LAWS UF DUMINICA
REGISTRATION OF BUSINESS NAMES ACT
CHAPTER 78:46
Act 220f1958
Amended by 210[1960
1 of 1973 200£1977 120£1990
Current Authorised Pages Pages AuJhorised
(inclusive) byL.R.O. 1-13 111991
L.R.O.1I1991
2 Chap. 78:46 Registration ofBusiness Names
Note on
Subsidiary Legislation
'This Chapter contains no Subsidiary Legislation.
3Registration ofBusiness Names Chap. 78:46
CHAPTER 78:46
REGISTRATION OF BUSINESS NAMES ACT
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECI10N
1. Short title. 2. Interpretation. 3. Finns and persons to be registered. 4. Registration by nominee, etc. 5. Manner and particulars of registration. 6. Statement to be signed by persons registering. 7. Time for registration. 8. Registration of changes in fInn. 9. Penalty for default in registration.
10. Disability of persons in default. 11. Penalty for false statements. 12. Duty to furnish particulars to Registrar. 13. Registrar to file statement and issue certifIcate ofregistration. 14. Index to be kept. 15. Removal of names from register. 16. Misleading business names. 17. Inspection of statements registered. 18. Minister may make Rules. 19. Publication of true names, etc. 20. Offences by corporations. 21. Transfer of business or stock-in-trade.
Agreement to transfer or sell business.
SCHEDULE.
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4 Chap. 78:46 Registration ofBusiness Names
1961 Ed. Cap. 327. 22 of 1958.
Commencement.
Short title.
Interpretation.
CHAPTER 78:46
REGISTRATION OF BUSINESS NAMES ACT
AN ACT to provide for the registration of firms and persons carrying on business under business names and for purposes connected therewith.
[21st May 1959]
1. This Act may be cited as the
REGISTRATION OF BUSINESS NAMES ACT.
2. (1) In this Act
"business" includes profession; "business name" means the name or style under which any business is
carried on, whether in partnership or otherwise; "Court" means the High Court or a Judge thereof; "finn" means anunincorporatedbodyoftwoormore individuals, orone
or more individuals and one or more corporations. or two or more corporations. who have entered into partnership with one another with a view to carrying on business for profit;
"foreign finn" means any finn, individual, or corporation whose prin cipal place ofbusiness is situated outside the Commonwealth;
"initial" includes any recognised abbreviation of a forename;
"prescribed" means prescribed by rules made in pursuance of this Act;
"Registrar" means the Registrar of the High Court; "showcards"meanscards containing orexhibiting articles dealtwith, or
samples or representations thereof.
(2) References in this Act toafonner forename orsurname shall not. in the case of any person. include a fonner forename or surname where that name or surname has been changed or disused before the person bearing the name had attained the age of eighteen years, or has been changed or disused for aperiod ofnotless than twenty years; and, in the case of a married woman, shall not include the name or surname by which she was known previous to her marriage.
(3) Anindividualor finn shallnot require to be registeredunder this Act by reason only of a change of his name, or of the name of a member ofthe finn, ifthe change has takenplace before the person who
5Registration ofBusiness Names Chap. 78:46
has changedhis name has attained the ageofeighteen years orifnot less than twenty years have elapsed since it took place.
3. Subject to the provisions of this Act - Finns and persons to be
(a) every finn having a place of business in the State and mgi,tered. carrying on business underabusiness name which does not consist of the true surnames of all partners who are indi viduals and the corporate names of all partners who are corporations without any addition other than the true forenames of individual partners or initials of such forenames;
(b) every individual having aplace ofbusiness in the State and carrying onbusiness under abusiness name which does not consist ofhis true surname without any addition other than his true forenames or the initials thereof;
(c) every individual or finn having a place of business in the State. who. or a member of which has either before or after the commencementof this Act changed his name. except in the case of a woman in consequence of marriage.
shall be registered in the manner directed by this Act: Provided that
(i) where the addition merely indicates that the busi ness is carried on in succession to a fonner owner of the business. that addition shall not of itself render registration necessary;
(ii) where two or more individual partners have the same surname. the addition of an "s" at the end of that surname shall not of itself render registration necessary;
(iii) where the business is carried on by a trustee in bankruptcy or the official receiver or a receiver or manager appointed by the Court. registration shall not be necessary; and
(iv) a purchase or acquisition of property by two or more persons as joint tenants ortenants in common is not of itself to be deemed carrying on a business whether ornot the owners share any profits arising from the sale thereof.
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6 Chap. 78:46 Registration ofBusiness Names
Registration by nominee, etc.
Schedule.
Manner and particulars of registration. [1 of 1973J.
