The Application for Change of Officers, Directors, Partners is the form the DC Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) uses to change the officers, directors, general partners, members or managing members on an alcohol beverage license in the District. It applies only to that license, so it is not a general DC business license application. Each new person completes a copy, with the supporting forms and documents the ABCA instructions list. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF and the filing channels belong to the agency.
Last updated
What is Application for Change of Officers, Directors, Partners – Washington, DC?
The Application for Change of Officers, Directors, Partners is the form the District of Columbia's Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) uses to change the officers, directors, general partners, members or managing members named on an alcohol beverage license.
The PDF is titled "Change of Officer, Director, Partner, General Partner, Member or Managing Member Application" in its instructions. The applicant block has 16 numbered items. It asks for the new person's name and title, date and place of birth, contact details, U.S. work eligibility, licensing and criminal history, immediate family ties to ABC licensed establishments, the license being changed (items 13a to 13f), the applicant's shares of stock or percentage of interest, a sworn certification and a language preference for vital documents.
The PDF also contains the other pages that belong to the package:
- a Financial Affidavit listing expenses and sources of funds;
- a Personal Information Release Authorization, which lets ABCA personnel investigate the applicant;
- an Attorney/Agent Designation Form, used when an attorney or agent represents the applicant or licensee.
The instructions also require a police clearance, a Clean Hands certification and, in some cases, a court disposition. An "Official Use Only" box at the top is for ABCA staff and is not completed by the applicant.
Who needs to file Application for Change of Officers, Directors, Partners – Washington, DC?
Each new officer, director, partner, general partner, member or managing member of an establishment holding an alcohol beverage license in the District must complete and submit his or her own copy of the application. The form is filed for the new person, not for the business as a whole.
- Age: everyone applying for a change of officer, director, partner, general partner, member or managing member must be 21 years of age.
- Corporations: the application is supported by the minutes of the Board of Director's meeting verifying the election of the officer or director.
- Partnerships: the application is supported by a partnership agreement verifying the partner or general partner.
- Limited liability companies: the application is supported by an operating agreement verifying the election of the member or managing member.
- Personal Information Release Authorization: required if you are a Sole Proprietor, Partner, Corporate Officer, Managing Member or General Partner.
- Representatives: an attorney or agent who represents the applicant or licensee must also submit the Attorney/Agent Designation Form, signed by the attorney or agent and by the applicant or licensee.
Anyone under 21 cannot be the person named on this application.
When to file Application for Change of Officers, Directors, Partners – Washington, DC
File the application when the officers, directors, partners, members or managing members of a licensed establishment are to change, because the form is the ABCA's way to change them on the license. The instructions and the form print no separate due date or processing time.
One timing rule applies to a supporting document. A Clean Hands certificate, issued by the District's Office of Tax and Revenue, must be dated no earlier than 30 days before the date you submit the application, so request it close to filing.
Have the police clearances, the court disposition (if one applies) and the entity document ready at the same time, because the instructions say all questions must be answered and the required information and documents submitted with the application.
Documents you need
- Minutes of the Board of Director's meeting verifying the election of the officer or director, attested by the Secretary with the corporate seal affixed, if the applicant is a corporation.
- A partnership agreement verifying the partner or general partner, if the applicant is a partnership.
- An operating agreement verifying the election of the member or managing member, if the applicant is a limited liability company.
- The Financial Affidavit completed by the applicant: expenses in Section A, source of funds in Section B and the signed certification in Section C.
- The Personal Information Release Authorization, signed and dated in ink, if you are a Sole Proprietor, Partner, Corporate Officer, Managing Member or General Partner.
- A police clearance from the Metropolitan Police Department, 300 Indiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001, plus a police clearance for the jurisdiction where you currently live.
- A copy of the court disposition, if you were convicted of a misdemeanor in the last five years and/or a felony in the last ten years.
- A Clean Hands certificate from the District's Office of Tax and Revenue, dated no earlier than 30 days before you submit the application; certificates are available at mytax.dc.gov.
- The Attorney/Agent Designation Form, if an attorney or agent will represent the applicant or licensee.
- A detailed written explanation, if you answered Yes to any question in items 10 or 11.
- Qualifying work-eligibility documents (U.S. Passport, Naturalization Papers, Work Permit, Green Card or Visa), if you answered Yes to item 8; the instructions ask you to bring them in.
- Payment of the application fee, by one of the check, money order or credit card methods the instructions list.
How to fill out Application for Change of Officers, Directors, Partners – Washington, DC
Read the instructions first
Read all questions carefully before you start. Answer every question, and write "Not Applicable" where a question or part of it does not apply.
Enter the applicant's personal details
Items 1 to 7: last name, first name, middle initial and title; date of birth; place of birth; home telephone number; home address with city, state and ZIP code; cell phone number; and e-mail address.
Answer work eligibility items 8 and 9
Item 8: check Yes or No for eligibility to work in the U.S. If Yes, check the box in item 9 (U.S. Passport, Naturalization Papers, Work Permit, Green Card or Visa) and enter the certificate number (9.f) and expiration date (9.g) where they apply.
Answer the history questions
Item 10a to 10c: check Yes or No on prior alcoholic beverage licenses, suspension or revocation, and convictions (misdemeanor in the last five years, felony in the last ten). Item 11: check Yes or No on immediate family holding an ABC license or interest. Item 12: attach a detailed explanation for any Yes answer in items 10 or 11.
