<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>68645</law_id><section_number>13.1-1214</section_number><catch_line>Name</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>13.1-1013</reference><reference>13.1-1085</reference><reference>13.1-1203</reference><reference>13.1-1212</reference><reference>13.1-1215</reference><reference>13.1-1239</reference><reference>13.1-1244</reference><reference>13.1-1246.3</reference><reference>13.1-1268</reference><reference>13.1-631</reference><reference>13.1-830</reference><reference>50-73.3</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="13.1">Corporations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="14">Virginia Business Trust Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Formation</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> A <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> name may contain: <a id="paragraph-248452" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> One or more of the following words: &#x201C;association,&#x201D; &#x201C;club,&#x201D; &#x201C;company,&#x201D; &#x201C;foundation,&#x201D; &#x201C;fund,&#x201D; &#x201C;institute,&#x201D; &#x201C;society,&#x201D; &#x201C;syndicate,&#x201D; or &#x201C;union,&#x201D; or abbreviations of like import; and <a id="paragraph-248453" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The word &#x201C;trust,&#x201D; provided that the context or remaining words in the name meet the standards prescribed in &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Unlawful use of terms indicating that business is bank; penalty" href="/6.2-939/">6.2-939</a> and <a class="law" title="Unlawful use of terms indicating that business is trust company; penalty" href="/6.2-1040/">6.2-1040</a>. <a id="paragraph-248454" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> name shall not contain: <a id="paragraph-248455" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Any word, abbreviation, or combination of characters that states or implies the <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> is a corporation, a limited liability company, a limited partnership, a <span class="dictionary">registered limited liability partnership</span>, or a <span class="dictionary">protected series</span> of a series limited liability company; or <a id="paragraph-248456" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Any word or phrase the use of which is prohibited by <span class="dictionary">law</span> for such <span class="dictionary">business trust</span>. <a id="paragraph-248457" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Except as authorized by subsection D, a <span class="dictionary">business trust</span> name shall be distinguishable upon the records of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> from: <a id="paragraph-248458" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The name of a <span class="dictionary">domestic business trust</span> or a <span class="dictionary">foreign business trust</span> registered to transact business in the Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-248459" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A business trust name reserved under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Reserved name" href="/13.1-1215/">13.1-1215</a>; <a id="paragraph-248460" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The designated name adopted by a <span class="dictionary">foreign business trust</span> because its real name is unavailable for use in the Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-248461" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#C3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The name of any corporation, whether issuing shares or not issuing shares, existing under the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the Commonwealth or authorized to transact business in the Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-248462" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#C4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> A corporate name reserved or registered under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Reserved name" href="/13.1-631/">13.1-631</a>, <a class="law" title="Registered name" href="/13.1-632/">13.1-632</a>, <a class="law" title="Reserved name" href="/13.1-830/">13.1-830</a>, or <a class="law" title="Registered name" href="/13.1-831/">13.1-831</a>; <a id="paragraph-248463" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#C5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> The designated name adopted by a <span class="dictionary">foreign corporation</span>, whether issuing shares or not issuing shares, because its real name is unavailable for use in the Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-248464" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#C6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> The name of a domestic limited liability company or a <span class="dictionary">foreign limited liability company</span> registered to transact business in the Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-248465" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#C7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> A limited liability company name reserved under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Reserved name" href="/13.1-1013/">13.1-1013</a>; <a id="paragraph-248466" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#C8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> The designated name adopted by a <span class="dictionary">foreign limited liability company</span> because its real name is unavailable for use in the Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-248467" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#C9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C10" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> The name of a <span class="dictionary">domestic limited partnership</span> or a <span class="dictionary">foreign limited partnership</span> registered to transact business in the Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-248468" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#C10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C11" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> A limited partnership name reserved under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Reserved name" href="/50-73.3/">50-73.3</a>; and <a id="paragraph-248469" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#C11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C12" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">12.</span> The designated name adopted by a <span class="dictionary">foreign limited partnership</span> because its real name is unavailable for use in the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-248470" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#C12"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A <span class="dictionary">domestic business trust</span> may apply to the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> for authorization to use a name that is not distinguishable upon its records from one or more of the names described in subsection C. The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> shall authorize use of the name applied for if the other domestic or <span class="dictionary">foreign business trust</span> or <span class="dictionary">other business entity</span> consents to the use in writing and submits an undertaking in a form satisfactory to the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> to change its name to a name that is distinguishable upon the records of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> from the name of the applying business trust. <a id="paragraph-248471" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The use of assumed names or fictitious names, as provided for in Chapter 5 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Certificate required of person transacting business under assumed name" href="/59.1-69/">59.1-69</a> et seq.) of Title 59.1, is not affected by this chapter. <a id="paragraph-248472" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, in determining whether a business trust name is distinguishable upon its records from the name of any of the business entities listed in subsection C, shall not consider any word, phrase, abbreviation, or designation required or permitted under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Use of initials &quot;P.C.&quot; or &quot;PC&quot; in corporate name" href="/13.1-544.1/">13.1-544.1</a>, subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Corporate name" href="/13.1-630/">13.1-630</a>, subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Name" href="/13.1-1012/">13.1-1012</a>, &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Use of initials &quot;P.L.C.,&quot; &quot;PLC,&quot; &quot;P.L.L.C.&quot; or &quot;PLLC&quot; in company name" href="/13.1-1104/">13.1-1104</a>, subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Name" href="/50-73.2/">50-73.2</a>, and subdivision A 2 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Limited partnership as registered limited liability partnership" href="/50-73.78/">50-73.78</a> to be contained in the name of a business entity formed or organized under the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the Commonwealth or authorized or registered to transact business in the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-248473" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-1214/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2002, c. 621; 2003, cc. 373, 592; 2005, c. 379; 2012, c. 63; 2013, c. 25; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 487.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
