Associate
Some trade names are owned and operated by more than one person. Some trade names may have multiple authorized individuals that are trusted to file documents on the owner’s behalf.
To gain access to and obtain filing permissions for a registered trade name, users who are logged into the trade name online filing system can request to associate using the trade name’s identification number. A trade name’s identification number can be found by searching the public RI Trade Name Database.
Once an association request has been submitted, the trade name’s primary filer will receive an email asking them to accept or reject the request. If confirmed, the owners and any associated individual will be able to file documents on behalf of the trade name, including renewals, amendments, a restoration request, and/or a withdrawal. You should only accept association requests from individuals you trust and authorize to submit filings on behalf of your trade name.
What’s the difference between an owner and an associated individual?
A trade name’s owner is the person/entity that uses the trade name to conduct business. An associated individual is someone who is authorized to file documents on behalf of a trade name by the trade name’s primary filer. An associated individual may also be an owner of a trade name, but they will only appear in the list of owners if the owner information is updated with the proper filing. Learn how to update your trade name’s owner information here.