Chapter 181

181.0401(2) (2) Distinguishability.

181.0401(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in subs. (3) and (4), the corporate name of a domestic corporation must be distinguishable upon the records of the department from all of the following names:

181.0401(2)(a)1. 1. Any name of an existing person whose formation required the filing of a record by the department and which is not at the time administratively dissolved.

181.0401(2)(a)2. 2. The corporate name of a stock corporation or a foreign stock corporation authorized to transact business in this state.

181.0401(2)(a)3. 3. Any name reserved or registered under this chapter or ch. 178, 179, 180, 183, 185, or 193 or other law of this state providing for the reservation or registration of a name by a filing of a record by the department.

181.0401(2)(a)4. 4. The corporate name of a dissolved corporation or stock corporation that has retained the exclusive use of its name under s. 181.1405 (3) or under s. 180.1405 (3), respectively.

181.0401(2)(a)5. 5. The fictitious name adopted by a foreign corporation or a foreign stock corporation authorized to transact business in this state.

181.0401(2)(a)9. 9. Any name of a limited liability partnership whose statement of qualification is in effect.

181.0401(2)(b) (b) The corporate name of a corporation is not distinguishable from a name referred to in par. (a) 1. to 9. if the only difference between it and the other name is the inclusion or absence of a word or words referred to in sub. (1) (a) 1. or of the words “limited partnership”, “limited liability partnership”, “cooperative” or “limited liability company” or an abbreviation of these words.

181.0401(3) (3) Application to use nondistinguishable name. A corporation may apply to the department for authorization to use a name that is not distinguishable upon the records of the department from one or more of the names described in sub. (2). The department shall authorize use of the name applied for if any of the following occurs:

181.0401(3)(a) (a) The other corporation or the foreign corporation, limited liability company, stock corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, foreign limited liability partnership, general cooperative association, or limited cooperative association consents to the use in writing and submits an undertaking in a form satisfactory to the department to change its name to a name that is distinguishable upon the records of the department from the name of the applicant or to cancel the registration or reservation.

181.0401(3)(b) (b) The applicant delivers to the department a certified copy of a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction establishing the applicant’s right to use the name applied for in this state.

181.0401(3m) (3m) In determining whether a name is the same as or not distinguishable on the records of the department from the name of another person, words, phrases, or abbreviations indicating a type of entity, such as “corporation,” “Corp.,” “incorporated,” “Inc.,” “service corporation,” “SC,” “Limited,” “Ltd.,” “limited partnership,” “LP,” “limited liability partnership,” “LLP,” “limited liability limited partnership,” “LLLP,” “registered limited liability limited partnership,” “RLLLP,” “limited liability company,” “LLC,” “cooperative association,” or “cooperative,” or a variation of these abbreviations that differs only with respect to capitalization of letters or punctuation, may not be taken into account.

181.0401(4) (4) Corporate reorganizations. A corporation may in this state use the name, including the fictitious name, that is used in this state by another domestic or foreign corporation or stock corporation authorized to transact business in this state, or a limited liability company, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, foreign limited liability partnership, general cooperative association, or limited cooperative association, if the corporation proposing to use the name has done any of the following:

181.0401(4)(a) (a) Merged with the other entity.

181.0401(4)(b) (b) Been formed by reorganization of the other entity.

181.0401(4)(c) (c) Acquired all or substantially all of the assets, including the corporate name, of the other domestic or foreign corporation or stock corporation.

181.0401 History History: 1997 a. 79; 2005 a. 441; 2021 a. 258.

181.0402 181.0402 Reservation of name.

181.0402(1) (1) A person may reserve the exclusive use of a corporate name, including a fictitious name for a foreign corporation whose corporate name is not available, by delivering an application to the department for filing. The application shall include the name and address of the applicant and the name proposed to be reserved. If the department finds that the corporate name applied for under this subsection is available, the department shall reserve the name for the applicant’s exclusive use for a 120-day period, which may be renewed by the applicant or a transferee under sub. (2) from time to time.

181.0402(2) (2) A person who has the right to exclusive use of a reserved corporate name under sub. (1) may transfer the reservation to another person by delivering to the department a signed notice in a record of the transfer that states the name and address of the person to which the reservation is being transferred.

181.0402 History History: 1997 a. 79; 2001 a. 44; 2021 a. 258.

181.0403 181.0403 Registration of name.

181.0403(1) (1) By foreign corporation.

181.0403(1)(a) (a) A foreign corporation that has not filed a certificate of authority under s. 181.1503 may register its name, or a fictitious name adopted pursuant to s. 181.1506 (1), if the name is distinguishable upon the records of the department from the names that are available under s. 181.1506 (2).

