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14A.3-010 Entity name.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
Except as authorized by subsection (24) of this section, the real name of an entity or
foreign entity shall be distinguishable from any name of record with the Secretary of
State.
The real name of a corporation or nonprofit corporation shall:
(a) 1.
End with the word "corporation," "company," or "limited" or the
abbreviation "Corp.," "Inc.," "Co.," or "Ltd." or words or abbreviations
of like import in another language, provided, however, that if a nonprofit
corporation's name includes the word "company" or the abbreviation
"Co.," it may not be immediately preceded by the word "and" or the
abbreviation "&"; or
2.
If a professional service corporation, shall end with the words
"professional service corporation" or the abbreviation "P.S.C."; and
(b) Shall not contain language stating or implying that the corporation is
organized for a purpose other than that permitted by its organic act and its
articles of incorporation.
The real name of a limited liability company shall end with the phrase "limited
liability company" or "limited company" or the abbreviation "LLC" or "LC,"
provided, however, if the company is a professional limited liability company the
name shall end with the phrase "professional limited liability company" or
"professional limited company" or the abbreviation "PLLC" or "PLC." In the name
of either a limited liability company or a professional limited liability company, the
word "limited" may be abbreviated as "Ltd." and the word "Company" may be
abbreviated as "Co."
The real name of a limited liability partnership registered pursuant to KRS 362.555
shall contain the phrase "Registered Limited Liability Partnership" or the
abbreviation "LLP" as the last words or letters of its name.
The real name of a partnership subject to KRS 362.1-101 to 362.1-975, the
"Kentucky Revised Uniform Partnership Act (2006)":
(a) Shall not contain the word "corporation" or "incorporated" or the abbreviation
"Corp." or "Inc."; and
(b) May contain the word "limited" or the abbreviation "Ltd." only if the
partnership has filed a statement of qualification.
The real name of a limited liability partnership that has filed a statement of
qualification pursuant to KRS 362.1-931 shall end with the phrase "Registered
Limited Liability Partnership" or "Limited Liability Partnership" or the abbreviation
"R.L.L.P.," "L.L.P.," "RLLP," or "LLP."
The real name of a limited partnership subject to KRS 362.401 to 362.525, the
"Kentucky Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act," shall:
(a) Contain the word "Limited" or the abbreviation "Ltd." unless the limited
partnership was formed under any statute of the Commonwealth prior to the
adoption of the Kentucky Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act; and
(b)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
Not contain the name of a limited partner unless:
1.
That name is also the name of a general partner; or
2.
The business of the limited partnership had been carried on under that
name before the admission of that limited partner.
The real name of a limited partnership subject to KRS 362.2-102 to 362.2-977, the
"Kentucky Uniform Limited Partnership Act (2006)," that is not a limited liability
limited partnership may contain the name of any partner and shall:
(a) End with the phrase "limited partnership" or "limited" or the abbreviation
"L.P.," "LP," or "Ltd."; and
(b) Not contain the phrase "limited liability limited partnership" or the
abbreviation "L.L.L.P." or "LLLP."
The real name of a limited partnership subject to KRS 362.2-102 to 362.2-977, the
"Kentucky Uniform Limited Partnership Act (2006)," that is a limited liability
limited partnership may contain the name of any partner and shall:
(a) End with the phrase "limited liability limited partnership" or the abbreviation
"L.L.L.P." or "LLLP"; and
(b) Not contain only the phrase "limited partnership" or the abbreviation "L.P." or
"LP."
Subject to KRS 362.2-974, subsections (8) and (9) of this section shall not apply to
a limited partnership formed under any statute of this Commonwealth prior to July
15, 1988.
The real name of a rural telephone cooperative corporation:
(a) Shall contain the word "Telephone," "Telecommunications," "Company," or
"Corporation" and the abbreviation "Inc.," unless in an affidavit made by its
president or vice president, and filed with the Secretary of State, or in an
affidavit made by a person signing articles of incorporation, consolidation,
merger, or conversion which relate to that cooperative, and filed, together with
any such articles, with the Secretary of State, it shall appear that the
cooperative desires to do business in another state and is or would be
precluded there from by reason of the inclusion of such words or either thereof
in its name; and
(b) May include the word "Cooperative."
