(a)Name Requirements. An LLC name:

lawyer at desk

Need help with a review of an LLC operating agreement?
Have it reviewed by a lawyer, get answers to your questions and move forward with confidence.
Connect with a lawyer now

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 48-207-101

  • Business: includes every trade, occupation, profession, investment activity and other lawful purpose for gain or the preservation of assets whether or not carried on for profits. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Court: includes every court and judge having jurisdiction in the case. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Entity: includes the following, whether foreign or domestic: LLCs. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Governing body: means the board of governors in the case of a board-managed LLC, the members in the case of a member-managed LLC, and the board of directors in the case of a corporation. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • LLC: means a limited liability company, organized under chapters 201-248 of this title. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Person: includes individual and entity. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Secretary: means the corporate officer to whom the bylaws or the board of directors has delegated responsibility under §. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Secretary of state: means the person who holds the office of secretary of state of Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • United States: includes district, authority, bureau, commission, department, and any other agency of the United States. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • written: means any information in the form of a document. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
(1) Must contain the words “limited liability company,” or the abbreviation “L.L.C.” or “LLC,” or words or abbreviations of like import in another language; provided, that they are written in roman characters or letters; and provided further, that, in the case of a foreign LLC, the name may contain, in lieu of the foregoing, the designations allowed by the jurisdiction in which the foreign LLC was formed or organized. An organization formed pursuant to chapter 248 of this title must contain the words or the abbreviation as required by § 48-248-301. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the name of an LLC or foreign LLC must not contain the word “corporation” or “incorporated” or an abbreviation of either or both these words; and
(2) May not contain language stating or implying that the LLC:

(A) Transacts or has the power to transact any business for which authorization in whatever form and however denominated is required under the laws of this state, unless the appropriate commission or officer has granted such authorization and certifies that fact in writing;
(B) Is organized as, affiliated with, or sponsored by, any fraternal, veterans’, service, religious, charitable, or professional organization, unless that fact is certified in writing by the organization with which affiliation or sponsorship is claimed;
(C) Is an agency or instrumentality of, affiliated with or sponsored by the United States or any state thereof or a subdivision or agency thereof, unless such fact is certified in writing by the appropriate official of the United States or the state or subdivision or agency thereof; or
(D) Is organized for a purpose other than that permitted by § 48-203-101 and the LLC’s articles.
(b)Name Must Be Distinguishable. Except as authorized by subsection (c), the name of a domestic LLC, and the name of a foreign LLC that is authorized to transact business in this state or is applying for a certificate of authority to transact business in this state, shall be distinguishable upon the records of the secretary of state from the respective names of or for every other entity, whether true, assumed, reserved or registered, to the extent the use or reservation of such names is evidenced by a filing with the secretary of state under applicable law.
(c) Nondistinguishable Name of Entity Under Common Control. A domestic or foreign LLC, or person acting on behalf of an LLC not yet formed, may apply to the secretary of state for authorization to use a name that is not distinguishable upon the secretary of state’s records from one (1) or more of the names described in subsection (b). The secretary of state shall authorize use of the indistinguishable name applied for, if:

(1) The person holding the right to use the previously filed name described in subsection (b) consents to the use in writing and submits an undertaking, in a form satisfactory to the secretary of state, to cancel its reservation of such name or change such name to a name that is distinguishable upon the records of the secretary of state from the name of the applicant;
(2) The applicant delivers to the secretary of state a certified copy of the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction establishing the applicant’s right to use the name applied for in this state; or
(3) The person holding the right to use the previously filed name described in subsection (b) consents in writing to the use of such name by the applicant, and both the other person and the applicant consent in a form satisfactory to the secretary of state to use the same registered agent.
(d)Assumed Name.

(1) An LLC or a foreign LLC authorized to transact business or applying for a certificate of authority to transact business may elect to adopt an assumed name that complies with the requirements of subsections (a)-(c), except that such name need not contain the designations contained in subdivision (a)(1).
(2) As used in chapters 201-248 of this title, “assumed name” means any name used by the LLC, other than the LLC’s true name, except that the following shall not constitute the use of an assumed name:

(A) The identification by an LLC of its business with a trademark or service mark of which it is the owner or licensed user; and
(B) The use of a name of a division, not separately organized and not containing the words “limited liability company” or an abbreviation of such words; provided, that the LLC also clearly discloses its name.
(3) Before transacting any business in this state under an assumed name or names, the LLC shall, for each assumed name, pursuant to resolution by its governing body, execute and file in accordance with §§ 48-247-101 and 48-247-103, an application setting forth:

(A) The true LLC name;
(B) The state or country under the laws of which it is organized;
(C) That it intends to transact business under an assumed name; and
(D) The assumed name which it proposes to use.
(4) The right to use an assumed name shall be effective for five (5) years from the date of filing by the secretary of state.
(5) An LLC shall renew the right to use its assumed name or names, if any, within the two (2) months preceding the expiration of such right, for a period of five (5) years, by filing an application to renew each assumed name and paying the renewal fee as prescribed by § 48-247-103(a).
(e)Cancellation of Assumed Name. Any LLC or foreign LLC may, pursuant to resolution by its governing body, change or cancel any or all of its assumed names by executing and filing, in accordance with §§ 48-247-101 and 48-247-103, an application setting forth:

(1) The true LLC name;
(2) The state or country under the laws of which it is organized;
(3) That it intends to cease transacting business under an assumed name by changing or cancelling it;
(4) The assumed name to be changed from or cancelled; and
(5) If the assumed name is to be changed, the assumed LLC name which the LLC proposes to use.
(f) Upon the filing of an application to change an assumed name, the LLC shall have the right to use such assumed name for the period authorized by subsection (d).
(g)Cancellation of Assumed Name by Secretary of State. The right of a foreign or domestic LLC to use an assumed name shall be cancelled by the secretary of state if:

(1) The LLC fails to renew an assumed name;
(2) The LLC has filed an application to change or cancel an assumed name;
(3) A domestic LLC has been dissolved; or
(4) A foreign LLC has had its certificate of authority to transact business in this state revoked.
(h)Unfair Competition. Nothing in this section, or in § 48-207-102 or § 48-207-103 shall abrogate or limit the law as to unfair competition or unfair trade practice, or derogate from the common law, the principles of equity, or the statutes of this state or of the United States with respect to the right to acquire and protect trade names and trademarks.
  Previous section
Next section  
 Chapter 207 Contents