2020 Montana Code Annotated
Title 35. Corporations, Partnerships, and Associations
Chapter 2. Nonprofit Corporations
Part 3. Corporate Name, Registered Office and Agent, and Service of Process
35-2-305. Corporate name

35-2-305. Corporate name. (1) (a) corporate name may not contain language stating or implying that the corporation is organized for a purpose other than that permitted by 35-2-117 and its articles of incorporation.

(b) A corporate name may not contain business name identifiers, as defined in 30-13-201, or other language that states or implies that the corporation is an entity other than a nonprofit corporation.

(2) Except as authorized by subsections (3) and (4), a corporate name must be distinguishable in the records of the secretary of state from:

(a) the corporate name of a nonprofit or business corporation incorporated or authorized to do business in this state;

(b) a corporate name reserved or registered under Title 35, chapter 1, 35-2-306, or 35-2-307;

(c) the fictitious name of a foreign business or nonprofit corporation authorized to transact business in this state because its real name is unavailable;

(d) the corporate name of a domestic business or nonprofit corporation that has been dissolved, but only distinguishable for a period of 120 days after the effective date of the dissolution; or

(e) any assumed business name, limited partnership name, limited liability company name, trademark, or service mark registered or reserved with the secretary of state.

(3) A corporation may apply to the secretary of state for authorization to use a name that is not distinguishable in the secretary of state's records 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 other corporation 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 in the records of the secretary of state from the name of the applying corporation; or

(b) the applicant delivers to the secretary of state a certified copy of a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction establishing the applicant's right to use the name applied for in this state.

(4) A corporation may use the name, including the fictitious name, of another domestic or foreign business or nonprofit corporation that is used in this state if the other corporation is incorporated or authorized to do business in this state and the proposed user corporation:

(a) has merged with the other corporation;

(b) has been formed by reorganization of the other corporation; or

(c) has acquired all or substantially all of the assets, including the corporate name, of the other corporation.

(5) This chapter does not control the use of fictitious names.

History: En. Sec. 31, Ch. 411, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 85, Ch. 120, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 27, L. 2001.