(1) The name of a corporation or limited liability company organized under this act may contain the last names of some or all of the individual shareholders or individual members and may contain the last names of retired or deceased former individual shareholders or individual members of the corporation, limited liability company, a predecessor corporation or limited liability company, or partnership.
(2) The name shall also contain:
(a) The word “chartered”; or
(b)1. In the case of a professional corporation, the words “professional association,” or the abbreviation “P.A.” or the designation “PA”; or
2. In the case of a professional limited liability company formed before January 1, 2014, the words “professional limited company” or “professional limited liability company,” the abbreviation “P.L.” or “P.L.L.C.” or the designation “PL” or “PLLC,” in lieu of the words “limited company” or “limited liability company,” or the abbreviation “L.C.” or “L.L.C.” or the designation “LC” or “LLC” as otherwise required under s. 605.0112 or former s. 608.406.
3. In the case of a professional limited liability company formed on or after January 1, 2014, the words “professional limited liability company,” the abbreviation “P.L.L.C.” or the designation “PLLC,” in lieu of the words “limited liability company,” or the abbreviation “L.L.C.” or the designation “LLC” as otherwise required under s. 605.0112.
(3) In the case of a corporation, the use of the word “company,” “corporation,” or “incorporated” or any other word, abbreviation, affix, or prefix indicating that it is a corporation in the corporate name of a corporation organized under this act, other than the word “chartered” or the words “professional association” or the abbreviation “P.A.,” is specifically prohibited.
(4) It shall be permissible, however, for the corporation or limited liability company to render professional services and to exercise its authorized powers under a name which is identical to its name or contains any one or more of the last names of any shareholder or member included in such name except that the word “chartered,” the words “professional association,” “professional limited company,” or “professional limited liability company,” the abbreviations “P.A.,” “P.L.,” or “P.L.L.C.,” or the designation “PA,” “PL,” or “PLLC” may be omitted, provided that the corporation or limited liability company has first registered the name to be so used in the manner required for the registration of fictitious names.
History.—s. 12, ch. 61-64; s. 1, ch. 77-134; s. 1, ch. 87-41; s. 13, ch. 93-110; s. 86, ch. 93-284; s. 26, ch. 2013-180; s. 32, ch. 2015-148; s. 283, ch. 2019-90.