Minnesota Business Filing Fraud Prevention Act

Effective January 1, 2026, the Minnesota Business Filing Fraud Prevention Act (the “Act”), provides Minnesota business owners with new protections against fraudulent business filings made with the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Fraudulent business fillings can occur in several ways, including when someone:

• Creates a business entity using another person's name without authorization;
• Changes a business's registered address or other filing information without permission; or
• Reactivates an inactive business entity without the owner's knowledge or consent.

These fraudulent filings can have serious consequences for business owners, including unexpected debts, collection efforts, damage to credit, and other financial or legal complications.

Under the Act, the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State has the authority to investigate reports of fraudulent filings and, when appropriate, remove or redact illegitimate filings.

A business owner who believes a fraudulent filing has been made may submit a Declaration of Wrongful Filing, at no cost, to the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. After the declaration is received, the Minnesota Secretary of State will investigate and send a letter to the individual who submitted the challenged filing, providing 21 days to respond and dispute the allegations.

Absent a response or upon further investigation, the Minnesota Secretary of State may remove the fraudulent business entity or redact the false information from the business records, helping restore the accuracy of the public record.



If you believe your business has been the victim of filing fraud, consulting with our business attorneys can help you understand your options and navigate the process of correcting the public record.