Md. Code, Corporations and Associations § 1-502
This is the official text of Md. Code, Corporations and Associations § 1-502, part of Maryland’s Code, Corporations and Associations — governs the formation and operation of corporations, LLCs, and partnerships.
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§1–502.
Official statutory text
§1–502. IN EFFECT
(a) (1) The name of a corporation must include one of the following words or an abbreviation of one of the following words:
(i) “Company”, if it is not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”;
(ii) “Corporation”;
(iii) “Incorporated”; or
(iv) “Limited”.
(2) If a corporation is a benefit corporation, the name of the benefit corporation must include:
(i) The words “benefit corporation”;
(ii) “Benefit Corp.”;
(iii) The words “benefit company”, if not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”; or
(iv) “Benefit Co.”, if not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”.
(b) (1) The name of a limited liability company must include:
(i) The words “limited liability company”;
(ii) “L.L.C.”;
(iii) “LLC”;
(iv) “L.C.”; or
(v) “LC”.
(2) If a limited liability company is a benefit limited liability company, the name of the benefit limited liability company must include:
(i) The words “benefit limited liability company”;
(ii) “Benefit L.L.C.”;
(iii) “Benefit LLC”;
(iv) “Benefit L.C.”; or
(v) “Benefit LC”.
(c) The name of a limited liability partnership must include:
(1) The words “limited liability partnership”;
(2) “L.L.P.”; or
(3) “LLP”.
(d) The name of a limited partnership must include:
(1) The words “limited partnership”;
(2) “L.P.”; or
(3) “LP”.
(e) The name of a limited liability limited partnership must include:
(1) The words “limited liability limited partnership”;
(2) “L.L.L.P.”; or
(3) “LLLP”.
(f) (1) The corporate name of a professional corporation must include:
(i) The word “chartered”;
(ii) The abbreviation “chtd.”;
(iii) The words “professional association”;
(iv) The abbreviation “P.A.”;
(v) The words “professional corporation”; or
(vi) The abbreviation “P.C.”.
(2) A professional corporation need not use any word specified under paragraph (1) of this subsection if:
(i) The corporation has registered the name to be used in the manner provided in § 1–406 of this title; and
(ii) The name is the same as its corporate name except for the allowable omissions.
§1–502. ** TAKES EFFECT OCTOBER 1, 2026 PER CHAPTERS 198 AND 199 OF 2025 **
(a) (1) The name of a corporation must include one of the following words or an abbreviation of one of the following words:
(i) “Company”, if it is not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”;
(ii) “Corporation”;
(iii) “Incorporated”; or
(iv) “Limited”.
(2) If a corporation is a benefit corporation, the name of the benefit corporation must include:
(i) The words “benefit corporation”;
(ii) “Benefit Corp.”;
(iii) The words “benefit company”, if not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”; or
(iv) “Benefit Co.”, if not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”.
(b) (1) The name of a limited liability company must include:
(i) The words “limited liability company”;
(ii) “L.L.C.”;
(iii) “LLC”;
(iv) “L.C.”; or
(v) “LC”.
(2) If a limited liability company is a benefit limited liability company, the name of the benefit limited liability company must include:
(i) The words “benefit limited liability company”;
(ii) “Benefit L.L.C.”;
(iii) “Benefit LLC”;
(iv) “Benefit L.C.”; or
(v) “Benefit LC”.
(c) The name of a limited liability partnership must include:
(1) The words “limited liability partnership”;
(2) “L.L.P.”; or
(3) “LLP”.
(d) The name of a limited partnership must include:
(1) The words “limited partnership”;
(2) “L.P.”; or
(3) “LP”.
(e) The name of a limited liability limited partnership must include:
(1) The words “limited liability limited partnership”;
(2) “L.L.L.P.”; or
(3) “LLLP”.
(f) (1) The corporate name of a professional corporation must include:
(i) The word “chartered”;
(ii) The abbreviation “chtd.”;
(iii) The words “professional association”;
(iv) The abbreviation “P.A.”;
ship”;
(2) “L.P.”; or
(3) “LP”.
(e) The name of a limited liability limited partnership must include:
(1) The words “limited liability limited partnership”;
(2) “L.L.L.P.”; or
(3) “LLLP”.
(f) (1) The corporate name of a professional corporation must include:
(i) The word “chartered”;
(ii) The abbreviation “chtd.”;
(iii) The words “professional association”;
(iv) The abbreviation “P.A.”;
(v) The words “professional corporation”; or
(vi) The abbreviation “P.C.”.
(2) A professional corporation need not use any word specified under paragraph (1) of this subsection if:
(i) The corporation has registered the name to be used in the manner provided in § 1–406 of this title; and
(ii) The name is the same as its corporate name except for the allowable omissions.
