Source: https://www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=10 (official Arizona State Legislature site). Retrieved 2026-07-07. Section range: Sec: 10-401-10-403. 3 sections.
10-401. Corporate name
A. A corporate name:
1. Shall contain the word "association", "bank", "company", "corporation", "limited" or "incorporated" or an abbreviation of one of these words or words or abbreviations of like import in another language.
2. Shall not contain language stating or implying that the corporation is organized for a purpose other than that allowed by section 10-301 and its articles of incorporation.
3. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this subsection, shall not include the words "bank", "deposit", "credit union", "trust" or "trust company" separately or in combination to indicate or convey the idea that the corporation is engaged in banking or trust business unless the corporation is to be and becomes actively and substantially engaged in the banking, credit union or trust business or the corporation is a holding company holding substantial interest in companies actively and substantially engaged in the banking or trust business.
4. Shall not contain the words "limited liability company" or "limited company" or the abbreviations "L.L.C.", "L.C.", "LLC" or "LC", in uppercase or lowercase letters.
B. Except as authorized by subsections C and D of this section, a corporate name shall be distinguishable from all of the following:
1. The corporate name of a corporation incorporated in this state or a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state.
2. A corporate name reserved under section 10-402 or registered under section 10-403.
3. A fictitious name adopted by a foreign corporation under section 10-1506.
4. The corporate name of a nonprofit corporation incorporated under this title or a foreign nonprofit or not for profit corporation authorized to conduct affairs in this state.
5. The partnership name of a limited partnership organized and registered under the laws of this state or of a foreign limited partnership authorized to transact business in this state.
6. The name of a limited liability company organized under title 29 or a foreign limited liability company authorized to transact business in this state.
7. A trade name registered pursuant to title 44, chapter 10, article 3.1.
8. The name of a registered limited liability partnership registered under title 29, chapter 5, article 10 or a foreign registered limited liability partnership authorized to transact business in this state.
C. A corporation may apply to the commission for authorization to use a name that is not distinguishable from one or more of the names described in subsection B of this section. The commission shall authorize use of the name applied for if either:
1. The other entity consents to the use in writing and submits an undertaking in a form satisfactory to the commission to change its name to a name that is distinguishable from the name of the applying corporation.
2. The applicant delivers to the commission 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.
D. A corporation may use the name, including a fictitious name, of another domestic or foreign corporation that is used in this state if the other corporation is incorporated or authorized to transact business in this state and the proposed user corporation either has:
1. Merged with the other corporation.
2. Been formed by reorganization of the other corporation.
3. Acquired all or substantially all of the assets, including the corporate name, of the other corporation.
E. Chapters 1 through 17 of this title do not control the use of fictitious names.
10-402. Reserved name
A. A person may reserve the exclusive use of a corporate name, including a fictitious name to be adopted by a foreign corporation under section 10-1506, by delivering an application to the commission for filing. The application shall be executed by the applicant or an authorized agent of the applicant and shall set forth the name and address of the applicant and the name proposed to be reserved. If the commission finds that the corporate name applied for is available, it shall reserve the name for the applicant's exclusive use for a nonrenewable one hundred twenty day period.
B. The owner of a reserved corporate name may transfer the reservation to another person by delivering to the commission a notice of the transfer that shall be executed by the applicant or an authorized agent of the applicant and that states the name and address of the transferee. The transfer shall not extend the period for which the name is reserved.
10-403. Registered name
A. A foreign corporation may register its corporate name or its corporate name with any addition required by section 10-1506, if the name is distinguishable on the records of the commission from the corporate names that are not available under section 10-401, subsection B.
B. A foreign corporation may register its corporate name or its corporate name with any addition required by section 10-1506 by delivering to the commission for filing an application both:
1. Setting forth its corporate name or its corporate name with any addition required by section 10-1506, the state or country of domicile and date of its incorporation and a brief description of the nature of the business in which it is engaged.
2. Accompanied by a certificate of existence or a similar document from the state or country of incorporation that has been issued within sixty days of delivering the application for filing with the commission.
C. The name is registered for the applicant's exclusive use on the effective date of the application. The registration expires one year after the effective date of the application unless it is renewed pursuant to subsection D of this section.
D. A foreign corporation whose registration is effective may renew it for successive years by delivering to the commission for filing a renewal application that complies with the requirements of subsection B of this section. The renewal application when filed renews the registration for one year after the effective date of the renewal application.
E. A foreign corporation whose registration is effective may qualify as a foreign corporation under the registered name or consent in writing to the use of that name by a corporation incorporated under chapters 1 through 17 of this title or by another foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state. The registration terminates when the domestic corporation is incorporated or the foreign corporation qualifies or consents to the qualification of another foreign corporation under the registered name.