The phrase "Rural Electric Cooperative" may not be used in the name of any entity
or foreign entity except for one formed under KRS Chapter 279.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, the word "cooperative" may not be
used in the name of any entity doing business in this Commonwealth.
The name of a limited cooperative association shall end with the words "limited
cooperative association" or "limited cooperative" or the abbreviation "L.C.A." or
"LCA." "Limited" may be abbreviated as "Ltd.," "Cooperative" may be abbreviated
as "Co-op" or "Coop," and "Association" may be abbreviated as "Assoc." or "Assn."
There are no required identifiers for a business trust or a statutory trust, but the
name of a business or statutory trust may include "Limited" or "Ltd." and may not
(16)
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(24)
include any of "incorporated," "corporation," "Inc.," "Corp.," "partnership," or
"cooperative."
The real name of an unincorporated nonprofit association that has filed a certificate
of association with the Secretary of State shall end with "Limited" or "Ltd.," and the
real name of an unincorporated nonprofit association that has not filed a certificate
of association with the Secretary of State shall not include "Limited" or "Ltd." No
unincorporated nonprofit association shall include in its name any of
"incorporated," "corporation," "Inc.," "Corp.," "company," "partnership," or
"cooperative."
This chapter does not control the use of assumed names.
The filing of articles of incorporation, articles of organization, articles of
association, a statement of qualification, a certificate of limited partnership, a
declaration or certificate of trust, a certificate of association, an application to
transact authority in the Commonwealth, a statement of foreign qualification, a
name registration, or name reservation under a particular name shall not
automatically prevent the use of that name or protect that name from use by other
persons.
The provisions of subsection (2)(a) of this section shall not affect the right of any
nonprofit corporation existing on June 13, 1968, to continue the use of its name as
then in effect.
The assumption of a nonprofit corporate name in violation of this section shall not
affect or vitiate the corporate existence, but the courts of this Commonwealth
having equity jurisdiction may, upon the application of the Commonwealth or of
any person interested or affected, enjoin such corporation from doing business
under a name assumed in violation of this section, although a certificate of
incorporation may have been issued.
This section shall not apply to any domestic or foreign telephone cooperative which
became subject to KRS 279.310 to 279.600 by complying with the provisions of
KRS 279.470 or which does business in this Commonwealth pursuant to KRS
279.570 and which elects to retain a name which does not comply with this section.
Nothing in this section shall limit the ability of a professional regulatory board to
promulgate rules governing entities and foreign entities under its jurisdiction.
The real name of a foreign entity will be determined according to KRS 365.015. For
entities not covered by that statute, the real name of the foreign entity will be the
real name of the entity as so recognized in the jurisdiction of its origination.
The real name of a partnership, other than that of a limited liability partnership as
set forth on a statement of qualification or a registration as a limited liability
partnership filed pursuant to KRS 362.555 or that of a foreign limited liability
partnership as set forth on a statement of foreign qualification, need not be
distinguishable from any name of record with the Secretary of State.
Effective: June 24, 2015
History: Amended 2015 Ky. Acts ch. 34, sec. 3, effective June 24, 2015. -- Amended
2013 Ky. Acts ch. 106, sec. 3, effective June 25, 2013. -- Amended 2012 Ky. Acts
ch. 81, sec. 82, effective July 12, 2012; and ch. 160, sec. 126, effective July 12,
2012. -- Amended 2011 Ky. Acts ch. 29, sec. 6, effective June 8, 2011. -- Created
2010 Ky. Acts ch. 151, sec. 23, effective January 1, 2011.
Legislative Research Commission Note (1/1/2011). 2010 Ky. Acts ch. 151, sec. 23, in
subsection (13), which deals with the business names of cooperative corporations and
associations, contains a reference to KRS 271.020 to 272.050. It is apparent from
context that this reference should be to KRS 272.020 to 272.050. This change has
been made by the Reviser of Statutes under the authority of KRS 7.136(1).
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