What formalities are required when changing the registered office address?

Changing the name of a corporation requires certain corporate and governmental formalities. The procedures vary depending on whether the corporation is incorporated in Quebec or under federal law.

Before proceeding, it is generally necessary to verify that the new name complies with applicable legal requirements and, when a name other than a registration number is chosen, to carry out the necessary checks regarding its use.

Company incorporated in Quebec

For a company incorporated under the Quebec Business Corporations Act , a name change generally requires:

• the adoption of the required resolutions or authorizations;
• the preparation and filing of articles of amendment;
• obtaining the certificate of modification;
• the updating of the minutes book and corporate registers;
• the other required updates with the Registrar of Enterprises.

Federally incorporated company

For a company incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act , a change of name also requires corporate formalities and the filing of articles of amendment with Corporations Canada .

The requirements for choosing and approving the new name must be verified before filing.

After the name change

Once the change has been made, it may be necessary to update:

• information from the tax authorities;
• the accounts and files of financial institutions;
• insurance;
• permits and licenses;
• contracts and commercial documents;
• the company's website, invoices, forms and other communications.

Share certificates and other corporate documents bearing the old name should also be reviewed to determine whether they need to be replaced or updated.

A name change does not create a new company. The legal entity remains the same and generally retains its rights and obligations; only its official name is modified.

In summary , changing a company's name generally requires corporate authorizations and the filing of articles of amendment. The formalities vary depending on whether the company is incorporated in Quebec or federally, and several administrative details must then be updated.