CHAPTER 71. ASSUMED BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL NAME
BUSINESS AND COMMERCE CODE
TITLE 5. REGULATION OF BUSINESSES AND SERVICES
SUBTITLE A. GENERAL PRACTICES
CHAPTER 71. ASSUMED BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL NAME
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 71.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the
Assumed Business or Professional Name Act.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Address" means:
(A) a post office address; and
(B) a street address, if the street address is not the same as
the post office address.
(2) "Assumed name" means:
(A) for an individual, a name that does not include the surname
of the individual;
(B) for a partnership, a name that does not include the surname
or other legal name of each joint venturer or general partner;
(C) for an individual or a partnership, a name, including a
surname, that suggests the existence of additional owners by
including words such as "Company," "& Company," "& Son,"
"& Sons," "& Associates," "Brothers," and similar words,
but not words that merely describe the business being conducted
or the professional service being rendered;
(D) for a limited partnership, a name other than the name stated
in its certificate of formation;
(E) for a company, a name used by the company;
(F) for a corporation, a name other than the name stated in its
certificate of formation or a comparable document;
(G) for a limited liability partnership, a name other than the
name stated in its application filed with the office of the
secretary of state or a comparable document; and
(H) for a limited liability company, a name other than the name
stated in its certificate of formation or a comparable document.
(3) "Certificate" means an assumed name certificate.
(4) "Company" means a real estate investment trust, a
joint-stock company, or any other business, professional, or
other association or legal entity that is not incorporated, other
than a partnership, limited partnership, limited liability
company, limited liability partnership, or foreign filing entity.
(5) "Corporation" means:
(A) a domestic or foreign corporation, professional corporation,
professional association, or other corporation; or
(B) any other business, professional, or other association or
legal entity that is incorporated.
(6) "Estate" means a person's property that is administered by a
representative.
(6-a) "Foreign filing entity" means an entity formed under the
laws of a jurisdiction other than this state that registers or is
required by law to register with the secretary of state to
conduct business or render professional services in this state
under Chapter 9, Business Organizations Code.
(7) "Office" means:
(A) for a person that is not an individual or that is a
corporation that is not required to or does not maintain a
registered office in this state, the person's:
(i) principal office; and
(ii) principal place of business if not the same as the person's
principal office; and
(B) for a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability
partnership, limited liability company, or foreign filing entity
that is required to maintain a registered office in this state,
the entity's:
(i) registered office; and
(ii) principal office if not the same as the entity's registered
office.
(8) "Partnership" means a joint venture or general partnership
other than a limited partnership or a limited liability
partnership.
(9) "Person" includes an individual, partnership, limited
partnership, limited liability company, limited liability
partnership, company, corporation, or foreign filing entity.
(10) "Registrant" means a person who has filed, or on whose
behalf there has been filed, a certificate under this chapter or
other law.
(11) "Representative" means a trustee, administrator, executor,
independent executor, guardian, conservator, trustee in
bankruptcy, receiver, or other person appointed by a court or by
trust or will to have custody of, take possession of, have title
to, or otherwise be empowered to control the person or property
of any person.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
84, Sec. 62, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.003. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. (a) This chapter does
not apply to an insurer authorized to engage in business in this
state and described in Subchapter A, Chapter 805, Insurance Code,
except as specifically provided by the Insurance Code.
(b) This chapter does not require a corporation, limited
partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability
company, or foreign filing entity or its shareholders,
associates, partners, or members to file a certificate to conduct
business or render a professional service in this state under the
name of the entity as stated in the certificate of formation,
application filed with the office of the secretary of state, or
other comparable document of the entity.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
84, Sec. 63, eff. September 1, 2009.
SUBCHAPTER B. REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN UNINCORPORATED
PERSONS
Sec. 71.051. CERTIFICATE FOR CERTAIN UNINCORPORATED PERSONS. A
person must file a certificate under this subchapter if the
person regularly conducts business or renders a professional
service in this state under an assumed name other than as a
corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership,
limited liability company, or foreign filing entity.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
84, Sec. 64, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.052. CONTENTS OF CERTIFICATE. The certificate must
state:
(1) the assumed name under which the business is or is to be
conducted or the professional service is or is to be rendered;
(2) if the registrant is:
(A) an individual, the individual's full name and residence
address;
(B) a partnership:
(i) the venture or partnership name;
(ii) the venture or partnership office address;
(iii) the full name of each joint venturer or general partner;
and
(iv) each joint venturer's or general partner's residence
address if the venturer or partner is an individual or the joint
venturer's or general partner's office address if the venturer or
partner is not an individual;
(C) an estate:
(i) the name of the estate;
(ii) the estate's office address, if any;
(iii) the full name of each representative of the estate; and
(iv) each representative's residence address if the
representative is an individual or the representative's office
address if the representative is not an individual;
(D) a real estate investment trust:
(i) the name of the trust;
(ii) the address of the trust;
(iii) the full name of each trustee manager; and
(iv) each trustee manager's residence address if the trustee
manager is an individual or the trustee manager's office address
if the trustee manager is not an individual; or
(E) a company, other than a real estate investment trust:
(i) the name of the company;
(ii) the state, country, or other jurisdiction under the laws of
which the company was organized; and
(iii) the company's office address;
(3) the period, not to exceed 10 years, during which the
registrant will use the assumed name; and
(4) a statement specifying that the business that is or will be
conducted or the professional service that is or will be rendered
in the county under the assumed name is being or will be
conducted or rendered as a proprietorship, sole practitioner,
partnership, real estate investment trust, joint-stock company,
or other form of unincorporated business or professional
association or entity other than a limited partnership, limited
liability company, limited liability partnership, or foreign
filing entity.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
84, Sec. 65, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.053. EXECUTION OF CERTIFICATE. (a) The certificate
must be executed and acknowledged:
(1) by each individual whose name is required to be stated in
the certificate or the individual's representative or
attorney-in-fact; and
(2) under oath on behalf of each person whose name is required
to be stated in the certificate and who is not an individual, by:
(A) the person's representative or attorney-in-fact; or
(B) a joint venturer, general partner, trustee manager, officer,
or other person having authority regarding the person comparable
to the person's representative or attorney-in-fact.
