To change an LLC name in New Jersey, file a Certificate of Amendment (Form L-102) with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES) and pay the $100 filing fee.1State of NJ – NJ Treasury – DORES. NJ Treasury Filing Fees Online filing usually processes within one business day. The state piece is quick; the work that follows is updating your name everywhere else it appears.
Confirm the New Name Is Available
Your proposed name has to include a designator such as “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.,” and it must be distinguishable from every other business name already on file with DORES.2Legal Information Institute. NJ Admin Code 17:35-3.1 – Distinguishable Defined Distinguishable is not the same as different by a single letter. The state asks whether a reasonable person could confuse your name with an existing registration.
Run your choice through the DORES Name Availability Look-Up tool before you file.3State of NJ – NJ Treasury – DORES. Check Business Name Availability It is free and returns an instant result. If the first choice is taken, try variations before you spend $100 on a filing that will be rejected.
Some words trigger extra approval from a state licensing board. Terms like “bank,” “insurance,” or “engineering” suggest a regulated industry, so check with the relevant licensing authority before filing if your new name includes anything similar.
New Jersey does allow name reservations, but the state itself says the process is optional and not recommended: a reservation locks you into paper-only filing and carries a cancellation fee.4Business.NJ.gov. Business Names For most LLCs, running the availability check and filing right away is simpler.
Get Member Approval Before You Sign
The person who signs Form L-102 is certifying they have authority to act for the LLC. Make sure that authority actually exists before anyone signs.
If your LLC has more than one member, your operating agreement should say how a name change gets approved. Some agreements require a simple majority vote; others require unanimous written consent for changes to the formation documents. Follow whatever your agreement says, and document the decision with a written resolution signed by the members. Skipping this creates a legal problem that is much harder to unwind later.
Complete and File Form L-102
Form L-102 is the Certificate of Amendment that formally amends your Certificate of Formation.5New Jersey Department of the Treasury. Certificate of Amendment Limited Liability Company Form L-102 A fillable version is available on the DORES website. You will need:
- Your current LLC name, exactly as it appears in state records
- Your ten-digit Business Entity ID
- The new proposed name, including the LLC designator
- The printed name, title, and signature of a person authorized to sign for the LLC
The signer is certifying that the filing complies with the New Jersey Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (N.J.S.A. 42:2C).5New Jersey Department of the Treasury. Certificate of Amendment Limited Liability Company Form L-102 Match the current name and ID number to your state records character for character. A mismatch is the most common reason filings get kicked back.
Filing Online
DORES accepts amendments through its Business Charter Amendment Service portal.6State of New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. Business Charter Amendment Service The portal walks you through each section, accepts electronic payment of the $100 fee, and typically processes filings within one business day.1State of NJ – NJ Treasury – DORES. NJ Treasury Filing Fees
One warning worth taking seriously: the system times out after 30 minutes of inactivity, and everything you entered is lost. If your browser crashes mid-application, you start over. After acceptance, you will see a confirmation page with links to your filed documents. DORES does not mail copies, so download and save them immediately.7State of New Jersey Business Charter Amendments. Business Charter Amendments FAQ
Filing by Mail
You can also submit the completed Form L-102 by mail with a check for $100 payable to “Treasurer, State of New Jersey.” Processing takes longer than online, and there is no instant confirmation. The current mailing address is on the form instructions available on the DORES website.
Expedited Processing If You Need It Faster
New Jersey offers three tiers of expedited service. Each fee is added to the $100 filing fee:8Legal Information Institute. NJ Admin Code 17:35-1.4 – Fees for Expedited Service
- Same-day service: $50 extra, if submitted by 12:30 PM on a business day
- Two-hour service: $500 extra, if submitted by 2:00 PM on a business day
- One-hour service: $1,000 extra, if submitted by 3:00 PM on a business day
The jump from $50 to $500 is steep. Same-day is the practical choice unless a closing or deadline actually requires the shorter windows.
Tell the IRS About the New Name
A name change does not create a new legal entity, and your LLC keeps its existing Employer Identification Number.9Internal Revenue Service. When to Get a New EIN You do have to update the name attached to that EIN. How you report the change depends on how your LLC is taxed:10Internal Revenue Service. Business Name Change
- Multi-member LLCs taxed as partnerships: check the name change box on your next Form 1065 (Page 1, Line G, Box 3). If you already filed this year’s return, send a signed letter to the IRS address where you filed.
- Single-member LLCs taxed as sole proprietorships: write to the IRS at the address where you file your return, signed by the owner or an authorized representative.
- LLCs taxed as corporations: check the box on Form 1120 (Page 1, Line E, Box 3) or Form 1120-S (Page 1, Line H, Box 2). If the return is already filed, send a signed letter from a corporate officer.
Do not use Form 8822-B for a name change. That form is for business address or responsible party updates, not the business name itself.
Update State Tax Records and Everywhere Else
Contact the New Jersey Division of Taxation to update your state tax records and Business Registration Certificate. A mismatch between your DORES filing and your tax account can hold up returns or payments.
Then work through the places outside of government that use your name:
- Banks and financial institutions, including business accounts, credit cards, and lines of credit. Most will ask for a copy of the filed Certificate of Amendment.
- State, county, and municipal licenses and permits tied to the LLC.
- Insurance policies, so coverage stays valid under the correct entity name.
- Vendors and clients, with written notice so invoices and payments route correctly.
- Website, email addresses, signage, letterhead, and any digital profile that carries your business name.
Existing contracts remain valid without formal amendments, because the LLC is the same legal entity. Even so, some lenders or business partners may ask for a short written confirmation of the name change, and it is worth providing to head off billing confusion. Build a checklist specific to your business and work through it in the weeks after DORES approves the amendment.