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Form a Business

Administrative Authority

V.S.A. tit. 11, ch. 15, subch. 2
in effect

11 V.S.A. § 1636 Termination of business name; hearing

1636. Termination of business name; hearing (a) If the Secretary of State declines to register a business because it is not distinguishable in the records of the Secretary from another business name, the applicant may request that the Secretary determine whether the person to whom the business name is registered is doing business or taking steps to do business in this State. (b) If, after notice and an opportunity for hearing, the Secretary or designee finds that the person is not doing business or intending to do business in this State as demonstrated by a substantive act or acts consistent with that intent, the Secretary may terminate the registration and register the business name to the applicant. If the business name is not taken by the person who requested a hearing under this section, the business name shall be available for selection by another registrant. (c) A person aggrieved by a final decision of the Secretary under this section may appeal to the Superior Court of Washington County, which shall consider the matter de novo. Added 1989, No. 226 (Adj. Sess.); amended 2025, No. 10, § 4, eff. July 1, 2025.

11 V.S.A. § 1637 Authority to terminate and amend registration

1637. Authority to terminate and amend registration (a) The Secretary of State shall have the authority to: (1) terminate the registration of a person who, pursuant to an administrative order, a final court order, or an assurance of discontinuance, is not authorized to conduct business in this State; and (2) amend the person’s records to reflect the termination of a registration pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. (b)(1) If the Secretary of State terminates the registration of a person pursuant to this section, the person appoints the Secretary as the person’s agent for service of process in any proceeding based on a cause of action that arose during the time the person was authorized to transact, or was transacting without authorization, business in this State. (2) Upon receipt of process, the Secretary of State shall deliver by registered mail a copy of the process to the terminated person at its principal office shown in its most recent annual report or in any subsequent communication received from the person stating the current mailing address of its principal office, or, if none is on file, in its application for registration. (c)(1) If a court or other person with sufficient legal authority reinstates the ability of a terminated person to conduct business in this State, the terminated person may file with the Secretary of State evidence of the reinstated authority and pay to the Secretary a fee of $25.00 for each year the person is delinquent. (2) Upon receipt of a filing and payment pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, the Secretary shall cancel the termination and prepare a certificate of reinstatement, file the original of the certificate, and serve a copy on the person. Added 2015, No. 128 (Adj. Sess.), § C.2; amended 2025, No. 10, § 4, eff. July 1, 2025.

11 V.S.A. § 1638 Authority to reject, amend, or terminate

1638. Authority to reject, amend, or terminate (a) The Secretary of State shall have the authority to: (1) reject a record submitted for filing that the Secretary reasonably determines contains false, fraudulent, or clearly erroneous information; and (2) amend a record or terminate the registration of a person who the Secretary determines, after notice and opportunity for hearing pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25, has submitted false or fraudulent information in a record, or has attempted or submitted a record for filing in bad faith, without lawful authority, or to commit fraud or cause injury. (b)(1) If the Secretary terminates the registration of a person pursuant to this section, or the Secretary’s rejection or amendment of a record results in the person’s failure to designate or maintain an agent for service of process, then the person appoints the Secretary as the person’s agent for service of process. (2) Upon receipt of process, the Secretary of State shall deliver by registered mail a copy of the process to the person’s last known address. (c) A person aggrieved by a final decision of the Secretary under this section may appeal to the Superior Court of Washington County, which shall consider the matter de novo. Added 2025, No. 10, § 4, eff. July 1, 2025.

11 V.S.A. § 1639 Forms; procedures; rules

1639. Forms; procedures; rules The Secretary of State may adopt forms, procedures, and rules to implement the processes and provisions governing business registration in this State. Added 2025, No. 10, § 4, eff. July 1, 2025; 2025, No. 91 (Adj. Sess.), § 55, eff. April 30, 2026.
Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/11/015Fetched: 10/21/2026

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