Register a DBA in Puerto Rico

What the law requires

Puerto Rico has no mandatory DBA/assumed-name filing act. Trade names ('nombres comerciales') are governed by a dedicated statute, Act 75-1992, which creates a voluntary registry at the Department of State: registration is expressly 'potestativo' (optional) but confers on the owner the exclusive right to use the name in Puerto Rico commerce. The trademark act (Act 169-2009) applies suppletorily, and Department of State Regulation 9584 (Aug. 30, 2024) supplies the filing procedure, 10-year term, and maintenance requirements. Statutory text is in Spanish.

"El registro del nombre comercial en el Departamento de Estado de Puerto Rico es potestativo y confiere a su titular el derecho exclusivo al uso en el tráfico económico en Puerto Rico." — Ley 75-1992 art. 4; 10 L.P.R.A. § 225b

Where filings go

The Registro de Nombres Comerciales kept by the Secretary of State (Departamento de Estado). Filings are made electronically through the Department's online Sistema de Marcas y Nombres Comerciales platform (Regulation 9584 requires electronic filing).

"Se autoriza y ordena al Secretario de Estado del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico a establecer un registro de Nombres Comerciales del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico de conformidad con las disposiciones de esta ley." — Ley 75-1992 art. 3; 10 L.P.R.A. § 225a; see Reglamento 9584, Regla 6 (electronic filing)

How long it lasts

Ten years from the date of registration (set by regulation, not by the act itself). Maintenance also requires a Declaration of Continued Use filed once between the 5th and 6th year after registration (registration is cancelled if missed), and, for applications filed on an intent-to-use basis, a Declaration of First Use within 3 years of the filing date. Renewal: Renewal application with proof of use and payment of the renewal fee, filed between the 9th and 10th year before the expiration date, for successive 10-year periods; an additional 6-month grace period follows expiration. The Registry sends NO renewal reminders, and a renewal filed after the grace period is denied - the owner must start over with a new application.

"Todo registro de Nombre Comercial tendra una vigencia de diez (10) anos a partir de la fecha del registro del Nombre Comercial. [OCR text; accents missing in source scan]" — Reglamento 9584 (Dep't de Estado, 30 de agosto de 2024), Regla 35(A)-(G); see also Reglas 32 (first use) and 34 (continued use, 5th-6th year)

Name restrictions

A trade name will not be registered if it is identical or similar to a mark or another trade name already registered or applied-for such that confusion or mistake in the public mind is very likely. The marks act's bars on registration (Act 169-2009 art. 5) also apply suppletorily to the extent compatible.

"No se registrará ningún nombre comercial que sea idéntico o similar a una marca u otro nombre comercial ya inscrito o solicitado su registro, que sea muy probable que ocasione confusión o equivocación en la mente del público." — Ley 75-1992 art. 5; 10 L.P.R.A. § 225c; see Ley 75-1992 art. 6 (10 L.P.R.A. § 225d, marks act applies suppletorily)

Entities and assumed names

Puerto Rico has no separate entity assumed-name/DBA filing mechanism in the captured corpus. Corporations and other juridical persons that want protection for an operating name use the same voluntary nombre comercial registry at the Department of State; the procedural regulation expressly provides for corporate applicants (state/country of organization must be stated). The official FAQ lists the merchant registry ('registro de comerciante') and municipal license only as examples of the license evidence that accompanies an application, not as name filings.

"La ciudadania del Solicitante; si fuere una corporacion, firma o asociacion, el pais o estado con arreglo cuyas leyes se organizo o incorporo [OCR text]" — Reglamento 9584, Regla 9(A)(4); see PR Dep't of State FAQ ('Registro de Marcas y Nombres Comerciales'), Nombres Comerciales Q4