General Provisions.

Ala. Code tit. 10A, ch. 1, art. 5, div. A

in effect

Ala. Code § 10A-1-5.01 Effect on Rights Under Other Law.

10A-1-5.01. Effect on Rights Under Other Law. The filing of a certificate of formation by a filing entity pursuant to this title, an application for registration or statement of foreign limited liability partnership by a foreign filing entity pursuant to this title, or an application for reservation or registration of a name pursuant to this article does not authorize the use of a name in this state in violation of a right of another under: (1) The Trademark Act of 1946, as amended, 15 U.S.C. Section 1051 et seq.; or (2) Chapter 12 of Title 8; or (3) Common law. (Act 2009-513, p. 967, §35; Act 2018-125, §1; Act 2019-94, §2.)

Ala. Code § 10A-1-5.02 Unauthorized Purpose in Name Prohibited.

10A-1-5.02. Unauthorized Purpose in Name Prohibited. A domestic entity, and a foreign filing entity with registration under Article 7, may not have a name that contains any word phrase that indicates or implies that the entity is engaged in a business that the entity is not authorized by law to pursue. (Act 2009-513, p. 967, §35; Act 2018-125, §1.)

Ala. Code § 10A-1-5.03 Names Prohibited.

10A-1-5.03. Names Prohibited. (a) A domestic entity may not have a name and a foreign filing entity may not register to transact business in this state under a name that is the same as or not distinguishable on the records of the Secretary of State from: (1) the name of another existing filing entity or a general partnership that has an effective statement of partnership, statement of not for profit partnership, or limited liability partnership under Chapter 8A; (2) the name of a foreign filing entity that has a registration under Article 7; (3) a name that is reserved under Division B. (b) Subsection (a) does not apply if the other entity or the person for whom the name is reserved consents in writing to the use of a name not distinguishable on the records of the Secretary of State, and submits an undertaking in form satisfactory to the Secretary of State to change its name to a name that is distinguishable on the records of the Secretary of State from the name for which application was made. (c) In determining whether a name is the same as or not distinguishable on the records of the Secretary of State from the name of another entity, words, phrases, or abbreviations indicating the type of entity, such as “corporation,” “corp.,” “general partnership,” “GP,” “G.P.,” “not for profit general partnership,” “NGP,” “N.G.P.,” “incorporated,” “Inc.,” “limited liability company,” “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “limited partnership,” “LP,” “L.P.,” “Ltd.,” “limited liability limited partnership,” “LLLP,” “L.L.L.P.,” “limited liability partnership,” “LLP,” or “L.L.P.” shall not be taken into account unless waived in writing by the incumbent holder of the name. (Act 2009-513, p. 967, §35; Act 2013-338, p. 1196, §1; Act 2018-125, §1.)

Ala. Code § 10A-1-5.04 Name of Corporation or Foreign Corporation.

10A-1-5.04. Name of Corporation or Foreign Corporation. (a) The name of a corporation or foreign corporation must contain: (1) the word “corporation” or “incorporated”; or (2) an abbreviation of one of those words. (b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a nonprofit corporation or foreign nonprofit corporation, or to banks, trust companies, savings and loan associations, or insurance companies. (c) In lieu of a word or abbreviation required by subsection (a), the name of a professional corporation must comply with the requirements of Section 10A-1-5.08. (d) The requirements of subsection (a) do not apply to any corporation organized before January 1, 1981. (e) For a corporation that elects to be a benefit corporation under the Alabama Business Corporation Law, the name of that benefit corporation must contain the words “benefit corporation,” the abbreviation “B.C.,” or the designation “BC” and may not use the word “incorporated” or an abbreviation thereof. (Act 2009-513, p. 967, §35; Act 2013-338, p. 1196, §1; Act 2018-125, §1; Act 2020-73, §5.)

Ala. Code § 10A-1-5.05 Name of Limited Partnership.

