For Named Corporations, it is necessary to obtain a NUANS (Newly Updated Automated Name Search) Report, in which we provide a reservation of the name picked by our client.  Exact names or confusingly similar names are not usually allowed on the system, however there are some exceptions for Affiliations (see Regulation 5.1).

This Name must meet certain criteria to be acceptable under the Business Corporations Act.  It must contain a Legal Element (Incorporation, Inc, Limited or Ltd., Corporation or Corp. or the French equivalents Incorporee, Limitee or LTEE) a Descriptive Element (describes what the company does, for example ‘Carpentry’ or ‘Engineering’), and a Distinctive Element  (further defines a corporate name to make it more distinct from a similar company, for example ‘John’s Firewood
Delivery Inc.’).

As an expert provider of these services to our clients, our staff specialists ordinarily provide a Pre-Screen search of a proposed name to quickly advise clients of any anticipated issues that are encountered.  Our customers can then decide on a further Descriptive or a further Distinctive element to make the proposed name meet the criteria.

Once any pre-screen issues are resolved, we conduct a Name Reservation to establish your exact proposed corporate name, which is valid for a 90 day period.  The client must incorporate within 90 days.

Our expert staff will provide an Opinion Letter with your completed NUANS Report which describes our non-legal opinion regarding the suitability of the name chosen. 

For Numbered Corporations, a NUANS is not required as the system will assign the next consecutive number, for example ‘1028347 Alberta Ltd.’.  However the client may still choose the Legal Element portion of the name.