NAME RESERVATION REQUEST FORM FOR DOMESTIC ENTITIES
Informational
Only/Do Not Send With Request
Online Service Available:
The name reservation request may be fully processed in real-time online. Go to www.sos.alabama.gov and click on
Business Services (below the picture), and scroll down to the Name Reservation Menu. Non-subscribers pay a $28 fee
with a credit card and receive the reservation by printing it immediately at the end of the process. It will NOT be mailed.
Mailing of Certifications of Name Reservation:
All documents not processed online are mailed standard USPS unless preaddressed envelopes with special postage or
overnight courier envelopes are included with the request. Any overnight courier envelopes must have a completed air
bill showing no reference to the Office of the Secretary of State, with the billing information completed and clearly
marked “bill recipient” – if they are not completed in this manner they will be discarded.
Checking the Availability of a Name:
Go to www.sos.alabama.gov and click on Business Services (below the picture), then click on Business Entity Search,
you can search the database under the Entity Name by typing in the name that you would like to use for your entity
excluding entity identifiers such as Inc., LLC, etc. and any punctuation. Do not complete any of the other boxes on the
search page and the system will show all entities using the name or, in many cases, similar names. Entity names must be
distinguishable excluding entity designations on the index from existing names [10A-1-5.03]. Performing the search may
shorten the time it takes to get a Name Reservation completed if you file on paper by reducing rejections. If you use the
Online Filing method, the search is a part of the process and it is not necessary to perform it separately.
Name requirements of Title 10A:
Corporations: The name of a corporation must contain the word “corporation” or “incorporated”; or an abbreviation of
one of those words. Exceptions are: nonprofit corporations, banks, trust companies, savings and loan associations, or
insurance companies. [10A-1-5.04]
Benefit Corporations: The name of a benefit corporation must contain the words “benefit corporation” or “B.C.” or “BC”
and may not contain the word incorporated or an abbreviation thereof. [10A-1-5.04(e)]
Professional Corporations: The name of a professional corporation must contain the words “professional corporation”
or the abbreviation “P.C.” or “PC”. [10A-1-5.08]
Limited Liability Companies (LLC): The name of a limited liability company must contain the words “Limited
Liability Company” or the abbreviation “L.L.C.” or “LLC”. [10A-1-5.06]
Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP): The name of a limited liability partnership shall contain the words “Limited
Liability Partnership” or the abbreviation “L.L.P.” or “LLP”. [10A-1-5.07]
General Partnerships (GP or NGP): The name of the general partnership must contain the words “General Partnership”
or the abbreviation “G.P.” or “GP”. The name of the Not for Profit General Partnership must contain the words “Not for
Profit General Partnership” or the abbreviation “N.G.P. or “NGP”. [10A-1-5.10]
Limited Partnerships: The name of a limited partnership that is not a limited liability limited partnership must contain
the phrase "limited partnership" or "Limited," or the abbreviation "L.P.," "LP," or "Ltd." and must not contain the phrase
"limited liability limited partnership" or the abbreviation "LLLP" or "L.L.L.P.". The name of a limited partnership may
not contain the following words: "bank," "banking," "banker," "trust," "insurance," "insurer," "corporation,"
"incorporated," or any abbreviation of such words. [10A-1-5.05]
Limited Liability Limited Partnerships: The name of a limited liability limited partnership must contain the phrase
"limited liability limited partnership" or the abbreviation "LLLP" or "L.L.L.P." and must not contain the phrase "limited
partnership" or the term "Limited," or the abbreviation "L.P.," "LP," or "Ltd.". [10A-1-5.05]
