California Code, Financial Code - FIN § 18101.5

Upon filing an application for approval of proposed articles of incorporation with the commissioner, or upon filing an amendment to the articles of a proposed industrial loan company changing the name of an existing corporation, the incorporators shall file an application for a certificate of reservation of the name of the proposed company as set forth in the articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 201 of the Corporations Code.  The application filed with the Secretary of State shall recite the fact of the pendency of the application and the Secretary of State shall issue a certificate of reservation upon such an application for a certificate and upon payment of any required fee.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 201 of the Corporations Code, the name contained in the certificate of reservation shall be reserved to the applicant until the commissioner refuses to issue a certificate of approval or, if a certificate is issued, as long as a certificate continues in force or effect, or for a period of up to one year from the date when the application is filed in accordance with this article, pending the applicant's fulfillment of any requirements precedent to opening for business.  The Secretary of State may, upon the request of the applicant and the approval of the commissioner, extend the reservation of the name for an additional six months.