Update: The Delaware Division of Revenue has issued additional guidance clarifying that businesses with existing Delaware trade name registrations will not be required to reapply or re-register their trade names when the new system takes effect on February 2, 2026. Read more in our latest alert here.

Effective February 2, 2026, corporations and LLCs that do business in Delaware under a trade name must re-register their current trade names as part of the state’s transition to a new centralized online trade name registration system. This change, originally scheduled to take effect on June 2, 2025, has been postponed following the Governor’s signing of House Bill 177. You can find more details about the original legislation in our previous alert.

Under House Bill 40, the Delaware Division of Revenue will establish the Delaware Trade Name Registry, an electronic database for recording all trade name filings. As of the new effective date, trade name registrations will no longer be filed with the prothonotaries of the Superior Court in each county. Instead, they will be submitted through the Delaware Division of Revenue’s “One Stop” online portal.

As of February 2, 2026, all businesses with Delaware trade name registrations must re-register through the new online system, but the specific deadline for re-registration has yet to be announced. The Delaware Division of Revenue has been sending notices to existing trade name holders, informing them of the upcoming requirement to re-register. It is important to note that failure to re-register may result in the trade name becoming available for other entities to use.

Barley Snyder will continue to provide updates as they occur. If you have any questions about the new changes or requirements or would like assistance in updating your information on record with the Delaware Department of State, please contact attorneys Anthony Austin, Charmaine Nyman or any member of Barley Snyder’s Business Practice Group.