Canada Name Search - Tips on Ordering a Federal Name Search Report

By Holly Crosgrey

A Canada Name Search or Canada Business Name Search or Federal Nuans Name Search, as it is sometimes called, is required to incorporate a federal company in Canada.

The federal government will take great steps to ensure that when incorporating a federal corporation there will be more protection for the name across Canada. Industry Canada will ensure that a proposed name for a corporation does not conflict with any other company name already registered in Canada.

Industry Canada will review your proposed name extremely carefully. The Name Granting Guidelines which is published by Industry Canada outlines the manner in which the government approves a name. A person wanting a federal name search has to realize that they will not be able to determine which names are a problem for the federal government.

Having a search house perform a preliminary name search first will save you time. Industry Canada will not allow any name to be registered which is anywhere close to any name already on file and will even reject names that sound like other registered names. Therefore it is a good idea to have a registered search house do the preliminary name search in advance.

A registered search house has the experience to weed out these types of conflicts. If a preliminary name search is not done on a proposed name for a federal government and the federal government find a conflict, your name will rejected and you will need to order another federal name search. It can go on forever so it is better to try and weed out as many conflicting names as possible.

It is possible to obtain a Federal Name Decision from the federal government before you file your articles so you will know whether the name is going to be accepted. One of the requirements for having the federal government look at your proposed name in advance is to provide a federal nuans name search report. It is still necessary to do a preliminary name search before ordering your federal name search report to ensure you have a name that you feel is available.

Even with a thorough pre-check of any proposed name the federal government could still reject the name because their policies are strict. However, if you have a search house review the name before you order your full search this will give you a better chance of acceptance.

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