2022 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 7 - Corporations, Associations and Partnerships
Chapter 7-1.2 - Rhode Island Business Corporation Act
Part 4 - Name
Section 7-1.2-401. - Corporate name.

§ 7-1.2-401. Corporate name.

(a) The corporate name:

(1) Must contain the word “corporation”, “company”, “incorporated”, or “limited”, or an abbreviation of one of these words.

(2) Shall be distinguishable upon the records of the secretary of state from the name of any entity on file with the secretary of state or a name the exclusive right to which is, at the time filed, reserved or registered in the manner provided in this chapter, or the name of a corporation, whether business or nonprofit, limited partnership, limited-liability partnership or limited-liability company which has in effect a registration of its name as provided in this title, subject to the following:

(b) This provision does not apply if the applicant files with the secretary of state a certified copy of a final decree of a court of competent jurisdiction establishing the prior right of the applicant to the use of the name in this state.

(c) The name may be the same as the name of a corporation or other association the certificate of incorporation or organization of which has been revoked by the secretary of state as permitted by law and the revocation has not been withdrawn within one year from the date of the revocation.

(d) A corporation with which another corporation, domestic or foreign, is merged, or which is formed by the reorganization of one or more domestic or foreign corporations or upon a sale, lease, or other disposition to, or exchange with, a domestic corporation of all or substantially all the assets of another corporation, domestic or foreign, including its name, may have the same name as that used in this state by any of the corporations if at the time the other corporation was organized under the laws of, or is authorized to transact business in, this state.

(e) Words and/or abbreviations that are required by statute to identify the particular type of business entity shall be disregarded when determining if a name is distinguishable upon the records of the secretary of state.

(f) The secretary of state shall promulgate rules and regulations defining the term “distinguishable upon the record” for the administration of this chapter.

History of Section.
P.L. 2004, ch. 216, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 274, § 2; P.L. 2005, ch. 36, § 36; P.L. 2005, ch. 72, § 36; P.L. 2005, ch. 120, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 130, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 54, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 60, § 1.