4. Where a finn, individual or corporation having a place of business within the State carries on the business wholly or mainly as nominee or trustee ofor for anotherperson, or otherpersons, or another corporation, or acts as general agent for any foreign finn, the first mentioned finn, individual, or corporation shall be registered in the manner provided by this Act and, in addition to the other particulars required to be furnished and registered, there shall be furnished and registered the particulars mentioned in the Schedule. Where, however, the business is cartied on by a trustee in bankruptcy or the official receiver or a receiver or manager appointed by the Court, registration under this section shall not be necessary.
S. (1) Every finn orperson required under this Actto beregistered shall pay a registration fee of ten dollars, and furnish to the Registrar a statement in writing in the prescribed fonn containing the following particulars:
(a) the business name;
(b) the general nature of the business;
(c) the principal place of the business;
(d) where the registration to be effected is that of a finn, the presentforename andsurname, any fonner forename or surname, the nationality, the usual residence, and the other business occupation, if any, of each of the individuals who are partners, and the corporate name and registered orprincipal office of every corporation which is a partner;
(e) where the registration to be effected is that of an individual, the presentforename and surname, any fonner forename or surname, the nationality, the usual residence, and the otherbusiness occupation, if any, of the individual;
if) where the registration to be effected is that of a corporation, its corporate name and registered or principal office;
(g) ifthe business is commenced after the commence mentofthis Act, the date ofthe commencementof the business.
(2) Where a business is carried on under two or more business names, each of those business names shall be stated.
7Registration ofBusiness Names Chap. 78:46
6. The statement required for the purpose of registration must in Statement to be the case of an individual be signed by him, and in the case of a ~~~;!::rsons corporation by a director or secretary thereof. and in the case of a firm
.either by all the individuals who are partners, and by a director or the secretary of all corporations which are partners or by some individual whois apartner, oradirectororthe secretary ofsome corporationwhich is a partner, and in either of the last two cases must be verified by a statutory declaration made by the signatory; but no such statutory declaration stating that any person other than the declarant is a partner, or omitting to state that any person other than as aforesaid is a partner, shall be evidence for or against any such other person in respect of his liability ornon-liability as a partner, and the Court may, on application ofany person alleged orclaiming to be a partner, direct the rectification of the register and decide any question arising under this section.
7. (1) The particulars required to be furnished under this Act shall Tme fo~ . hed ·thin ~ d ft th fi reglStrauon.be funus WI lourteen ays a er e rm or person commences
business, or the business in respect ofwhich registration is required, as the case may be; but if the firm or person has carried on the business before the coming into force of this Act or commences the business within two months thereafter, the statement of particulars shall be furnished after the expiration of two months and before the expiration of three months from the coming into force of this Act and if at the expiration ofthe two months the conditions affecting the firm orperson have ceased to be such as to require registration under this Act, the firm or person need not be registered so long as the conditions continue.
(2) This section shall apply, in the case where registration is required in consequence ofa change ofname, as if for references to the date of the commencement of the business there were substituted references to the date of the change.
8. Whenever a change is made or occurs in any of the particulars Registration of . red' f any fi the fi hall changes m finn.regIste ill respect 0 rm or person, rm or person s ,
within fourteen days after the change, or such longer period as the Registrar may, on application being made in any particular case, whether before or after the expiration of the fourteen days, allow, furnish to the Registrar a statement in writing in the prescribed form specifying the nature and dateofthechange signed and where necessary verified, in like manner as the statement required on registration.
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8 Chap. 78:46 Registration ofBusiness Names
Penalty for default in registration.
Disability of persons in default.
9. Ifany finn orperson required by this Act to furnish a statement ofparticulars or ofany change in particulars without reasonable excuse makes default in so doing in the manner and within the time specified by this Act, every partner in the finn or the person so in default is liable on summary conviction to a fine of two hundred and fifty dollars for every day during which the default continues, and the Magistrate shall order a statementofthe required particulars orchange in the particulars to be furnished to the Registrar within such time as may be specified in the order.
10. (1) Where any finn or person required by this Act to furnish a statementofparticulars orofany changein particulars has made default in so doing then, subject to the provisions of subsection (2), the rights ofthatdefaulterunderorarising outofany contractmade orenteredinto by or on behalf of the defaulter in relation to the business in respect to the carrying on ofwhich particulars were required to be furnished at any time while he is in default shall not be enforceable by action or other legal proceeding either in the business name or otherwise.
(2) (a) The defaulter may apply to the Court forrelief against the disability imposed by this section, and the Court, on being satisfied that the default was accidental, or due to inadvertence or some other sufficient cause, or that on other grounds it is just and equitable to grant relief, may grant the reliefeither generally or as respects any particular contracts, on condition of the costs ofthe application being paid by the defaulter, unless the Court otherwise orders, and on such other condi tions' ifany, as the Court may impose, but the reliefshall not be granted except on such service and such publication ofnotice ofthe application as the Courtmayorder, norshall reliefbe givenin respectofany contract if any party to the contract proves to the satisfaction of the Court that, if this Act had been complied with, he would not have entered into the contract.
