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Wisconsin Statutes Corporations (Ch. 180 to 188) § 181.0401. Corporate name

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(1) General requirements. (a) The corporate name of a corporation:

1. Must contain the word “corporation”, “incorporated”, “company” or “limited” or the abbreviation “corp.”, “inc.”, “co.” or “ltd.” or a variation of these words or abbreviations, of like import in another language, except as provided in par. (b), or that differs only with respect to capitalization of letters or punctuation.

2. May not contain language stating or implying that the corporation is organized for a purpose other than that permitted by s. 181.0301 and its articles of incorporation.

3. May not contain language stating or implying that the entity is organized for a purpose subject to regulation under another statute of this state, unless its purpose is not prohibited by, and the entity is subject to all the limitations of, the other statute.

(b) A corporation in existence on January 1, 1999, need not change its name to comply with par. (a)1.

(2) Distinguishability. (a) Except as provided in subs. (3) and (4), the corporate name of a domestic corporation must be distinguishable upon the records of the department from all of the following names:

1. Any name of an existing person whose formation required the filing of a record by the department and which is not at the time administratively dissolved.

2. The corporate name of a stock corporation or a foreign stock corporation authorized to transact business in this state.

3. Any name reserved or registered under this chapter or ch. 178, 179, 180, 183, 185, or 193 or other law of this state providing for the reservation or registration of a name by a filing of a record by the department.

4. The corporate name of a dissolved corporation or stock corporation that has retained the exclusive use of its name under s. 181.1405 (3) or under s. 180.1405 (3), respectively.

5. The fictitious name adopted by a foreign corporation or a foreign stock corporation authorized to transact business in this state.

9. Any name of a limited liability partnership whose statement of qualification is in effect.

(b) The corporate name of a corporation is not distinguishable from a name referred to in par. (a) 1. to 9. if the only difference between it and the other name is the inclusion or absence of a word or words referred to in sub. (1) (a) 1. or of the words “limited partnership”, “limited liability partnership”, “cooperative” or “limited liability company” or an abbreviation of these words.

(3) Application to use nondistinguishable name. A corporation may apply to the department for authorization to use a name that is not distinguishable upon the records of the department from one or more of the names described in sub. (2). The department shall authorize use of the name applied for if any of the following occurs:

(a) The other corporation or the foreign corporation, limited liability company, stock corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, foreign limited liability partnership, general cooperative association, or limited cooperative association consents to the use in writing and submits an undertaking in a form satisfactory to the department to change its name to a name that is distinguishable upon the records of the department from the name of the applicant or to cancel the registration or reservation.

(b) The applicant delivers to the department 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.

(3m) In determining whether a name is the same as or not distinguishable on the records of the department from the name of another person, words, phrases, or abbreviations indicating a type of entity, such as “corporation,” “Corp.,” “incorporated,” “Inc.,” “service corporation,” “SC,” “Limited,” “Ltd.,” “limited partnership,” “LP,” “limited liability partnership,” “LLP,” “limited liability limited partnership,” “LLLP,” “registered limited liability limited partnership,” “RLLLP,” “limited liability company,” “LLC,” “cooperative association,” or “cooperative,” or a variation of these abbreviations that differs only with respect to capitalization of letters or punctuation, may not be taken into account.

(4) Corporate reorganizations. A corporation may in this state use the name, including the fictitious name, that is used in this state by another domestic or foreign corporation or stock corporation authorized to transact business in this state, or a limited liability company, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, foreign limited liability partnership, general cooperative association, or limited cooperative association, if the corporation proposing to use the name has done any of the following:

(a) Merged with the other entity.

(b) Been formed by reorganization of the other entity.

(c) Acquired all or substantially all of the assets, including the corporate name, of the other domestic or foreign corporation or stock corporation.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Wisconsin Statutes Corporations (Ch. 180 to 188) § 181.0401. Corporate name - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/wi/corporations-ch-180-to-188/wi-st-181-0401/

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