Registering a Business

Assumed Business Name Registry

Individuals doing business in Randolph County under an assumed business name are required by law to register the business name with the Randolph County Clerk’s office. This requirement includes registration for sole proprietorships and general partnerships. Professional Corporations (P.C.) shall file with the County Clerk under the Assumed Name law.

To apply for an assumed name certificate the business owner must fill out a form. This form can be obtained from our office in person or by mail. The notarized form must be returned to the County Clerk’s office, accompanied by the $20.00 filing fee. After it is filed in our office it must be published for three consecutive weeks in the newspaper of your choice in Randolph County. Publication cost will be your responsibility. After we receive the certificate of publication from the paper, we in turn will send you an Assumed Name Certificate.

Assumed Name Certificate – Download (.PDF)

Articles of Incorporation

If you will have an incorporated, corporated or limited business then you should file for Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State’s office in Springfield. Once these Articles are issued, they should be recorded in the County Clerk’s office.

Campaign Disclosure

Notary Commission

Notary Public Registry

The purpose of notarization is to prevent fraud and forgery. The notary acts as an official and unbiased witness to the identity of person who comes before the notary for a specific purpose.

Notaries are appointed by the Secretary of State for a term of four years. An applicant for an appointment must (1) be a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, (2) be a resident of the State of Illinois for at least 30 days, (3) be at least 18 years of age, (4) be able to read and write the English language, (5) have not been convicted of a felony, and (6) have not had a notary commission revoked during the past 10 years.

An applicant must complete the application form provided by the Secretary of State and must obtain a notary bond valued at $5000 from a bonding or surety company. Once approved the commission will be mailed to the county clerk in which the applicant resides. There it must be recorded before the applicant is officially a notary.

Statements of Economic Interests

Statements of Economic Interest are disclosure forms for public officials, candidates for public office and certain other public employees. Filers must list specific information about their business dealings, outside income and other information. Those required to file must file with the County Clerk annually, no later than May 1.

On August 4, 1993 Public Act 88-187 was signed into law, as an amendment of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act which significantly revises the requirement for filing Statements of Economic Interest.

The following persons must continue to file Statements of Economic Interests:

1. Individuals who are elected to office in a unit of local government and candidates for nomination or election to office.
2. Individuals appointed to a governing board, zoning board or a board of commission of a unit of local government.

Obtaining a Liquor License