DSCB:15-208–Instructions
Pennsylvania Department of State
Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
P.O. Box 8722
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722
(717) 787-1057
web site: www.dos.pa.gov/corps
General Information
Typewritten is preferred. If handwritten, the form must be
legible and completed in black or blue-black ink in order to
permit reproduction. The nonrefundable filing fee for this
form is $70.
Checks should be made payable to the Department of State.
Checks must contain a commercially pre-printed name and
address.
This form and all accompanying documents, including any
necessary governmental approvals, shall be mailed to the
address stated above.
Available names will be reserved for a period of 120 days.
Bank name reservations will be reserved for a period of six
months.
NOTE: The online and customer service name availability
search function only performs a preliminary search of
availability in the Bureau’s database. Upon receipt of a
registration request, the Bureau will perform a detailed search
and confirm whether or not the requested name is available.
Do not have signs, business cards, bank accounts or contracts
established in the requested business name prior to obtaining
official confirmation of acceptance of the filing from the
Bureau.
This form only provides for a single, one-time reservation of a
name. After the 120-day reservation period expires, the name
becomes available again and anyone, including the original
reserver, may reserve the name. Nothing prevents the
formation of an association for the purpose of holding a name
if a longer period of reservation is desired than the 120-day
period permitted by 15 Pa.C.S. § 208.
Who should file this form?
Any individual or association seeking to reserve an association
name for a period of 120 days may file this form. Fictitious
names may not be reserved because they do not have name
exclusivity.
Applicable Law
For name reservations, in general, 15 Pa.C.S. § 208; for
names, in general, 15 Pa.C.S. § 414 and §§ 201-209. Statutes
are available on the Pennsylvania General Assembly website,
www.legis.state.pa.us, by following the link for Statutes.
Assocation Name Requirements
Association designators are not required to reserve an
association name. Generally, the name of an association may
not be the same as the name of another association which is
already on the records of the Department of State. A domestic
filing entity, a domestic limited liability partnership, an
electing partnership, a registered foreign association or an
association registered at any time under 54 Pa.C.S. Ch. 5
(relating to corporate and other association names) may
consent to the use of its name. See DSCB:19-17.2 (Consent to
Appropriation of Name) for consent requirements.
Attachments
The following, in addition to the filing fee, shall accompany
this form:
(1) Any necessary copies of form DSCB: 19-17.2 (Consent
to Appropriation of Name).
(2) Any necessary governmental approvals.
Form Instructions
Enter the name and mailing address to which any
correspondence regarding this filing should be sent. This field
must be completed for the Bureau to return the filing. If the
filing is to be returned by email, an email address must be
provided. An email will be sent to address provided,
containing a link and instructions on how a copy of the filed
document or correspondence may be downloaded. Any email
or mailing addresses provided on this form will become part
of the filed document and therefore public record.
1. Give the name of the association to be reserved.
An association designator is not required to be part of the
reserved name. For domestic filing entity name requirements,
see 15 Pa.C.S. §§ 201-207. For foreign association name
requirements, see 15 Pa.C.S. § 412 and
§ 414. Statutes are available on the Pennsylvania General
Assembly website,
www.legis.state.pa.us, by following the
link for Statutes. This field is required.
2. Give the name of the person or association requesting the
name reservation. Under the definition of “person” in 1
Pa.C.S. § 1991, a corporation, partnership, or other
association, as well as a natural person, may reserve an
association name. This field is required.
3. Give the address of the person or association requesting the
name reservation. Post office boxes are not acceptable for any
address. Under 15 Pa.C.S. § 135(c) (relating to addresses), an
actual street or rural route box number must be used as an
address, and the Department of State is required to refuse to
receive or file any document that sets forth only a post office
box address. This field is required.
