The State Bar of California’s Law Corporations (LC) Program certifies professional corporations to allow them to practice law in accordance with statutes and the State Bar’s Law Corporation Rules and Regulations.
Notice: In light of technological issues impacting the LLP registration renewal system, the State Bar is waiving late fees on LLP renewal applications submitted by January 30, 2026. Please see below for additional information on the extended LLP renewal deadlines.
Annual renewal
Law Corporations registered with the State Bar are required to submit an annual renewal application to maintain their certificate of registration.
To submit an online renewal application, the LC must be registered in the State Bar’s Agency Billing system. Renewal submissions using outdated forms from prior years will not be accepted. Before renewing, the LCs must have an active Agency Billing account. If an account already exists, do not create a duplicate.
In recognition of recently resolved system issues, the State Bar has extended the 2025 renewal deadlines. Renewal applications are now due by January 30, 2026, with late fees applying after that date. Final deadline to submit an online 2025 renewal application, renewal fee, and late fee is May 29, 2026.
Description
Amount
2025 renewal application fee (due upon filing)
$103
Noncompliance/late fee applied if not submitted by January 30, 2026
$113
2026 fee increases
On November 20, 2025, the Board of Trustees approved several administrative fee increases that were subject to the 2026 Consumer Price Index increases. These increases ensure that the State Bar’s overall administrative revenue covers the rising costs of services.
Here are the 2026 fees for LCs:
Fee Type
Amount
Initial Certificate of Registration Application
$265
Annual Renewal
$106
Late Fee Penalty
$117
Guarantee modifications
The State Bar has revised the guarantee requirements to back out the CPI increase that was applied last year. Guarantee amounts for law corporations ensure security for claims and align with the 2026 Schedule of Charges and Deadlines. There is no processing fee to submit a name change.
Here are the current guarantee requirements for law corporations:
Guarantee Type
Amount per Claim
Amount per Calendar Year
Maximum per Claim
Maximum per Calendar Year
Law Corporation Guarantee as security for claims
$50,000
$100,000 per attorney
$500,000
$5,000,000
Certificate of annual insurance of nonprofit public benefit corporation as security for claims
$50,000
$100,000 per attorney
$500,000
$5,000,000
Certificate of insurance of law corporations incorporated before October 27, 1971, as security for claims
$50,000
$100,000 per attorney
$500,000
$5,000,000
Name changes
Under Rule 3.154(B), a Law Corporation may practice law only under the name registered with the Secretary of State and approved by the State Bar. The use of the name must comply with the requirements of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Name changes must be reported promptly and submitted through the Agency Billing online application with an updated, certified Articles of Incorporation. Corporations formed outside California must include Certificate of Status of Foreign Corporation.
Law Corporation names and abbreviations
The name of a Law Corporation must comply with the following requirements to maintain its certificate of registration with the State Bar of California.
Group
To remain in compliance with Rule 1-400 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct, you must justify the use of the word “Group” in your name. This can be done by naming at least one other individual employed by your corporation. This person does not need to be an attorney.
Law Offices
Including the term “Law Offices” implies that the law corporation has more than one address or more than one attorney, including the shareholder at the address of record for the corporation.
This term should not be used unless this arrangement is accurate.
The Law Corporation Program will accept a home address as the second office.
The corporation must provide the State Bar with both addresses.
Associate
Per Rule 1-100 “Rules of Professional Conduct in General”, including the term “Associate” means an employee or fellow employee who is employed as a lawyer.
The corporation must execute a guarantee in amounts sufficient to cover the number of attorneys practicing on behalf of the corporation, as required by State Bar Law Corporation Rule 3.158.
Associates
Including the term “Associates” implies that, in addition to the shareholder, the corporation must name at least two (2) other attorneys employed by the corporation.
The corporation must execute a guarantee in amounts sufficient to cover the number of attorneys practicing on behalf of the corporation, as required by State Bar Law Corporation Rule 3.158.
Corporate designations allowed
A Law Corporation name must include an ending designation such as:
A Professional Corporation
A Professional Law Corporation
Professional Corporation
Professional Law Corporation
Law Corporation
APC, A.P.C., PC, P.C., Prof. Corp.
A Professional Legal Corporation
Professional Legal Corporation
A Legal Corporation
Inc., Incorporated, Corporation
A California Professional Corporation
L.C., Ltd., Limited, P.A., Professional Association
Corporate designations not allowed
“APLC” & “PLC” are not permitted because in other states or foreign countries, these may suggest that the entity is “a Public Liability Company” or “Professional Legal Consultant,” which is misleading to the public.
“LLC” is not permitted as a corporate designation. The State Bar does not certify an LLC within California for the purposes of practicing law, based on Corporate Code Section 17375 concerning Professional Corporations.
Initial Certificate of Registration application
Law Corporations seeking an initial Certificate of Registration must submit a new application online through the State Bar’s Agency Billing system.
The process for submitting a new application and an annual renewal is similar. Both require completing the application online through the State Bar’s Agency Billing system and submitting the required payment electronically. Older versions of applications are not accepted, and all fees are listed in the Schedule of Charges and Deadlines.
