Changing the name of your New York LLC requires filing an amendment with the New York Department of State. Here’s what to know:
What is a NY Certificate of Amendment?
A certificate of amendment is generally required when you change some aspect of your LLC that would contradict the information you initially provided in your NY Articles of Organization. One obvious example is your LLC name. While the New York Department of State provides a Certificate of Amendment Form you may use, you are not required to use that specific document. You may draft your own, or use Northwest’s free, attorney-drafted template: LLC Articles of Amendment.
How do I change the name of my New York LLC?
If you decide to change the name of your LLC, you’ll need to update your articles of organization by filing a Certificate of Amendment (name change only) for Domestic Limited Liability Companies. (Note that you may draft your own document instead of using the form provided by the state.) You’ll need to submit the form, along with the associated $60 fee, in person or via mail to:
New York Department of State
Division of Corporations
One Commerce Plaza
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12231
Can I check the availability of my new name first?
Yes. The New York Department of State provides a Corporation and Business Entity Database with the names of all active business entities in the state. However, for a more thorough investigation, the state recommends getting in touch with the Division of Corporations directly by submitting a written request to the address listed above.
According to the Department of State, “the written inquiry should state that you wish to determine the availability of a name and list the name or names to be searched.” Each name searched will cost you $5. And if you decide to reserve a name at any point, you can file an Application for Reservation of Name for an additional $20. (These are optional steps.)