Section 176.220  Notary Public Course of Study and Examination − Provider Names

a)         No provider may adopt, use or conduct any business under a name that is not distinguishable upon the records of the Department from a name used by another provider, as distinguishable is defined in 14 Ill. Adm. Code 150.440.

b)         No provider may incorporate under its own or another name unless the name of the proposed corporation is submitted by the Department of Business Services of the Office of the Secretary of State for a final determination of the availability of the name, along with the fee required by Section 15.10 of the Business Corporation Act of 1983 [805 ILCS 5/15.10].

c)         No provider’s name may contain, separate and apart from any other word or abbreviation in the name, the word "corporation", "company", "incorporated", or "limited", or an abbreviation of one of these words, unless so licensed by the Secretary of State.

d)         No provider may operate under an assumed name unless the provider complies with all provisions of the Assumed Business Name Act [805 ILCS 405].

e)         No provider may change its name unless 30 days’ prior written notice is given to the Department stating the change of name.  Upon receipt of a notice of name change, the Department will, without an application fee, require the provider to complete an amended application for certification in the form and manner prescribed for original applicants.

(Source:  Added at 47 Ill. Reg. 8640, effective June 5, 2023)