How to Change or Amend a Corporation's Name
Corporations that wish to change their names have to file an amendment to their Articles of Incorporation. This is done by filing with the government in the state where the corporation is registered. Or, you can change a corporation's name for marketing purposes without legally changing the name by registering a "doing business as" name, or DBA. Any name change requires the consent of the board of directors and possibly the shareholders, depending on the Articles of Incorporation or bylaws.
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Instructions
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Get the approval of the board of directors. If the Articles of Incorporation or corporate bylaws require the shareholders' approval, obtain their consent as well.
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Announce the change of name in local newspapers. Many states require the name change to be published in at least one newspaper; some require publication in more than one paper. States also differ on how many times the announcement must appear. Check with your state's Secretary of State office, or whichever entity oversees corporations, to find out these requirements.
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File amendment paperwork with the Secretary of State Division of Corporations. The amendment must include the corporation's old name, new name, the date of the change, whether the announcement was published in papers and who was required to approve the change based on the Articles of Incorporation.
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Pay the necessary fees to the Secretary of State's office. Fees differ from state to state. For example, as of December 2010, Georgia's fee for a corporate name change was $20.
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File the name change on the corporation's tax return the following year. Information about this is available on the IRS website. (See Resources.)
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Tips & Warnings
It may be helpful to speak with a corporate attorney before filing the name change amendment to make sure that all necessary papers are in order.
