Chapter 02. Name Availability

In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

Terms Defined.

The entity name of an entity organized or authorized to transact business in the State;

An entity name reserved or registered under Corporations and Associations Article, Title 1, Subtitle 5, Annotated Code of Maryland; and

The disclosed assumed name adopted by a foreign entity authorized to transact business in this State.

In addition to the requirements of the other regulations of this chapter, when two entities are not in the same category of business organization, that is, corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company, etc., and the only difference between their names is the tails, the names are distinctive.

Example: “JGB Corp.” is distinctive from “JGB LLC” or “JGB Limited Partnership”.

In addition to the requirements of other regulations of this chapter, presence or absence of the following factors or words do not make an entity name distinctive from one on record.

Factors, Words, Letters, or Punctuation.

Trade names may include a tail.

If a trade name includes a tail, then it is subject to the regulations of this chapter applying to the category of business organization indicated by the tail. (Example: The trade name “ABC, Inc.” is distinctive from “ABC LP”, but not distinctive from “ABC Limited”).

If a trade name does not include a tail and the only difference between it and another entity name is a tail, the names are distinctive. (Example: The trade name “ABC” is distinctive from “ABC, Inc.”).

If a trade name does not include a tail and is being compared to another trade name without a tail, the regulations of this chapter apply. (Example: The trade name “ABC” is distinctive from the trade name “ABC Supplies”, but not distinctive from “The Abc”).