1. Requirements. A limited liability company name must contain the words "limited liability company" or "limited company" or the abbreviation "L.L.C.," "LLC," "L.C." or "LC" or, in the case of a low-profit limited liability company, "L3C" or "13c" unless the limited liability company is filing an assumed name under section 1510 or a registration of a name of a foreign limited liability company under section 1511. The word "limited" may be abbreviated as "Ltd.," and "company" may be abbreviated as "Co." If the words "Limited Liability Company," "Limited Liability Company, Chartered," "Limited Liability Company, Professional Association," "Limited Liability Company, P.A." or any of the designations without commas are used, a limited liability company may also use the abbreviation "L.L.C." or the designation "LLC" without filing an assumed name under section 1510. In the case of a low-profit limited liability company, if the words "Low-profit Limited Liability Company" are used, a limited liability company may also use the abbreviation "L3C" or the designation "l3c" without filing an assumed name under section 1510. [PL 2013, c. 58, §1 (AMD).] 2. Distinguishable name. Except as authorized by subsections 4 and 5, a limited liability company name must be distinguishable on the records of the office of the Secretary of State from: A. The name of a corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership or limited partnership that is incorporated, organized or authorized to transact business or carry on activities in this State; [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] B. Assumed, fictitious, reserved and registered name filings for all entities; and [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] C. Marks registered under Title 10, chapter 301-A unless the registered owner or holder of the mark is the same person or entity as the limited liability company seeking to use a name that is not distinguishable on the records of the office of the Secretary of State and files proof of ownership with the Secretary of State. [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] 3. Refuse to file name. The Secretary of State, in the Secretary of State's discretion, may refuse to file a name that: A. Consists of or comprises language that is obscene; [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] B. Inappropriately promotes abusive or unlawful activity; [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] C. Falsely suggests an association with public institutions; or [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] D. Violates any other provision of the law of this State with respect to names. [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] 4. Authorization to use name. A limited liability company may apply to the Secretary of State for authorization to use a name that is not distinguishable on the records of the office of the Secretary of State from one or more of the names described in subsection 2. The Secretary of State shall authorize use of the name applied for if: A. The entity in possession of the name consents to the use in writing and submits an undertaking in a form satisfactory to the Secretary of State to change its name to a name that is distinguishable on the records of the office of the Secretary of State from the name of the applicant; or [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] B. The applicant delivers to the office of the Secretary of State a certified copy of the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction establishing the applicant's right to use the name applied for in this State. [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] 5. Use of another limited liability company's name. A limited liability company may use the name, including the assumed or fictitious name, of another limited liability company or foreign limited liability company that is used in this State if the other limited liability company is organized or authorized to transact business in this State and the limited liability company proposing to use the name: A. Has merged with the other limited liability company; [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] B. Has been formed by reorganization of the other limited liability company; or [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] C. Has acquired all or substantially all of the assets, including the limited liability company name, of the other limited liability company. [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] [PL 2011, c. 113, Pt. B, §4 (AMD).] 6. Determining distinguishability. In determining whether names are distinguishable on the records, the Secretary of State shall disregard the following: A. Words or abbreviations of words that describe the nature of the entity, including "professional association," "corporation," "company," "incorporated," "chartered," "limited," "limited company," "limited partnership," "limited liability company," "professional limited liability company," "limited liability partnership," "registered limited liability partnership," "limited liability limited partnership," "service corporation" and "professional corporation"; [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] B. The presence or absence of the words or symbols of the words "and" and "the"; and [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] C. Differences in the use of punctuation, capitalization or special characters. [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] 7. Change of limited liability company name by foreign limited liability company. If a foreign limited liability company that has filed a statement of foreign qualification in this State changes its name to one that does not satisfy the requirements of this section, it may not transact business in this State under the proposed new name until it adopts a name satisfying the requirements of this section and files an amended statement of foreign qualification under section 1622, subsection 3 that is accompanied by a statement of use of a fictitious name under section 1510. [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).] 8. Exception. Notwithstanding subsection 2, a foreign limited liability company may use a name that is not distinguishable on the records of the office of the Secretary of State if the foreign limited liability company was authorized to do business in this State before January 1, 1995 and had the right to use that name as its legal name before that date. [PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 2009, c. 629, Pt. A, §3 (AFF).]
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