(b) Nothing herein contained shall prejudice the rights of any other parties as against the defaulter in respect of the contract as aforesaid.
(c) Ifany action orproceeding is commencedby any other party against the defaulter to enforce his rights of such party in respect of the contract, nothing herein contained shall preclude the defaulter from enforcingin that action orproceeding, by way ofcounterclaim, set off, orotherwise, such rights as he may have against that party in respect of the contract.
9Registration ofBusiness Names Chap. 78:46
(3) Without prejudice to the power of the Court to grant such relief as aforesaid, if any proceeding to enforce any contract is com menced by a defaulter in a district Court the last named Court may, as respects that contract, grant the relief as aforesaid.
11. Ifany statement required to be furnished underthis Actcontains Penalty forlalse any matter which is false in any material particular to the knowledge of statements. any person signing it, that person on summary conviction is liable to a fine of one thousand dollars and to imprisonment for three months.
12. (1) The Registrarmay require any person to furnish tohim such Duty to funUsh particulars as he thinks necessary for the purpose of ascertaining ~:~~: to whether or not such person or the firm of which he is partner should be registered under this Act, or an alteration made in the registered particulars, and may also, in the case of a corporation, require the secretary, or any other officer ofa corporation performing the duties of secretary, to furnish such particulars, and any person who, when so required, fails to supply such particulars as it is in his power to give, or furnishes particulars which are false in any material particular, is liable on summary conviction to a fine of one thousand dollars and to imprisonment for three months.
(2) If, from any information so furnished, it appears to the Registrar that any firm or person ought to be registered under this Act, or an alteration ought to be made in the registered particulars, the Registrar may require the firm or person to furnish to him the required particulars, within such time as may be allowed by the Registrar, but where any default underthis Act has been discovered from the informa tion acquired under this section, no proceedings under this Act shall be taken against any person in respect ofthe default prior to the expiration ofthe time within which the firm or person is required by the Registrar under this section to furnish particulars to him.
13. On receiving any statement or statutory declaration made in Registrar to file .. statement and
pursuance ofthis Act, the RegIstrar shall cause the same to be filed, and issue cenificate he shall send by post or deliver a certificate of the registration thereof of registration. to the firm or person registered, and the certificate or a certified copy thereofshall be kept exhibited in a conspicuous position at the principal place ofbusiness of the firm or individual, and if not kept so exhibited, every partner in the firm or the person, as the case may be, is liable on summary conviction to a fine of one thousand dollars.
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10 Chap. 78:46 Registration ofBusiness Names
Index to be kept.
Removal of names from register.
Misleading business names.
14. The Registrar shall keep an index of all the finns and persons registered under this Act.
15. (I) If any finn or individual registered under this Act ceases to carry on business, it shall be the duty of the persons who were partners in the finn at the time when it ceased to carry on business, or of the individual, or, if he is dead, his personal representatives, within three months after the business has ceased to be carried on, to deliver to the Registrar notice in the prescribed fonn that the finn or individual has ceased to carry on business, and any person whose duty it is to give the notice who fails to do so with the time as aforesaid is liable on summary conviction to a fine of one thousand dollars.
(2) On receipt of such a notice as aforesaid the Registrar may remove the finn or individual from the register.
(3) Where the Registrarhas reasonable cause to believe that any finn or individual registered under this Act is not carrying on business, he may send to the finn or individual by registered post a notice that, unless an answeris received to the notice within one month from the date thereof, the finn or individual may be removed from the register.
(4) If the Registrar either receives an answer from the finn or individual to the effect that the finn or individual is not carrying on business, ordoes not, withinone month after sending the notice, receive an answer, he may remove the finn or individual from the register.
16. (\) Where any business name under which the business of a finn or individual is carried on contains the word "British" or any other word which, in the opinion of the Registrar, is calculated to lead to the belief that the business is under British ownership or control, and the Registrar is satisfied that the nationality of the persons by whom the business is wholly ormainlyownedorcontrolled is at any time such that the name is misleading, the Registrar shall refuse to register the business name,oras the case may be, remove the business name from the register, but any person aggrieved by a decision of the Registrar under this provision may appeal to aJudge of the High Court in Chambers whose decision shall be final.
(2) The registration of a business name under this Act shall not be construed as authorising the use of that name if, apart from the registration, the use thereof could be prohibited.
