Sec. 4. (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (i), an individual or a general partnership, other than a limited liability partnership, conducting or transacting business in Indiana under a name, designation, or title other than the real name of the individual or general partnership conducting or transacting the business shall file for record, in the office of the recorder of each county in which a place of business or an office of the individual or general partnership is situated, a certificate stating the assumed name or names to be used and the full name and address of the individual or general partnership engaged in or transacting business.

(b) The recorder shall keep a record of the certificates filed under this section and shall keep an index of the certificates showing, in alphabetical order, the names of the persons and general partnerships having certificates on file in the recorder's office, and the assumed name or names that they intend to use in carrying on their businesses as shown by the certificates.

(c) Before the dissolution of any business for which a certificate is on file with the recorder, the person or general partnership to which the certificate appertains shall file a notice of dissolution for record in the recorder's office.

(d) The county recorder shall charge a fee in accordance with IC 36-2-7-10 for each certificate, notice of dissolution, and notice of discontinuance of use filed with the recorder's office and recorded under this chapter. The funds received shall be receipted as county funds the same as other money received by the recorders.

(e) Except as provided in subsection (i), a filing entity conducting business in Indiana under a name, designation, or title other than the name shown in its organic record shall file with the secretary of state a certificate stating the assumed name or names to be used and the full name and address of the entity's principal office in Indiana.

(f) A filing entity may not include an entity indicator, such as "Inc.", "Corp.", "LLC", "LP", or "LLP" or a similar description in an assumed business name filing, that is inconsistent with the entity type for which the assumed business name is being filed. However, if the entity filing the assumed business name has filed articles of conversion, domestication, or merger that change the entity type, the entity indicator in the assumed business name filing may be inconsistent with the entity type if the conversion, domestication, or merger occurred within the twelve (12) months before the date of the assumed business name filing.

(g) An individual, a general partnership, a corporation, a limited partnership, a limited liability company, or a limited liability partnership, foreign or domestic, that has filed a certificate of assumed business name or names under subsection (a) or (e) may file a notice of discontinuance of use of assumed business name or names with the secretary of state or with the recorder's office in which the certificate was filed or transferred. The secretary of state or the recorder shall keep a record of notices filed under this subsection.

(h) This subsection applies to a foreign or domestic corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company, or limited liability partnership that, before July 1, 2009:

(1) filed a certificate stating the assumed name or names to be used in carrying out the entity's business; and

(2) filed the certificate:

(A) with the secretary of state; and

(B) in the recorder's office.

The entity shall file a notice of dissolution or notice of discontinuance of use of the assumed business name or names with the secretary of state and with the recorder's office in which the certificate was filed or transferred.

(i) This section does not apply to:

(1) an individual doing business under a name, designation, or title that includes the true surname of the individual;

(2) a person other an individual doing business under a name, designation, or title that includes some or all of the true surnames of the individuals comprising the person; or

(3) a church, a lodge, or an association the business of which is conducted or transacted by trustees under a written instrument or declaration of trust that is recorded in the recorder's office of each county in which the business is conducted or transacted.

(j) A person, corporation, foreign corporation, limited liability company, foreign limited liability company, limited partnership, or foreign limited partnership that violates this section commits a Class B infraction.

(k) Compliance with the requirements of Acts 1941, c.192, before July 8, 1965, is considered compliant with this section.

As added by P.L.118-2017, SEC.5.