Pa. Cons. Stat. » 54 Pa. Cons. Stat. (NAMES) / Chapter 3
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

54 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 303 (2026)

 Scope of chapter.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 303.  Scope of chapter.

(a)  Voluntary registration.--Any one or more entities may elect to register a fictitious name under this chapter for the purpose of establishing a public record of their relationship to any business or other activity carried on under or through such fictitious name.

(b)  Mandatory registration.--

(1)  Except as provided in paragraph (2), any entity which either alone or in combination with any other entity conducts any business in this Commonwealth under or through any fictitious name shall register the fictitious name under this chapter and shall amend such registration whenever necessary to maintain the accuracy of the information disclosed thereby.

(2)  Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any:

(i)  Nonprofit or professional activities.

(ii)  Activities which are expressly or impliedly prohibited by law from being carried on under a fictitious name.

(iii)  (Deleted by amendment).

(iv)  Unincorporated association.

(v)  (Deleted by amendment).

(vi)  (Deleted by amendment).

(vii)  (Deleted by amendment).

(viii)  (Deleted by amendment).

(c)  Other restrictions unaffected.--The registration of a fictitious name under this chapter shall not be a defense to any action or proceeding brought to enforce any law which expressly or impliedly prohibits any activity from being carried on under a fictitious name.

(d)  Effect of registration.--The registration of a name under this chapter does not render the name unavailable for use by another entity.

(Dec. 21, 1988, P.L.1444, No.177, eff. Oct. 1, 1989; Dec. 7, 1994, P.L.703, No.106, eff. 60 days; June 22, 2000, P.L.356, No.43, eff. 60 days; Oct. 22, 2014, P.L.2640, No.172, eff. July 1, 2015)

 

