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Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(a) Any corporation organized and existing under the laws of this state or authorized to transact business in this state may transact business in this state under a fictitious name, provided that it files a fictitious business name statement in accordance with this section prior to the time it commences to transact the business under the fictitious name and the fictitious name satisfied the requirements of § 7-1.2-401(a)(2).
(b) The fictitious business name statement must be filed with the secretary of state and must be executed by an authorized officer of the corporation and must state:
(1) The fictitious business name to be used;
(2) The name of the applicant corporation and the state or territory under the laws of which it is incorporated, the date of its incorporation, and a brief statement of the business in which it is engaged; and
(3) The address of its registered office within the state.
(c) The fictitious business name statement expires upon the filing of the statement of abandonment of use of a fictitious business name registered in accordance with this section or upon the dissolution of the applicant corporation.
(d) The statement of abandonment of use of a fictitious business name under this section may be filed with the secretary of state on forms furnished by the secretary of state and must be executed by an authorized officer of the corporation and must state:
(1) The fictitious business name being abandoned;
(2) The date on which the original fictitious business name statement being abandoned was filed;
(3) The name of the applicant corporation and the state or territory under the laws of which it is incorporated; and
(4) The address of its registered office within the state.
(e) No domestic or foreign corporation transacting business under a fictitious business name contrary to the provisions of this section, or its assignee, may maintain any action upon or on account of any contract made, or transaction had, in the fictitious business name in any court of this state until a fictitious business name statement has been filed in accordance with this section.
(f) [Deleted by P.L. 2005, ch. 36, § 36 and P.L. 2005, ch. 72, § 36].
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Rhode Island General Laws Title 7. Corporations, Associations, and Partnerships § 7-1.2-402. Fictitious business name - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ri/title-7-corporations-associations-and-partnerships/ri-gen-laws-sect-7-1-2-402/
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