Delaware is overhauling how businesses register and manage DBAs, also known as trade names. Beginning February 2, 2026, the state will replace its long-standing county-based system with a centralized, statewide online registration process.

For business owners using or planning to use DBAs in Delaware this change has important implications.

Editor’s Update, June 2, 2025 — Delaware House Bill 177 referenced below has been signed into law. The effective date of the Delaware Trade Name/DBA re-registration process has changed from June 2, 2025 to February 2, 2026. The article below has been updated to reflect this change. 

Editor’s Update, May 20, 2025 — The State of Delaware has announced the introduction of House Bill 177, proposed by Rep. Griffith and Sen. Townsend. Introduced yesterday, May 19, 2025, this bill would delay the effective date of the trade name registration process addressed in House Bill 40 — and detailed below — from June 2, 2025 to February 2, 2026. A Committee Hearing for House Bill 177 is required to take place within 12 legislative days of introduction and it is our understanding that said hearing is on the House agenda for this week, the week of May 19, 2025. As soon as we know an updated status of House Bill 177, we will update the article below.

As of February 2, 2026, all Delaware Trade Name/DBA registrations will shift from Delaware Superior Court prothonotaries to the Delaware Department of Revenue. This effectively makes Delaware DBA registration a state filing instead of a county filing.