2014 Amendment.  Act 172 added subsec. (d).

2000 Amendment.  Act 43 deleted subsec. (b)(2)(iii), (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii).

1988 Amendment.  Act 177 amended subsec. (b)(2).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases, 1984–2012 · leading case: Commonwealth Ex Rel. Corbett v. Peoples Benefit Servs., Inc., 923 A.2d 1230 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2007).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Commonwealth Ex Rel. Corbett v. Peoples Benefit Servs., Inc., 923 A.2d 1230 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2007). “(c) Fictitious Names Act Violation 23 Count VI of the Complaint alleges that PBS failed to register names it uses in its marketing and advertising as fictitious names with the Pennsylvania Department of State, thereby violating section 303(b)(1) of the Fictitious Names Act, 54…”
Goldberg v. Bureau of Prof'l & Occupational Affairs, State Bd. of Dentistry, 39 A.3d 497 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012). · cites it 4× “" 54 Pa.C.S. § 303(a) (emphasis added). Registration has advantages.”
Loomis Lake Ass'n by Hughes v. Smith, 531 A.2d 1152 (Pa. 1987). · cites it 2× “Al *624 though unincorporated associations were not specifically exempt or non-exempt prior to the effective date of 54 Pa.C.S. § 303, the Official Source Note to the new Act states that the “applicability of the filing requirements to .”
Commonwealth v. Peoples Benefit Servs., Inc., 895 A.2d 683 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2006). “Count VI Count VI of the Complaint alleges that PBS failed to register names it uses in its marketing and advertising as fictitious names with the Pennsylvania Department of State, thereby violating the Fictitious Names Act, 54 Pa.C.S. § 303(b)(1), 23 and sections 201 —…”
Leprino Foods Co. v. Gress Poultry, Inc., 379 F. Supp. 2d 650 (M.D. Penn. 2005). “” 54 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 303(b). An entity that has failed to register a fictitious name will not be permitted to maintain any action in Pennsylvania until such entity has complied with the Act.”
Paoletta v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 44 Pa. D. & C.3d 230 (1986). · cites it 7× “Accordingly, we hold on this record that the musical group Savannah is an unincorporated association exempt from registration under section 303(b)(2)(iv) of the Fictitious Names Act, 54 Pa.C.S. §303 (b)(2)(iv) and that its suit may proceed.”
Smith Atwell v. Billigen Home Improvements, Inc., 34 Pa. D. & C.3d 578 (1984). “*580 In this connection, the Fictitious Names Act (54 Pa.C.S. §303(b)(1)) requires that, with several exceptions not here applicable, “any entity which either alone or in combination with any other entity conducts any business in this Commonwealth under or through any fictitious…”
Horsemen's Benevolent & Prot. Ass'n v. Atwood, 36 Pa. D. & C.3d 549 (1984). “§301 et seq., also requires the named plaintiff to register its name or be prohibited from maintaining “any action in any tribunal.”
— 54 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 303(a) — 2 cases
Goldberg v. Bureau of Prof'l & Occupational Affairs, State Bd. of Dentistry, 39 A.3d 497 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012). “" 54 Pa.C.S. § 303(a) (emphasis added). Registration has advantages.”
Paoletta v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 44 Pa. D. & C.3d 230 (1986). “Accordingly, we hold on this record that the musical group Savannah is an unincorporated association exempt from registration under section 303(b)(2)(iv) of the Fictitious Names Act, 54 Pa.C.S. §303 (b)(2)(iv) and that its suit may proceed.”
— 54 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 303(b) — 2 cases
Leprino Foods Co. v. Gress Poultry, Inc., 379 F. Supp. 2d 650 (M.D. Penn. 2005). “” 54 Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. § 303(b). An entity that has failed to register a fictitious name will not be permitted to maintain any action in Pennsylvania until such entity has complied with the Act.”
Paoletta v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 44 Pa. D. & C.3d 230 (1986). “Accordingly, we hold on this record that the musical group Savannah is an unincorporated association exempt from registration under section 303(b)(2)(iv) of the Fictitious Names Act, 54 Pa.C.S. §303 (b)(2)(iv) and that its suit may proceed.”
— 54 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 303(b)(1) — 3 cases
Commonwealth Ex Rel. Corbett v. Peoples Benefit Servs., Inc., 923 A.2d 1230 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2007). “(c) Fictitious Names Act Violation 23 Count VI of the Complaint alleges that PBS failed to register names it uses in its marketing and advertising as fictitious names with the Pennsylvania Department of State, thereby violating section 303(b)(1) of the Fictitious Names Act, 54…”
Commonwealth v. Peoples Benefit Servs., Inc., 895 A.2d 683 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2006). “Count VI Count VI of the Complaint alleges that PBS failed to register names it uses in its marketing and advertising as fictitious names with the Pennsylvania Department of State, thereby violating the Fictitious Names Act, 54 Pa.C.S. § 303(b)(1), 23 and sections 201 —…”
Smith Atwell v. Billigen Home Improvements, Inc., 34 Pa. D. & C.3d 578 (1984). “*580 In this connection, the Fictitious Names Act (54 Pa.C.S. §303(b)(1)) requires that, with several exceptions not here applicable, “any entity which either alone or in combination with any other entity conducts any business in this Commonwealth under or through any fictitious…”
— 54 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 303(b)(2)(i) — 3 cases
Goldberg v. Bureau of Prof'l & Occupational Affairs, State Bd. of Dentistry, 39 A.3d 497 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2012). “" 54 Pa.C.S. § 303(a) (emphasis added). Registration has advantages.”
Horsemen's Benevolent & Prot. Ass'n v. Atwood, 36 Pa. D. & C.3d 549 (1984). “§301 et seq., also requires the named plaintiff to register its name or be prohibited from maintaining “any action in any tribunal.”
Paoletta v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 44 Pa. D. & C.3d 230 (1986). “Accordingly, we hold on this record that the musical group Savannah is an unincorporated association exempt from registration under section 303(b)(2)(iv) of the Fictitious Names Act, 54 Pa.C.S. §303 (b)(2)(iv) and that its suit may proceed.”
— 54 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 303(b)(2)(iv) — 2 cases
Loomis Lake Ass'n by Hughes v. Smith, 531 A.2d 1152 (Pa. 1987). “Al *624 though unincorporated associations were not specifically exempt or non-exempt prior to the effective date of 54 Pa.C.S. § 303, the Official Source Note to the new Act states that the “applicability of the filing requirements to .”
Paoletta v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 44 Pa. D. & C.3d 230 (1986). “Accordingly, we hold on this record that the musical group Savannah is an unincorporated association exempt from registration under section 303(b)(2)(iv) of the Fictitious Names Act, 54 Pa.C.S. §303 (b)(2)(iv) and that its suit may proceed.”
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