House Bill 1263

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 79-29-104, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY TO REGISTER A NAME UNDER WHICH IT IS DOING BUSINESS AS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 79-29-104, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

79-29-104. (1) The name of each limited liability company as set forth in its certificate of formation:

(a) Must contain the words "limited liability company" or the abbreviation "L.L.C." or "LLC";

(b) May contain the name of a member or manager;

(c) Except as authorized by subsection (2) of this section, must be distinguishable upon the records of the Secretary of State from (i) the name of any domestic or foreign corporation, nonprofit corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company organized or registered under the laws of this state; and (ii) a name reserved or registered in the office of the Secretary of State for any of the entities named in paragraph (1)(c)(i) of this section; and

(d) May not contain the following words: "bank," "banker," "bankers," "banking," "trust company," "insurance," "trust," "corporation," "incorporated," "partnership," "limited partnership," or any combination or abbreviation thereof, or any words or abbreviations of similar import.

(2) A limited liability company may apply to the Secretary of State for authorization to use a name that is not distinguishable upon his records from one or more of the names described in subsection (1)(c) of this section. The Secretary of State shall authorize the use of the name applied for if:

(a) The other domestic or foreign limited liability company, limited partnership, corporation or nonprofit corporation consents to the use in writing and submits an undertaking in form satisfactory to the Secretary of State to change its name to a name that is distinguishable upon the records of the Secretary of State from the name of the applying limited liability company; or

(b) The applicant delivers to the office of the Secretary of State for filing 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.

(3) A limited liability company may register a name or trade name under which it is doing business as. This name shall be recognized and shall be placed in the records of the Secretary of State.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.