(b) A certificate executed and acknowledged by an
attorney-in-fact must include a statement that the attorney has
been authorized in writing by the attorney's principal to execute
and acknowledge the certificate.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.054. PLACE OF FILING. A person shall file the
certificate in the office of the county clerk in each county in
which the person:
(1) has or will maintain business or professional premises; or
(2) conducts business or renders a professional service, if the
person does not or will not maintain business or professional
premises in any county.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
SUBCHAPTER C. REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO INCORPORATED BUSINESS OR
PROFESSION AND CERTAIN OTHER ENTITIES
Sec. 71.101. CERTIFICATE FOR INCORPORATED BUSINESS OR
PROFESSION, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP,
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, OR FOREIGN FILING ENTITY. A
corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership,
limited liability company, or foreign filing entity must file a
certificate under this subchapter if the entity:
(1) regularly conducts business or renders professional services
in this state under an assumed name; or
(2) is required by law to use an assumed name in this state to
conduct business or render professional services.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
84, Sec. 66, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.102. CONTENTS OF CERTIFICATE. The certificate must
state:
(1) the assumed name under which the business is or is to be
conducted or the professional service is or is to be rendered;
(2) the registrant's name as stated in the registrant's
certificate of formation or application filed with the office of
the secretary of state or other comparable document;
(3) the state, country, or other jurisdiction under the laws of
which the registrant was incorporated or organized and the
registrant's registered or similar office address in that state,
country, or jurisdiction;
(4) the period, not to exceed 10 years, during which the
registrant will use the assumed name;
(5) a statement specifying that the registrant is:
(A) a for-profit corporation, nonprofit corporation,
professional corporation, professional association, or other type
of corporation;
(B) a limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or
limited liability company; or
(C) another type of incorporated business, professional or other
association, or legal entity, foreign or domestic;
(6) the address of:
(A) the registrant's principal office; or
(B) if the registrant is not required to or does not maintain a
registered office in this state:
(i) the registrant's office in this state; and
(ii) the registrant's place of business in this state and any
office of the registrant outside this state, if the registrant is
not incorporated or organized under the laws of this state; and
(7) the county or counties in this state where the registrant is
or will be conducting business or rendering professional services
under the assumed name.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
84, Sec. 67, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.103. PLACE OF FILING. (a) The corporation, limited
partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability
company, or foreign filing entity shall file the certificate in
the office of the secretary of state and in the office or offices
of each county clerk as specified by Subsection (b) or (c).
(b) An entity that maintains a registered office in this state
shall file the certificate in the office of the county clerk of
the county in which the entity's:
(1) registered office is located, if the entity's principal
office is not located in this state; or
(2) principal office is located, if the entity's principal
office is located in this state.
(c) An entity that does not maintain a registered office in this
state shall file the certificate:
(1) in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the
entity's office in this state is located; or
(2) in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the
entity's principal place of business in this state is located,
if:
(A) the entity is not incorporated or organized under the laws
of this state; and
(B) the county in which the entity's principal place of business
in this state is located is not the same county where the
entity's office is located.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
84, Sec. 68, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.104. EXECUTION OF CERTIFICATE. (a) A certificate filed
in the secretary of state's office must be executed by an
officer, general partner, member, manager, or representative of
or attorney-in-fact for the registrant.
(b) A certificate filed in a county clerk's office must be
executed and acknowledged in the manner provided by Section
71.053 for a certificate filed under that section.
(c) A certificate executed by an attorney-in-fact must include a
statement that the attorney has been authorized in writing by the
attorney's principal to execute the certificate.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING ASSUMED NAME
CERTIFICATE
Sec. 71.151. DURATION AND RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATE. (a) A
certificate is effective for a term not to exceed 10 years from
the date the certificate is filed.
