State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-jersey > Title-14a > Section-14a-17 > 14a-17-14

14A:17-14.   Corporate name       a.   Corporate name.  The corporate name of a professional corporation shall contain the full or last names of one or more of the shareholders or a name descriptive of the type of professional service in which the corporation will be engaged and shall also contain the words "chartered," "professional association" or "a professional corporation," or the abbreviation "P.A." or "P.C." The use of the word "company," "corporation" or "incorporated," or any other word, words, abbreviations, affix or prefix indicating that it is a corporation, in the corporate name of a professional corporation, other than the words "chartered," "professional association" or "a professional corporation," or the abbreviation "P.A." or "P.C.," is specifically prohibited.  It shall be permissible, however, for the corporation and the shareholders to render professional services or to exercise its authorized powers under a name which is identical to its corporate name except that the words "chartered," "professional association" or "a professional corporation," or the abbreviation "P.A." or "P.C." is omitted. 

    b.   Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of this section, the corporate name of a professional corporation may contain the name of a deceased person only if, at the time of the person's death: 

    (1)  that person's name was part of the corporate name; or

 

    (2)  that person's name was part of the name of an existing partnership and at least two-thirds of that partnership's partners become shareholders of the professional corporation. 

    L.1969,c.232,s.14; amended 1982, c.97, s.1; 1991,c.50,s.1. 
 
14A:17-15.Applicable law; consolidation, merger; report, contents
15. Applicable law; consolidation, merger; report, contents. The Business Corporation Act of New Jersey shall be applicable to a professional corporation and to a foreign professional legal corporation except to the extent that any of the provisions of this act are interpreted to be in conflict with the provisions of the Business Corporation Act of New Jersey, and in such event the provisions and sections of this act shall take precedence with respect to a professional corporation and a foreign professional legal corporation.  Except for a domestic professional legal corporation, a professional corporation organized under this act may consolidate or merge only with another professional corporation organized under this act and empowered to render the same professional service.  A merger or consolidation with any foreign corporation is prohibited.  A domestic professional legal corporation may consolidate or merge either with another domestic professional legal corporation or with a foreign professional legal corporation provided that the registration requirements of this act and the Rules of the Supreme Court are complied with.  A professional corporation shall annually furnish a report to the office of the Secretary of State on a date designated by the Secretary of State showing the names and post-office addresses of all its shareholders, directors and officers, which shall certify that, with the exception permitted in section 6, all such persons are duly licensed or otherwise legally authorized to render the same professional service in this State.  A foreign professional legal corporation shall annually furnish a report to the office of the Secretary of State on a date designated by the Secretary of State showing the names and post-office addresses of all its shareholders, directors and officers, and shall certify that the foreign professional legal corporation is authorized to render legal services of the type provided by attorneys-at-law in its state of incorporation and further certify that the shareholders and employees providing such services in this State are attorneys-at-law licensed and eligible to practice in this State.  This report shall be made on forms prescribed and furnished by the Secretary of State, but shall contain no information except that expressly called for by this section.  It shall be signed by the president or vice-president and the secretary or an assistant secretary of the corporation, and acknowledged by the persons signing the report before a notary public or other officer duly authorized to administer oaths, shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State, and shall be in lieu of the regular annual report of corporations otherwise required by the Business Corporation Act of New Jersey.

L.1969,c.232,s.15; amended 1982,c.97,s.2.; 1995,c.375,s.7.