Register a Business Name in La Paz County, AZ
In Arizona, this is handled by the County Recorder — here's what to expect and where to go.
The Secretary of State's online filing menu lists the “Trade Name Registration Application” at a “$10.00 Filing Fee”, and a renewal at the same (as of 26 September 2026). That is the ceiling A.R.S. § 41-126(A)(4) allows — “no more than ten dollars” — and (A)(5) allows “no more than three dollars” ($3) to issue the certificate of registration.
Registering a trade name with the Secretary of State is voluntary — A.R.S. § 44-1460(A) says a business may register. It does not create exclusive rights to the name, but it adds public notice. What is not optional is the other route. If you trade under a name that does not show the owner's name, and you have not filed with the Secretary of State, A.R.S. § 44-1236(A) says you shall record a certificate with the County Recorder for the county your place of business is in. The two are alternatives: § 44-1236(E) exempts anyone who has filed a trade name certificate with the Secretary of State. Partnerships are outside § 44-1236 altogether. And the reason it matters — § 44-1236(D) says a business trading contrary to the section cannot maintain an action on a contract made in that name until it records the certificate. Recording fees are set by the County Recorder; call before you go.
A.R.S. § 44-1236(A)(1) requires the owner's certificate to be "signed by the owner and acknowledged".
Source: A.R.S. § 44-1236(A)(1) ↗ — “The name of the owner of the business and his or her place of residence, signed by the owner and acknowledged.” (as of 26 September 2026)
⚠️ This office does not process DBA registration. Use the agency linked above. The office below is your county's Clerk of the Superior Court — useful for other services.
Filing a DBA somewhere else in Arizona? See the Arizona DBA guide for statewide requirements and fees.