(b) A certificate is void at the end of the certificate's stated
term, unless within six months preceding the certificate's
expiration date the registrant files in the office of a county
clerk and the secretary of state, if applicable, a renewal
certificate complying with the requirements of this chapter for
an original certificate.
(c) A registrant may renew a certificate under this section for
any number of successive terms, but each term may not exceed 10
years.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.152. MATERIAL CHANGE IN INFORMATION; NEW CERTIFICATE.
(a) Not later than the 60th day after an event occurs that
causes the information in a certificate to become materially
misleading, a registrant must file a new certificate complying
with this chapter in the office in which the original or renewal
certificate was filed.
(b) An event that causes the information in a certificate to
become materially misleading includes:
(1) a change in the name, identity, entity, form of business or
professional organization, or location of a registrant;
(2) for a proprietorship or sole practitioner, a change in
ownership; or
(3) for a partnership:
(A) the admission of a new partner or joint venturer; or
(B) the end of a general partner's or joint venturer's
association with the partnership.
(c) A new certificate filed under this section is effective for
a term not to exceed 10 years from the date the certificate is
filed.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
84, Sec. 69, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.153. ABANDONMENT OF USE OF BUSINESS OR PROFESSIONAL
NAME. (a) A registrant who has filed a certificate under this
chapter and who ceases to conduct business or render professional
services in this state under the assumed name stated in the
certificate may file a statement of abandonment of use of the
assumed name in the office in which the registrant's certificate
was filed.
(b) The statement of abandonment of use of an assumed name must
state:
(1) the assumed name being abandoned;
(2) the date on which the certificate was filed in the office in
which the statement of abandonment is being filed and in any
other office in which the certificate was filed; and
(3) the registrant's name and residence or office address as
required for a certificate filed under this chapter.
(c) A statement of abandonment must be executed and acknowledged
in the same manner as if the registrant were filing a certificate
under this chapter.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.154. INDEX OF CERTIFICATES. (a) The secretary of state
and each county clerk shall keep an alphabetical index of:
(1) all assumed names that have been filed in the office of the
respective officer; and
(2) the persons filing the certificates.
(b) A copy of a certificate or statement is presumptive evidence
in any court in this state of the facts contained in the copy if
the copy is certified to by:
(1) the county clerk in whose office the certificate or
statement was filed; or
(2) the secretary of state.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.155. FILING FEES. (a) The county clerk shall collect a
fee of:
(1) $2 for filing each certificate or statement required or
permitted to be filed under this chapter; and
(2) 50 cents for each name to be indexed.
(b) The secretary of state shall collect for the use of this
state a fee of:
(1) $25 for indexing and filing each certificate or statement
required or permitted to be filed under this chapter; and
(2) $10 for filing each statement of abandonment of use of an
assumed name.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.156. PRESCRIBED FORMS. (a) The secretary of state may
prescribe a form to be used for filing a certificate or statement
that complies with this chapter in the secretary's office or in
the office of any county clerk in this state.
(b) Unless otherwise specifically provided by law, the use of a
form prescribed under this section is not mandatory.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.157. EFFECT OF FILING. (a) This chapter does not give
a registrant a right to use the assumed name in violation of the
common or statutory law of unfair competition or unfair trade
practices, common law copyright, or similar law.
(b) The filing of a certificate under this chapter does not in
itself constitute actual use of the assumed name stated in the
certificate for purposes of determining priority of rights.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.158. FILING OF REPRODUCTION. (a) The secretary of
state may accept for filing a photographic, photostatic, or
similar reproduction of a signed original document required or
authorized to be filed in the secretary's office under this
chapter.
(b) A signature on a document required or authorized to be filed
in the secretary of state's office under this chapter may be a
facsimile.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
SUBCHAPTER E. PENALTIES
Sec. 71.201. CIVIL ACTION; SANCTION. (a) A person's failure to
comply with this chapter does not impair the validity of any
contract or act by the person or prevent the person from
defending any action or proceeding in any court of this state,
but the person may not maintain in a court of this state an
action or proceeding arising out of a contract or act in which an
assumed name was used until an original, new, or renewed
certificate has been filed as required by this chapter.
(b) In an action or proceeding brought against a person who has
not complied with this chapter, the court may award the plaintiff
or other party bringing the action or proceeding expenses
incurred, including attorney's fees, in locating and effecting
service of process on the defendant.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.202. CRIMINAL PENALTY: GENERAL VIOLATION. (a) A person
commits an offense if the person:
(1) conducts business or renders a professional service in this
state under an assumed name; and
(2) intentionally violates this chapter.
(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.
Sec. 71.203. CRIMINAL PENALTY: FRAUDULENT FILING. (a) A person
may not knowingly or intentionally sign and present for filing or
cause to be presented for filing a document authorized or
required to be filed under this chapter that:
(1) indicates that the person signing the document has the
authority to act on behalf of the entity for which the document
is presented and the person does not have that authority;
(2) contains a material false statement; or
(3) is forged.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person violates
Subsection (a). An offense under this subsection is punishable
as if it were an offense under Section 37.10, Penal Code.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.
885, Sec. 2.01, eff. April 1, 2009.