Identify the license and your interest
Items 13a to 13f: licensee's name, trade name and business address as shown on the ABC license, then license class, business telephone number and license number. Item 14: your number of shares of stock and/or percentage of interest.
Sign the item 15 certification
Item 15 is a certification under penalty of perjury. The signer depends on the business: the individual for a sole proprietor, each partner for a partnership, the President or Vice President for a corporation, the Managing Member for an LLC. The form prints a notary block under each signature.
State your translation language
Item 16: write the language in which you need vital documents translated.
Complete the Financial Affidavit
Enter the trade name, then Section A expenses (lines 1 to 5) and the Total Cost of Expenses. In Section B list the source of funds (lines 1 to 7) so that the Total Source of Funds equals or exceeds the total expenses, then sign the Section C certification.
Complete the Personal Information Release
If you are a Sole Proprietor, Partner, Corporate Officer, Managing Member or General Partner, enter your full name, other names used, Social Security Number, current home address and phone number. Sign and date it in ink.
Add the Attorney/Agent Designation Form
If an attorney or agent represents the applicant or licensee, complete items 1 to 4 (name, license number, trade name, address), check the matching filing in item 5 (for example h, Change of Officers), and enter the attorney or agent's details in items 8 to 11. Both the attorney or agent and the applicant or licensee sign and date.
Review, sign and download the PDF
Check that every answer and signature is in place and that the supporting documents are ready. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit Application for Change of Officers, Directors, Partners – Washington, DC
You can send the application to the ABCA by email, by mail or by hand delivery. The agency's web page lists mail and email; the form's instructions add hand delivery.
- Email: [email protected].
- Mail or hand delivery: 899 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 4200-B, Washington DC 20002.
Each new officer, director, partner, general partner, member or managing member submits a copy of the application with the Financial Affidavit, the Personal Information Release Authorization and the other required documents listed under required documents.
A fee applies and must accompany the application. Payment can be made by cashier's check, certified check, business check, attorney's check, personal check or money order payable to the D.C Treasurer, or by credit card (Visa or MasterCard only). The instructions and the ABCA web page give the current amount.
Questions about the Clean Hands certification go to [email protected]; certificates are obtained at mytax.dc.gov. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving a question blank instead of writing "Not Applicable" when a question or part of it does not apply; the instructions say each question must be answered.
- Submitting the application for an applicant under 21; everyone applying for a change of officer, director, partner, general partner, member or managing member must be 21.
- Sending one copy of the application for several new people; each new officer, director, partner, member or managing member must complete and submit a copy.
- Omitting the entity document: board minutes attested with the corporate seal, a partnership agreement or an operating agreement, depending on the applicant.
- Answering Yes to item 10 or 11 without the detailed explanation, or answering Yes to item 10c without attaching a copy of the court disposition.
- Submitting a Clean Hands certificate dated more than 30 days before the application submission date.
- Providing only the Metropolitan Police Department clearance and skipping the police clearance for the jurisdiction where you currently live.
- Signing the Personal Information Release Authorization with something other than an ink pen, or leaving the Social Security Number or other names used blank.
- Listing a Total Source of Funds on the Financial Affidavit that is lower than the Total Cost of Expenses.
- Having the wrong person sign item 15: the individual for a sole proprietor, each partner for a partnership, the President or Vice President for a corporation, the Managing Member for an LLC.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Application for Change of Officers, Directors, Partners used for?
It is the ABCA application to change the officers, directors, general partners, members or managing members on an alcohol beverage license in the District. Each new person completes a copy and submits it with the supporting forms and documents the instructions list.
Is this form a DC business license application?
No. It is not a general DC business license application. It is the ABCA form for changing the officers, directors, partners, members or managing members on an alcohol beverage license, and it asks for the licensee's name, trade name, license class and license number.
Who can be named on the application?
Anyone applying to become an officer, director, partner, general partner, member or managing member must be 21 years of age. Each new person completes and submits a copy of the application; a copy covers one applicant.
What documents do I submit with the application?
The Financial Affidavit, a police clearance from the Metropolitan Police Department and one for your home jurisdiction, a Clean Hands certificate and the entity document (board minutes, partnership agreement or operating agreement). A court disposition, release authorization or attorney designation is added when it applies.
Where do I send the change of officers application?
Email it to [email protected], or mail or hand deliver it to 899 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 4200-B, Washington DC 20002. The ABCA web page lists mail and email; the form's instructions also name hand delivery.
Is there a fee and how do I pay it?
Yes, the application must be accompanied by the proper fee. Pay by cashier's, certified, business, attorney's or personal check or by money order payable to the D.C Treasurer, or by Visa or MasterCard. Check the amount in the ABCA instructions or on the agency's page.
Who signs the item 15 certification?
The individual signs for a sole proprietor, each partner for a partnership, the President or Vice President for a corporation, and the Managing Member for a limited liability company. The form prints a "Subscribed and sworn to before me" notary block beside each signature line.
How recent must the Clean Hands certificate be?
It must be dated no earlier than 30 days before the date you submit the application. The District's Office of Tax and Revenue issues it, you can obtain it at mytax.dc.gov, and questions go to [email protected].
Can I fill out this ABCA form online on FillingPDF?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, is not affiliated with the ABCA and does not submit the application; you send it through the agency's channels.
Ready to fill out Application for Change of Officers, Directors, Partners – Washington, DC?
Fill out Application for Change of Officers, Directors, Partners – Washington, DC now