11Registration ofBusiness Names Chap. 78:46
17. (1) Any person may inspect the documents filed by the Regis- Inspection of f SUCh ~ be prescn'bed not exceeding five statementsregistered.trar on payment 0 lees as may
dollars for each inspection; and any person may require a certificate of [I of 1973 the registration of any firm or person, or a copy of or extract from any 20 of 1977]. registered statement, to be certified by the Registrar, and there shall be paidforthe certificate ofregistration, certified copy, orextractsuch fees as may be prescribed, not exceeding ten dollars for the certificate of registration, and not exceeding one dollar for each folio ofseventy-two words, of the entry, copy, or extract.
(2) A certificate ofregistration, or a copy oforextract from any statement registered under this Act, ifduly certified to be a true copy or extract under the hand of the Registrar, whom it shall not be necessary to prove to be the Registrar, shall, in aU legal proceedings, civil or criminal, be received in evidence.
18. (I) The Minister may make Rules concerning any of the fol- Minister may lowing matters: make Rules.
(a) the fees to be paid to the Registrar under this Act, but so that they do not exceed the sum of fIfteen dollars for the registration of anyone statement;
(b) the fonns to be used under this Act;
(c) the duties to be perfonned by the Registrar under this Act; and
(d) generally, the conduct and regulation of registra tion under this Act, and any matter incidental thereto.
(2) All fees payable in pursuance of any such Rules shall be paid into the Treasury and fonn part of the general revenue ofthe State.
19. (I) Every individual and finn required by this Act to be regis- Publication of . all d tal d' I h ds d true names, etc.tered Shall,m tra e ca ogues, tra e CHCU ars, S owcar ,an [12 of 1990].
business letters, onorinwhich the business name appears and which are issued orsentby the individual or finn to any person or finn outside the State, have mentioned in legible characters
(a) in the case ofan individual, his present forename or the initials thereof, and present surname, any fonnerfore name orsurname, and his nationalityifnot Dominican; and
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12 Chap. 78:46 Registration ofBusiness Names
Offences by corporations.
Transfer of business or stock-in-trade.
Agreement to transfer or sell business.
(b) in the case of a firm, the present forenames or the initials thereof and present surnames, any former forenames and surnames, and the nationality if not Dominican, ofall the partners in the firm or, in the case of a corporation being a partner, the corporate name.
(2) If default is made in compliance with this section the individual or, as tbe case may be, every member of the firm is liable, on summary conviction, for each offence to afine oftwohundred and fifty dollars.
(3) Subject to section 72(6) ofthe Constitution, no proceedings shall be instituted under this section except by or with the consent of the Director ofPublic Prosecutions.
20. Where acorporationis guilty ofanoffence under this Act, every director, secretary, and officer of the corporation who is knowingly a party to tbe default shall be guilty of a like offence and liable to a like penalty.
21. (I) Whenever any person desires to transfer his business, or to transfer or sell, with a view to the transfer or abandonment of any business, any stock·in·trade orother assets held orused for the purpose of the business, notice of the proposed transfer or sale, and the date thereof, shallbe advertisedby thatpersonbefore the dateupon which the transferorsale is to take effect, in three consecutiveissues ofthe Gazette and once a week for three consecutive weeks in any local newspaper circulating in the State.
(2) Every agreement to transfer or sell any business, or to transfer or sell, with a view to the transfer or abandonment of any business, any stock in trade or other assets held or used for the purpose of the business, or to reconstitute any business, shall be void as against creditors of the business, unless the provisions of subsection (I) have been complied with.
(3) Any person carrying on any business who fails to give the notice prescribed in subsection (I) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of three thousand dollars or in default of payment to six months imprisonment.
13Registration ofBusiness Names Chap. 78:46
(4) Forthepurposes ofthis section, unless inconsistentwith the context
"business" means any business carried onin the State by one or more persons, whether in partnership or not, but does not include
(a) a company registered under the Companies Ord- Cap. 318. nance or any Act replacing that Ordinance; [1961 Ed.I.
(b) a society registered under the Friendly Societies CIt. 31:02. Act;
(c) the business of a hawker or pedlar; or
(d) the business of a legal practitioner.
Section 4.SCHEDULE
Description offirm, etc.
Where the fIrm, individual or corporationrequired tobe regis tered carries on business as nominee or trustee.
Where the fInn, individual, or corporation required to be reg istered carries on business as general agent for any foreign fInn.
The additional particulars
Thepresent forename and surname,any fonner name, nationality, and usual residence, or, as the case may be, the corporate name, ofevery person orcor poration on whose behalf the business is carried on; but if the business is carried on underanytrustandany ofthe benefIciaries are a class of children or otherpersons, adescription ofthe class shall be suffIcient
The business name and address of the fInn or person as agent for whom the business iscarriedon; but ifthe business is carried on as agent for three or more foreign fIrms it shall be suffIcient to state the fact that the business is so carried on, specifying the countries in which the foreign fInns carry on busi ness.
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