mail your name inquiry to corpinfo@sos.state.tx.us. A final determination cannot be made until the
document is received and processed by the secretary of state. Do not make financial expenditures or
execute documents based on a preliminary determination. Also note that the preclearance of a name
or the issuance of a certificate of reservation or formation under a name does not authorize the use of
a name in violation of another person’s rights to the name.
• Entity Type: A name may be reserved by a person intending to organize a Texas corporation,
professional association, limited liability company or limited partnership, or a person intending to
register a foreign filing entity to transact business in Texas. Although this form is designed to be
used by different types of entities, you must indicate the specific entity type to which the name
reservation is to apply. This selection facilitates the review of the entity name as a name chosen for
one specific entity type may imply or indicate an unlawful purpose for another entity type.
• Applicant Name and Address: Specify the name of the person for whom the reservation is made.
If the name is being reserved by an existing corporation, limited partnership, limited liability
company or other organized legal entity, select and complete option A. If an individual is reserving
the name, please select and complete option B. Set forth the name of the individual in the format
specified. Do not use prefixes (e.g., Mr., Mrs., Ms.). Use the suffix box only for titles of lineage
(e.g., Jr., Sr., III) and not for other suffixes or titles (e.g., M.D., Ph.D.).
Once the application for reservation is filed, the name reservation will be recorded exclusively in the
name of the applicant or the applicant’s transferee if a notice of transfer is filed with the appropriate
fee.
• Execution: The applicant or applicant’s attorney or agent must sign the application for name
reservation. Before signing, please read the statements on this form carefully. A person commits an
offense under section 4.008 of the BOC if the person signs or directs the filing of a filing instrument
the person knows is materially false with the intent that the instrument be delivered to the secretary
of state for filing. The offense is a Class A misdemeanor unless the person’s intent is to harm or
defraud another, in which case the offense is a state jail felony.
Payment and Delivery Instructions: The filing fee for an application for name reservation is $40.
The filing fee for the renewal of an existing name reservation is $40. Fees may be paid by personal
checks, money orders, LegalEase debit cards, or American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa
credit cards. Checks or money orders must be payable through a U.S. bank or financial institution
and made payable to the secretary of state. Fees paid by credit card are subject to a statutorily
authorized convenience fee of 2.7 percent of the total fees.
Submit the completed form in duplicate along with the filing fee. The form may be mailed to P.O.
Box 13697, Austin, Texas 78711-3697; faxed to (512) 463-5709; or delivered to the James Earl
Rudder Office Building, 1019 Brazos, Austin, Texas 78701. If a document is transmitted by fax,
credit card information must accompany the transmission (Form 807). On filing the document, the
secretary of state will return the appropriate evidence of filing to the submitter together with a file-
stamped copy of the document, if a duplicate copy was provided as instructed.
• Withdrawal: A registrant may withdraw the reservation of a name before the expiration of the
reservation period by filing a notice of withdrawal to cancel the name reservation. There is no fee for
filing the notice of withdrawal.
Revised 05/11
Form 501
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