North Dakota FirstStop Business Lookup for Small Claims

You are about to file a small claim against a business, and the name on the storefront, the invoice, or the business card might not be the name you need on the court forms. Getting the defendant's legal name wrong can make the judgment unenforceable — or worse, mean you sued an entity that does not actually exist. The North Dakota Secretary of State's FirstStop portal is the free tool that resolves this before you file.

Why the Legal Name Matters

When you fill out Form 2 (Claim Affidavit) in North Dakota Small Claims Court, you must use the defendant's exact legal name — the name registered with the state. A trade name like "Bob's Plumbing" might actually be operated by "Robert Miller, individually d/b/a Bob's Plumbing" or by "Miller Services LLC." A judgment against the wrong name may not be enforceable against the person or entity that actually owes you money.

For corporations and LLCs, FirstStop helps identify the registered agent and the entity's principal office. Service may be made on the registered agent or on an executive officer, partner, or managing agent at the entity's principal office.

How to Search FirstStop

Go to the Secretary of State FirstStop portal. It is free and does not require an account.

1. Enter the business name you know — the name on the contract, the truck, or the invoice.
2. Review the search results and note the entity's registration status.
3. Click into the entity record to find:
   • The exact legal name — this is what goes on Form 2
   • The entity type (LLC, Corporation, Limited Partnership, etc.)
   • The registered agent's name and physical address — one authorized service recipient
   • The principal office address — where an executive officer, partner, or managing agent may be served

If the business does not appear in FirstStop at all, the person may be operating as an unregistered sole proprietor. In that case, you sue the individual owner personally: "Jane Doe, individually and doing business as [Trade Name]."

What to Do With the Information

Once you have the registered agent's name and address from FirstStop:

• Name the defendant on Form 2 using the exact legal entity name from the state record. For an LLC: "Miller Services LLC." For a corporation: "Miller Services, Inc."
• Serve an authorized recipient — mail the complete service packet (Form 2, copies of supporting exhibits, and blank Forms 1, 3, 4, and 7) to the registered agent via certified mail with restricted delivery, or arrange personal service on the registered agent or an executive officer, partner, or managing agent at the entity's principal office.
• Print the FirstStop record and keep it in your file. If there is a dispute at the hearing about whether you sued and served the right entity, the printout shows you followed the official state registration.

Common Pitfalls

The trade name is not the legal name. A business operating as "Dakota Home Repairs" might be registered as "J&K Holdings LLC d/b/a Dakota Home Repairs." Sue the LLC, not the trade name.

The registered agent has changed. FirstStop shows the current registered agent. If the entity recently changed agents, double-check the filing history on the same record page.

The entity is dissolved or expired. Verify the entity's status and ask the Clerk of Court which party and service options apply before filing.

No result at all. Some small operators never register with the state. If there is no entity registration and no trade name filing, you are likely dealing with an individual operating under their own name. Sue them personally.

The Filing Process After the Lookup

Once you know who to name and who to serve, the filing steps are straightforward: complete Form 2, pay the $20 filing fee at the Clerk of District Court, assemble and serve the packet, and file Form 6 as proof of service. The North Dakota Small Claims Filing Guide walks through each of those steps in sequence, with a service tracker and deadline calculator.

See more North Dakota guides →