned on the same form. Payment may be made with cash (no cash by mail, please), a check (California bank, please), or money order payable to Ventura County Clerk and a self-addressed, stamped envelope (if mailed). FALSE OR MISLEADING INFORMATION (B&P Code § 17930)
Any person who executes, files, or publishes any fictitious business name statement, knowing that such statement is false, in whole or in part, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1000). REQUIREMENTS TO PUBLISH THE FBN STATEMENT (B&P Code § 17924)
Within 30 days after the fictitious business name statement has been filed with the county clerk, the statement must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the principal place of business is located. The newspaper selected should be one that circulates in the area where the business is to be conducted. The statement must be published once a week for four successive weeks with at least five days between each date of publication. An affidavit of publication must be filed with the county clerk within 30 days after the completion of the publication. If a refiling is required because the prior statement has expired, the refiling need not be published unless there has been a change in the information required in the expired statement, provided the refiling is filed within 40 days of the date the statement expired. (B&P Code § 17917, Gov. Code § 6064) EXPIRATION OF FBN STATEMENT (B&P Code § 17920)
- Unless the statement expires earlier under (b) or (c) below, a fictitious business name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A renewal statement must be filed before the expiration date.
- A fictitious business name statement expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement, except the following changes:
- A change in the registrant's residence address, if the residence address is different than the business address, or
- Filing a statement of withdrawal from partnership by a withdrawing partner whose residence address is not the business address.
- A fictitious business name statement expires when the registrant files a statement of abandonment of use of the fictitious business name.
Forms are available on-line or upon request. To download and complete the form on-line, click here. For assistance, contact our Office at (805) 654-3790, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE ABANDONMENT (Sec. 17922 B&P Code)
Type or print legibly and firmly in black ink Review the completed statement for errors. If the statement is filed with errors, it cannot be corrected without filing a new statement and paying the applicable fees. Please complete the proper form using the filing information and the file number from your current FBN Statement (the one being abandoned). Do not remove the carbon paper (if applicable). Copies will be provided to you. Illegible documents will be returned. Do not use correction fluid or the like to make corrections to the statement.
- Insert the fictitious business name(s) being abandoned. The name(s) must be the exact name(s) as shown on the fictitious business name statement. More than one business name may be listed on the abandonment form ONLY if all the names were originally listed on the same FBN Statement form. If more than one name is listed, number each name; the clerk's form Additional Information may be used to list additional names.
- Insert the street address of the principal place of business. (P.O. Box, postal drop box, mailing suite, or c/o addresses are not acceptable.) If there is no place of business in California, insert the street address of the principal place of business outside of California.
- Insert the file date and file number of the fictitious business name statement being abandoned.
- List each registrant (owner/partner) and residence address separately; include all registrants that appeared on the original statement other than partners who have previously withdrawn from the partnership. Use the clerk's form Additional Information to list additional names:
Individual: Insert full name and residence address* of the individual.
Partnership or other association of persons: Insert full name and residence address* of each current general partner.
Business Trust: Insert full name and address of each trustee.
Corporation: Insert the name of the corporation as set out in the articles of incorporation and the state of incorporation.
Limited Liability Company: Insert the name of the LLC as set out in the articles of organization and the state of organization.
*(P.O. Box, postal drop box, mailing suite, and c/o addresses are not acceptable.)
- Individual: The individual must sign.
Partnership or other association of persons: A general partner must sign.
Business Trust: A trustee must sign.
Corporation: An officer of the corporation must sign and indicate his/her title. (Signature of an agent or an assistant officer is not acceptable.)
Limited Liability Company: An officer or manager must sign and indicate his/her title. (Signature of an agent is not acceptable.)
Hall of Administration, Main Plaza
800 South Victoria Avenue
Ventura, CA 93009-1210