New Jersey § 15a:2-2
Full text of New Jersey New Jersey Statutes § 15a:2-2, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 15a:2-2.
a. The corporate name of a domestic corporation or of a foreign corporation authorized
to transact business in this State: (1) Shall not contain any word or phrase, or abbreviation or derivative thereof, which
indicates or implies that it is organized for any purpose other than one or more of
the purposes permitted by its certificate of incorporation; (2) Shall not be the same as, or confusingly similar to, the corporate name of any
domestic corporation, including a corporate name set forth in a certificate of incorporation
filed in the office of the Secretary of State for which the effective date is subsequent
to the date of filing, as authorized by subsection b. of section 15A:2-8 or of any foreign corporation authorized to conduct activities in this State or any
corporate name reserved or registered under this act, or any corporate name in use,
reserved or registered under the New Jersey Business Corporation Act, unless the written
consent of the other domestic, foreign corporation or corporate entity, or holder
of a reserved or registered name to the adoption of its name or a confusingly similar
name, is filed in the office of the Secretary of State with the certificate of incorporation
or with the application for an original or amended certificate of authority to conduct
activities in this State; or, in lieu of that consent, there is filed a certified
copy of a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction establishing the prior
right of the corporation to the use of the name in this State; (3) Shall not contain any word or phrase, or any abbreviation or derivative thereof,
the use of which is prohibited or restricted by any other statute of this State, unless
the restrictions have been complied with; and (4) Shall contain one of the following: “a New Jersey nonprofit corporation,” “incorporated,”
“corporation,” “inc.,” or “corp.” unless it is a corporation which could organize
pursuant to the provisions of Title 16 of the Revised Statutes. b. (1) This section shall not require any domestic corporation organized prior to
the effective date of this act or any foreign corporation authorized to conduct activities
in this State prior to the effective date of this act to change its corporate name
in order to comply with this section, if the name is otherwise lawful on the effective
date of this act. The corporation shall not change its corporate name on or after the effective date
of this act to a name which is not available for corporate use under this section. (2) This section shall not prevent a domestic corporation (a) with which another corporation,
domestic or foreign, is merged, or (b) which is formed by the reorganization or consolidation
of one or more domestic or foreign corporations, or (c) which receives upon a sale,
lease or other disposition from, or exchange with, another corporation, domestic or
foreign, all or substantially all the assets of the other corporation including its
name, from having the same corporate name as any of those corporations if, at the
time, the other corporation was organized under the laws of, or is authorized to conduct
activities in, this State. c. If the name of a foreign corporation is not available for use in this State because
of subsection a. of this section, the corporation may be authorized to conduct activities
in this State under an alternate name which is available for corporate use under this
section. The corporation shall file in the office of the Secretary of State with its application
for an original or amended certificate of authority an original and a copy of a resolution
of its board adopting the alternate name for use in conducting activities in this
State. The Secretary of State shall forward the copy to the Attorney General. d. The corporate name of a domestic corporation which has been dissolved and any name
confusingly similar to the name of a domestic corporation which has been dissolved
shall not be available for corporate use for 2 years after the effective time of dissolution,
unless, within that 2-year period, the written consent of the dissolved corporation
to the adoption of its name, or a confusingly similar name, is filed in the office
of the Secretary of State with the certificate of incorporation of another domestic
corporation or with the application of a foreign corporation for an original or amended
certificate of authority to conduct activities in this State. e. The filing in the office of the Secretary of State of the certificate of incorporation
of a domestic corporation or the issuance by the Secretary of State of a certificate
to a foreign corporation authorizing it to conduct activities in this State shall
not preclude an action by this State to enjoin a violation of this section or an action
by any person adversely affected to enjoin the violation or the use of a corporate
name in violation of the rights of that person, whether on principles of unfair competition
or otherwise. The court may grant any other appropriate relief.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey § 15a:2-2
What does New Jersey Statutes § 15a:2-2 cover?
Section 15a:2-2 is part of the New Jersey Statutes, the codified statutory law of New Jersey. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite New Jersey § 15a:2-2?
A common citation format is "New Jersey Statutes § 15a:2-2" (New Jersey). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of New Jersey law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the New Jersey official source linked on this page or consult a licensed New Jersey attorney.
How does New Jersey § 15a:2-2 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in New Jersey can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in New Jersey.