181.0403(1)(b) (b) To register its name or a fictitious name adopted pursuant to s. 181.1506 (1), a foreign corporation must deliver to the department for filing an application stating the foreign corporation’s name, the jurisdiction and the date of its formation, and any fictitious name adopted pursuant to s. 181.1506 (1). If the department finds that the name applied for is available, the department shall register the name for the applicant’s exclusive use.

181.0403(1)(c) (c) The registration of a name under this section expires annually on December 31.

181.0403(1)(d) (d) A foreign corporation whose name registration is effective may renew the registration by delivering to the department for filing, between October 1 and December 31 of each year that the registration is in effect, a renewal application that complies with this section. When filed, the renewal application renews the registration for the next year.

181.0403(1)(e) (e) A foreign corporation whose name registration is effective may apply for and obtain a certificate of authority as a foreign corporation under the registered name or consent in a signed record to the use of that name by another person that is not an individual.

181.0403(2) (2) Merger, name change or dissolution.

181.0403(2)(a) (a) A corporation may, upon merger, change of name or dissolution, register its corporate name for no more than 10 years by delivering to the department for filing an application, executed by the corporation, simultaneously with the delivery for filing of the articles of merger, the articles of dissolution, or the articles of amendment or the restated articles of incorporation that change the corporate name.

181.0403(2)(b) (b) A foreign corporation may, upon change of name, register its corporate name for no more than 10 years by delivering to the department for filing an application, executed by the foreign corporation, simultaneously with the delivery for filing of an application for an amended certificate of authority that changes the corporate name.

181.0403(3) (3) Effective date. A corporate name is registered under sub. (1) or (2) for the applicant’s exclusive use on the effective date of the application.

181.0403(3m) (3m) Transfer of registered name. A person who has the right to exclusive use of a registered name under sub. (1) or (2) may transfer the registration to another person by delivering to the department a written and signed notice of the transfer that states the name and address of the transferee.

181.0403(4) (4) Termination of registered name.

181.0403(4)(a) (a) A foreign corporation whose registration is effective under sub. (1) may thereafter apply for a certificate of authority under the registered name or consent in writing to the use of that name by a domestic corporation thereafter incorporated under this chapter or by another foreign corporation thereafter authorized to transact business in this state. The registration terminates when the domestic corporation is incorporated or the foreign corporation obtains a certificate of authority or consents to another foreign corporation obtaining a certificate of authority under the registered name.

181.0403(4)(b) (b) The holder of a registration effective under sub. (2) may thereafter incorporate as a domestic corporation or obtain a certificate of authority under the registered name or consent in writing to use of that name by a domestic corporation thereafter incorporated under this chapter or by a foreign corporation thereafter authorized to transact business in this state. The registration terminates when any of the following occurs:

181.0403(4)(b)1. 1. The holder incorporates as a domestic corporation or obtains a certificate of authority under the registered name.

181.0403(4)(b)2. 2. The domestic corporation that has consent to use the registered name is incorporated.

181.0403(4)(b)3. 3. The holder consents to another foreign corporation obtaining a certificate of authority under the registered name.

181.0403 History History: 1997 a. 79; 2021 a. 258.

subch. V of ch. 181 SUBCHAPTER V

OFFICE AND AGENT

181.0501 181.0501 Registered agent and registered office.

181.0501(1m) (1m) Each corporation shall designate and continuously maintain a registered office and registered agent in this state. The designation of a registered agent is an affirmation of the fact by the corporation that the agent has consented to serve.

181.0501(2m) (2m) The registered office may, but need not, be the same as any of its places of business or activity. The registered office must be an actual physical location with a street address and not solely a post office box, mailbox service, or telephone answering services. The registered agent shall be any of the following:

181.0501(2m)(a) (a) A natural person who resides in this state and whose business office is identical with the registered office.

181.0501(2m)(b) (b) A domestic corporation, stock corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company whose business office is identical with the registered office.

181.0501(2m)(c) (c) A foreign corporation, stock corporation, limited partnership, registered limited liability partnership, or limited liability company if that entity is authorized to transact business in this state and the entity’s business office is identical with the registered office.

181.0501(3m) (3m) A registered agent for a corporation must have an e-mail address and a place of business or activity in this state.

181.0501(4m) (4m) The only duties under this chapter of a registered agent that has complied with this chapter are the following:

181.0501(4m)(a) (a) To forward to the corporation at the address most recently supplied to the agent by the corporation any process, notice, or demand pertaining to the corporation which is served on or received by the agent.

181.0501(4m)(b) (b) If the registered agent resigns, to provide the notice required by s. 181.0503 to the corporation at the address most recently supplied to the agent by the corporation.

