35-4-206. Corporate name. The name of a domestic or foreign professional corporation:

(1) must contain the words "professional corporation" or the abbreviation "P.C." and may not contain any other words to indicate the type of business that it is other than "professional corporation" or "P.C." unless the name of a foreign corporation contains the words "professional services" or "P.S.";

(2) may not contain any word or phrase that indicates or implies that the corporation is organized for any purpose other than the purposes contained in its articles of incorporation;

(3) must be distinguishable on the record from any assumed business name, limited partnership name, limited liability company name, trademark, or service mark registered or reserved with the secretary of state or to the name of any domestic corporation existing under the laws of this state, any foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state, a name the exclusive right to which is reserved in the manner provided in the Montana Business Corporation Act, or the name of a corporation that has in effect a registration of its corporate name as provided in the Montana Business Corporation Act. This subsection does not apply if:

(a) the similarity results from the use in the corporate name of personal names of shareholders or former shareholders or of natural persons who were associated with a predecessor entity; or

(b) the corporation files with the secretary of state either:

(i) the written consent of the other corporation or holder of a reserved or registered name to use a name that is not distinguishable on the record from the other name; or

(ii) a certified copy of a final decree of a court of competent jurisdiction establishing the prior right of the corporation to the use of the name in this state.

(4) must conform to rules promulgated by a licensing authority having jurisdiction of a professional service described in the articles of incorporation of the corporation.

History: En. Sec. 12, Ch. 399, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 87, Ch. 120, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 249, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 27, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 166, L. 2015.