Can a professional service corporation advertise under a short firm name without showing 'Inc.' or 'P.S.'?

Plain-English summary

The inquiry concerned whether a professional service corporation incorporated under the name "A & B Inc., P.S." could use only the title "A&B" in advertising. The committee noted that it could not render advice regarding compliance with the relevant statutes, which should be consulted.

On the ethics question, the committee was of the opinion that nothing in the Rules of Professional Conduct would prohibit using a firm name without indicating that the firm is incorporated.

Currency note

This opinion was issued in 1990, before the Washington State Bar Association's adoption of the 2006 revisions to the Washington Rules of Professional Conduct. Subsequent rule amendments or later opinions may have changed the analysis. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance. Verify against current rules before relying on any specific rule, deadline, or requirement mentioned here.

Common questions

Q: Can an incorporated firm drop 'Inc.' or 'P.S.' from its advertising name?

A: Under this 1990 opinion, nothing in the Rules of Professional Conduct prohibits it; the committee found no ethics bar to using the firm name without indicating incorporation.

Q: Did the committee address the corporation statutes?

A: No. The committee was of the opinion that it could not advise on compliance with the relevant statutes and said they should be consulted.

Background and rules framework

At the time of this opinion, Washington's RPC 7.5 governed firm names and letterhead, the subject the Model Rules place in Rule 7.5. The committee found no ethics rule requiring a firm to display its incorporated status in its name, while leaving the separate statutory question to the relevant corporation statutes.

Citations and references

Rules of Professional Conduct:

• ABA Model Rule 7.5 (firm names and letterhead)
• Washington RPC 7.5

See also

• WA Ethics Op. 1343: Firms Identified as 'Affiliated With' Each Other
• WA Ethics Op. 1342: 'Consultant' on a Business Card

Source

• Landing page: https://ao.wsba.org/print.aspx?ID=457

Original opinion text

Reproduced from the official source for research purposes. The linked source is authoritative.

The Committee reviewed your inquiry concerning whether a professional service corporation incorporated under the name "A & B Inc., P.S." can use only the title "A&B" in advertising. While the Committee can not render advice regarding compliance with the relevant statutes, which should be consulted, the Committee was of the opinion that nothing in the Rules of Professional Conduct would prohibit you from using a firm name without indicating that you were incorporated.