Code of Massachusetts Regulations
950 CMR - OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH
Title 950 CMR 104.00 - Business corporations
Section 104.05 - Reservation of Name

The determination that a name is available for use in the Commonwealth is the responsibility of the filing party. The division will assist by checking its database relative to corporations only.

If the name of a corporation is available for use under the laws of the Commonwealth, it may be reserved for a period of 30 days by the filing of a written application or request to reserve a specific name signed by the applicant. The fee shall be $15.00 for such a reservation. The reservation may be extended by the Division for an additional 30 days upon the written request of the applicant and the payment of an additional $15.00 fee. If the reserving party wishes to reserve the same name for a third or subsequent time, one business day must lapse between the expiration of the second reservation and the beginning of the third.

If the reserving party files Articles of Organization during the reservation period, he/she must submit the name reservation receipt to the clerk at the time the Articles are presented.

A name may be checked relative to its availability for use by telephone but a name may NOT be reserved by a telephone request, and any such attempted reservation shall be considered INVALID by the Division. The reservation of a name becomes effective only upon the receipt by the Division of a written request and the payment of the proper fee.