(g) The name of a limited worker cooperative association must include:
(1) The words “limited worker cooperative association”;
(2) L.W.C.A.; or
(3) LWCA.
(a) (1) The name of a corporation must include one of the following words or an abbreviation of one of the following words:
(i) “Company”, if it is not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”;
(ii) “Corporation”;
(iii) “Incorporated”; or
(iv) “Limited”.
(2) If a corporation is a benefit corporation, the name of the benefit corporation must include:
(i) The words “benefit corporation”;
(ii) “Benefit Corp.”;
(iii) The words “benefit company”, if not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”; or
(iv) “Benefit Co.”, if not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”.
(b) (1) The name of a limited liability company must include:
(i) The words “limited liability company”;
(ii) “L.L.C.”;
(iii) “LLC”;
(iv) “L.C.”; or
(v) “LC”.
(2) If a limited liability company is a benefit limited liability company, the name of the benefit limited liability company must include:
(i) The words “benefit limited liability company”;
(ii) “Benefit L.L.C.”;
(iii) “Benefit LLC”;
(iv) “Benefit L.C.”; or
(v) “Benefit LC”.
(c) The name of a limited liability partnership must include:
(1) The words “limited liability partnership”;
(2) “L.L.P.”; or
(3) “LLP”.
(d) The name of a limited partnership must include:
(1) The words “limited partnership”;
(2) “L.P.”; or
(3) “LP”.
(e) The name of a limited liability limited partnership must include:
(1) The words “limited liability limited partnership”;
(2) “L.L.L.P.”; or
(3) “LLLP”.
(f) (1) The corporate name of a professional corporation must include:
(i) The word “chartered”;
(ii) The abbreviation “chtd.”;
(iii) The words “professional association”;
(iv) The abbreviation “P.A.”;
(v) The words “professional corporation”; or
(vi) The abbreviation “P.C.”.
(2) A professional corporation need not use any word specified under paragraph (1) of this subsection if:
(i) The corporation has registered the name to be used in the manner provided in § 1–406 of this title; and
(ii) The name is the same as its corporate name except for the allowable omissions.
§1–502. ** TAKES EFFECT OCTOBER 1, 2026 PER CHAPTERS 198 AND 199 OF 2025 **
(a) (1) The name of a corporation must include one of the following words or an abbreviation of one of the following words:
(i) “Company”, if it is not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”;
(ii) “Corporation”;
(iii) “Incorporated”; or
(iv) “Limited”.
(2) If a corporation is a benefit corporation, the name of the benefit corporation must include:
(i) The words “benefit corporation”;
(ii) “Benefit Corp.”;
(iii) The words “benefit company”, if not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”; or
(iv) “Benefit Co.”, if not preceded by the word “and” or a symbol for the word “and”.
(b) (1) The name of a limited liability company must include:
(i) The words “limited liability company”;
(ii) “L.L.C.”;
(iii) “LLC”;
(iv) “L.C.”; or
(v) “LC”.
(2) If a limited liability company is a benefit limited liability company, the name of the benefit limited liability company must include:
(i) The words “benefit limited liability company”;
(ii) “Benefit L.L.C.”;
(iii) “Benefit LLC”;
(iv) “Benefit L.C.”; or
(v) “Benefit LC”.
(c) The name of a limited liability partnership must include:
(1) The words “limited liability partnership”;
(2) “L.L.P.”; or
(3) “LLP”.
(d) The name of a limited partnership must include:
(1) The words “limited partnership”;
(2) “L.P.”; or
(3) “LP”.
(e) The name of a limited liability limited partnership must include:
(1) The words “limited liability limited partnership”;
(2) “L.L.L.P.”; or
(3) “LLLP”.
(f) (1) The corporate name of a professional corporation must include:
(i) The word “chartered”;
(ii) The abbreviation “chtd.”;
(iii) The words “professional association”;
(iv) The abbreviation “P.A.”;
ship”;
(2) “L.P.”; or
(3) “LP”.
(e) The name of a limited liability limited partnership must include:
(1) The words “limited liability limited partnership”;
(2) “L.L.L.P.”; or
(3) “LLLP”.
(f) (1) The corporate name of a professional corporation must include:
(i) The word “chartered”;
(ii) The abbreviation “chtd.”;
(iii) The words “professional association”;
(iv) The abbreviation “P.A.”;
(v) The words “professional corporation”; or
(vi) The abbreviation “P.C.”.
(2) A professional corporation need not use any word specified under paragraph (1) of this subsection if:
(i) The corporation has registered the name to be used in the manner provided in § 1–406 of this title; and
(ii) The name is the same as its corporate name except for the allowable omissions.
(g) The name of a limited worker cooperative association must include:
(1) The words “limited worker cooperative association”;
(2) L.W.C.A.; or
(3) LWCA.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
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