181.0501(4m)(c) (c) To keep current the information with respect to the agent in the articles of incorporation.

181.0501 History History: 1997 a. 79; 2001 a. 44; 2015 a. 295; 2021 a. 258.

181.0502 181.0502 Change of registered agent or registered office.

181.0502(1) (1) A corporation may change its registered agent or registered office as provided in s. 181.0214 (5) or by delivering to the department for filing a statement of change that states all of the following:

181.0502(1)(a) (a) The name of the corporation.

181.0502(1)(b) (b) The information that is to be in effect as a result of the filing of the statement of change.

181.0502(1m) (1m) A statement of change under this section designating a new registered agent is an affirmation of fact by the corporation that the agent has consented to serve.

181.0502(1r) (1r) As an alternative to using the procedure in this section, a corporation may amend its articles of incorporation.

181.0502(3) (3) If the name or e-mail address of a registered agent changes or if the street address of a registered agent’s business office changes, the registered agent may change the name or e-mail address of the registered agent or street address of the registered office of any corporation for which he, she, or it is the registered agent. To make a change under this subsection, the registered agent shall notify the corporation in writing of the change and deliver to the department for filing a statement of change that recites that the corporation has been notified of the change and states all of the following:

181.0502(3)(a) (a) The name of the corporation represented by the registered agent.

181.0502(3)(b) (b) The name, e-mail address, and street address of the agent as currently shown in the records of the department for the corporation.

181.0502(3)(c) (c) Any new name, new e-mail address, or new street address of the agent.

181.0502(5) (5) A registered agent promptly shall furnish notice to the represented corporation of the filing by the department of the statement of change and the changes made by the statement.

181.0502 History History: 1997 a. 79; 2005 a. 476; 2021 a. 258.

181.0503 181.0503 Resignation of registered agent.

181.0503(1) (1) A registered agent may resign as agent for a corporation by delivering to the department for filing a statement of resignation that states all of the following:

181.0503(1)(a) (a) The name of the corporation.

181.0503(1)(b) (b) The name of the agent.

181.0503(1)(bm) (bm) That the agent resigns from serving as registered agent for the corporation.

181.0503(1)(c) (c) The address of the corporation to which the agent will send the notice required by sub. (4).

181.0503(3) (3) The resignation under sub. (1) is effective and, if applicable, the registered office is discontinued on the earlier of the following:

181.0503(3)(a) (a) Sixty days after the department receives the statement of resignation for filing.

181.0503(3)(b) (b) The date on which the appointment of a successor registered agent is effective.

181.0503(4) (4) A registered agent promptly shall furnish to the corporation notice in a record of the date on which a statement of resignation was filed.

181.0503(5) (5) When a statement of resignation takes effect, the registered agent ceases to have responsibility under this chapter for any matter thereafter tendered to it as agent for the corporation. The resignation does not affect any contractual rights the corporation has against the agent or that the agent has against the corporation.

181.0503(6) (6) A registered agent may resign with respect to a corporation whether or not the corporation is in good standing.

181.0503 History History: 1997 a. 79; 2021 a. 258.

181.0504 181.0504 Service of process, notice, or demand.

181.0504(1) (1) A corporation may be served with any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law by serving its registered agent. The department may serve any written notice required or authorized under this chapter by e-mailing it to the registered agent’s e-mail address on file with the department, and such notice shall be effective as provided in s. 181.0105 (4).

181.0504(2) (2) Except as provided in sub. (3), if a corporation has no registered agent, or its registered agent cannot with reasonable diligence be served, the corporation may be served by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by similar commercial delivery service, addressed to the corporation at its principal office, as shown on the records of the department on the date of sending. Service is perfected under this subsection at the earliest of the following:

181.0504(2)(a) (a) The date the corporation receives the mail or delivery by commercial delivery service.

181.0504(2)(b) (b) The date shown on the return receipt, if signed on behalf of the corporation.

181.0504(2)(c) (c) Five days after it is deposited in the U.S. mail, or with the commercial delivery service, if correctly addressed and with sufficient postage or payment.

181.0504(3) (3) If process, notice, or demand in an action cannot be served on a corporation pursuant to sub. (1) or (2), service may be made by handing a copy to the individual in charge of any regular place of business or activity of the corporation if the individual served is not a plaintiff in the action. If the address of the corporation’s principal office cannot be determined from the records of the department, the corporation may be served by publishing a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, in the community where the corporation’s principal office or registered office, as most recently designated in the records of the department, is located.

181.0504(3m) (3m) Service of process, notice, or demand on a registered agent must be in a written record.

181.0504(4) (4) Service of process, notice, or demand may be made by other means under law other than this chapter.