10A-1-5.05. Name of Limited Partnership. (a) The name of a limited partnership or a foreign limited partnership registered to transact business in this state may contain the name of any partner. (b) 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.” (c) 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 abbreviation “L.P.,” “LP,” or “Ltd.” (d) Subject to Section 10A-1-7.07, this section applies to any foreign limited partnership transacting business in this state, having a certificate of authority to transact business in this state, or applying for a certificate of authority. (e) 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. (Act 2016-379, p. 934, §3; Act 2018-125, §1.)

Ala. Code § 10A-1-5.06 Name of Limited Liability Company or Foreign Limited Liability Company.

10A-1-5.06. Name of Limited Liability Company or Foreign Limited Liability Company. The name of a limited liability company or a foreign limited liability company registered to transact business in this state must contain the words “Limited Liability Company” or the abbreviation “L.L.C.” or “LLC”. (Acts 1993, No. 93-724, p. 1425, §5; Act 97-920, 1st Ex. Sess., p. 312, §1; §10-12-5; amended and renumbered by Act 2009-513, p. 967, §36; Act 2018-125, §1.)

Ala. Code § 10A-1-5.07 Name of Registered Limited Liability Partnership.

10A-1-5.07. Name of Registered Limited Liability Partnership. The name of a limited liability partnership or a foreign limited liability partnership registered to transact business in this state shall contain the words “Limited Liability Partnership” or the abbreviation “L.L.P.” or “LLP”. (Acts 1996, No. 96-528, p. 685, §1; §10-8A-1002; amended and renumbered by Act 2009-513, p. 967, §36; Act 2018-125, §1.)

Ala. Code § 10A-1-5.08 Name of Professional Corporation.

10A-1-5.08. Name of Professional Corporation. (a) The name of a domestic professional corporation or of a foreign professional corporation registered to transact business in this state must contain the words “professional corporation” or the abbreviation “P.C.” or “PC” and shall otherwise conform to any rule promulgated by a licensing authority having jurisdiction of a professional service described in the certificate of formation of the professional corporation. (b) The name of a professional entity must be consistent with a statute or regulation that governs a person that provides a professional service through the professional entity, including a rule of professional ethics. (Acts 1983, No. 83-514, p. 763, §8; Acts 1988, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 88-905, p. 474, §1; §10-4-387; amended and renumbered by Act 2009-513, p. 967, §36; Act 2018-125, §1; Act 2019-94, §2; Act 2025-281, §1.)

Ala. Code § 10A-1-5.09 Name of General Partnership.

10A-1-5.09. Name of General Partnership. (a) The name of a general partnership that has filed a statement of partnership in accordance with Section 10A-8A-2.02 must include the words “general partnership” or the abbreviation “G.P.” or “GP.” (b) The name of a general partnership that has filed a statement of not for profit partnership in accordance with Section 10A-8A-2.02 must include the words “not for profit general partnership” or the abbreviation “N.G.P.” or “NGP.” (Act 2009-513, p. 967, §37; Act 2025-281, §1.)

Ala. Code § 10A-1-5.10 Mandatory Name Reservation for Certain Entities.

10A-1-5.10. Mandatory Name Reservation for Certain Entities. (a)(i) All filing entities and (ii) all general partnerships that are filing a statement of partnership, a statement of not for profit general partnership, or a statement of limited liability partnership, must reserve a name with the Secretary of State in accordance with this Article 5. (b) When a filing entity delivers its certificate of formation or certificate of incorporation, as applicable, to the Secretary of State for filing, that filing entity must attach its name reservation certificate to its certificate of formation or the certificate of incorporation, as applicable; provided, that the name reservation certificate shall not be part of the certificate of formation or certificate of incorporation, as applicable. (c) When a general partnership delivers its statement of partnership, statement of not for profit general partnership, or statement of limited liability partnership, as applicable, to the Secretary of State for filing, that general partnership must attach its name reservation certificate to its statement of partnership, statement of not for profit general partnership, or statement of limited liability partnership, as applicable; provided, that the name reservation certificate shall not be part of the statement of partnership, the statement of not for profit general partnership, or the statement of limited liability partnership, as applicable. (Act 2018-125, §2; Act 2025-281, §1.)

Source: Alabama Legislature (alison.legislature.state.al.us)URL: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabamaFetched: 10/20/2026