Header ImageHeader ImageHeader ImageHeader Image
Office of the Secretary of State
Elections
Business Services
UCC Corporations Trademarks
Administrative Services
Government Records
Government Records
Kids Page
Contact Us

Name Reservations

Frequently Asked Questions - REVISED and UPDATED!

  • Do I have to reserve my corporate title?
    Only For-profit domestic and foreign corporations are required to reserve a corporate name. We do not reserve names for the following: non-profit corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships or limited liability partnerships.
  • How much does it cost to reserve a corporate name?
    The fee for reserving a name is $10.00.
  • How do I reserve a corporate name for a domestic or foreign for-profit corporations?
    The two convenient and secure methods for reserving a corporate title are:
    1. You may call our Corporations Call Center at (334) 242-5324.
    2. Download a name reservation request form and fax it to (334) 240-3138. Click here to download.
  • If you only process name reservation requests that are pre-paid, how do I pay for my name reservation if I am paying by check?
    If you are paying by check, you will need to mail your written request into our office with your $10.00 check.
  • Where do I mail my fee and/or name reservation request?
    Alabama Secretary of State
    Attn: Corporations Division
    P.O. Box 5616
    Montgomery, AL 36103-5616
    Alabama Secretary of State
    Attn: Corporations Division
    100 North Union Street, Suite 770
    Montgomery, AL 36130
  • What is expedite service and how much is the expedite service for a name reservation?
    We will process at the customer's behest, an expedited name reservation. If a customer specifies a timeframe in which they want the name reservation ready & available, that is considered expedited. The expedite service fee for a name reservation is $100.00.
  • Do name reservations go through an approval process?
    All name reservation requests are cross-checked for availability against other for-profit corporations in our database that may be considered deceptively similar or cause confusion.
  • Will I get billed for a name reservation if is not available?
    Only when your name reservation receives final approval will we submit a charge to your credit card or deposit your check.
  • How do I cancel my name reservation request?
    We can only cancel a name reservation request before it goes through the approval process.

A Few Exceptions...

  • What if a "Bank" wants to use Bank, Banc, Banking, Bankers or Trust as part of its corporate title?
    The Bank would first need to obtain permission from the State of Alabama Banking Department. For more information, contact the State Banking Department at (334) 242-3452.
  • What if an entity wishes to include Engineer or Engineering as part of its business name?
    To use "engineer" or "engineering" as part of a business title, the business must have an engineer on staff licensed by the Alabama Engineers & Land Surveyors Board.
  • What if a corporation name uses the words "Olympic" or "Olympiad"?
    The United States Olympic Committee strictly prohibits the use of the above terms or terminology in corporation names.

 

Footer Image
P.O. Box 5616
Montgomery, AL 36103-5616
Phone:  (334) 242-7200
Fax:  (334) 242-4993
Footer Image