(1) The exclusive right to the use of a name that complies with RCW 25.10.061 may be reserved by:

     (a) A person intending to organize a limited partnership under this chapter and to adopt the name;

     (b) A limited partnership or a foreign limited partnership authorized to transact business in this state intending to adopt the name;

     (c) A foreign limited partnership intending to obtain a certificate of authority to transact business in this state and adopt the name;

     (d) A person intending to organize a foreign limited partnership and intending to have it obtain a certificate of authority to transact business in this state and adopt the name;

     (e) A foreign limited partnership formed under the name; or

     (f) A foreign limited partnership formed under a name that does not comply with RCW 25.10.061 (2) or (3), but the name reserved under this subsection (1)(f) may differ from the foreign limited partnership's name only to the extent necessary to comply with RCW 25.10.061 (2) and (3).

     (2) A person may apply to reserve a name under subsection (1) of this section by delivering to the secretary of state for filing an application that states the name to be reserved and the subsection of subsection (1) of this section that applies. If the secretary of state finds that the name is available for use by the applicant, the secretary of state shall file a statement of name reservation and thereby reserve the name for the exclusive use of the applicant for one hundred eighty days.

     (3) An applicant that has reserved a name pursuant to subsection (2) of this section may reserve the same name for additional one hundred eighty-day periods. A person having a current reservation for a name may not apply for another one hundred eighty-day period for the same name until ninety days have elapsed in the current reservation.

     (4) A person that has reserved a name under this section may deliver to the secretary of state for filing a notice of transfer that states the reserved name, the name and street and mailing address of some other person to which the reservation is to be transferred, and the subsection of subsection (1) of this section that applies to the other person. Subject to RCW 25.10.251(3), the transfer is effective when the secretary of state files the notice of transfer.

[2009 c 188 § 109.]