Section 14-3-1005.1. Notice of intent to change corporate name

   (a) Together with the articles of amendment which change the name of the corporation, the corporation shall deliver to the Secretary of State an undertaking, which may appear in the articles of amendment or be set forth in a letter or other instrument executed by an incorporator or any person authorized to act on behalf of the corporation, to publish a notice of the filing of the articles of amendment as required by subsection (b) of this Code section.

(b) No later than the next business day following the delivery of the articles of amendment and certificate as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section, the corporation shall mail or deliver to the publisher of a newspaper which is the official organ of the county where the registered office of the corporation is located or which is the newspaper of general circulation published within such county whose most recently published annual statement of ownership and circulation reflects a minimum of 60 percent paid circulation a request to publish a notice in substantially the following form:
 
"NOTICE OF CHANGE OF CORPORATE NAME
 
      Notice is given that articles of amendment which will change the name of            (present corporate name) to            (proposed corporate name) have been delivered to the Secretary of State for filing in accordance with the Georgia Nonprofit Corporation Code. The registered office of the corporation is located at            (address of registered office)."

The request for publication of the notice shall be accompanied by a check, draft, or money order in the amount of $40.00 in payment for the cost of publication. The notice shall be published once a week for two consecutive weeks commencing within ten days after receipt of the notice by the newspaper. Failure on the part of the corporation to mail or deliver the notice or payment therefor or failure on the part of the newspaper to publish the notice in compliance with this subsection shall not invalidate the articles of amendment or the change of the name of the corporation.

Code 1981, § 14-3-1005.1, enacted by Ga. L. 1991, p. 465, § 1; Ga. L. 1999, p. 405, § 20.