A fictitious business name is acceptable provided:

A fictitious business name is acceptable provided:

• A. An agency or brokerage is added
• B. It includes the word Insurance
• C. It is registered with the county clerk
• D. It must be used in all ads

Answer: (A)

When you use a fictitious business name in real estate/title practice, the name must clearly identify the business as a licensed entity that handles brokerage activities. Adding a descriptor like “Agency” or “Brokerage” to the fictitious name does exactly that—it signals to clients and regulators that this is a licensed real estate brokerage, not just an individual operating under a nickname. This transparency helps meet regulatory and ethical expectations and protects consumers by making who is providing services obvious. Including the word “Insurance” would misrepresent the scope of a real estate/title business unless you actually operate as an insurance entity. Registration with the county clerk is a separate administrative step and doesn’t by itself satisfy the requirement for clear identification of the business’s licensed nature. Requiring the name to be used in all ads is an advertising rule, not the defining factor for whether the fictitious name is acceptable.

When you use a fictitious business name in real estate/title practice, the name must clearly identify the business as a licensed entity that handles brokerage activities. Adding a descriptor like “Agency” or “Brokerage” to the fictitious name does exactly that—it signals to clients and regulators that this is a licensed real estate brokerage, not just an individual operating under a nickname. This transparency helps meet regulatory and ethical expectations and protects consumers by making who is providing services obvious.

Including the word “Insurance” would misrepresent the scope of a real estate/title business unless you actually operate as an insurance entity. Registration with the county clerk is a separate administrative step and doesn’t by itself satisfy the requirement for clear identification of the business’s licensed nature. Requiring the name to be used in all ads is an advertising rule, not the defining factor for whether the fictitious name is acceptable.