Forms Library

Historical Documents (PA)

Fictitious Corporate Name History - 1957 Act
This is the history for changes made to the 1957 Corporate Fictitious Name act.

1874 Corporation Law
View and download the 1874 Corporation Law as originally passed (i.e. prior to amendments) which governed both "Not For Profit" and "For Profit" corporations. Amendments are being researched and will be added when found. This act was later repealed by the Act of May 5, 1933 Business Corporation Law which in turn was repealed by the 1988 General Associations Act. This is a large file, give it time to download.

1874 Corporation Law History
This is a listing obtained from the PA Legislative Reference Bureau detailing the various changes and interpretations of the 1874 Act. We decided against trying to reproduce all of these changes in PDF format since there are so many. This act covered both Profit and Nonprofit corporations.

1933 Business Corporation Law
This is a complete copy of the 1933 Business Corporation Law as originally enacted (prior to any changes). A complete list of all changes to this act is included in this Historical Documents section. The 1933 Nonprofit Act and list of changes is also included in this section. This is a large file (6.5 megs) so allow it time to download please.

1933 Business Corporation Law - History of Changes
This is a listing obtained from the PA Legislative Reference Bureau detailing the various changes and interpretations of the 1933 Business Corporation Law. We decided against trying to reproduce all of these changes in PDF format since there are so many. The 1933 Nonprofit law and a listing of its changes is also included in the Historical Documents Section of our PDF Library.

1933 Nonprofit Act - Prior to any changes
This is a copy of the 1933 Nonprofit Corporation Law as it was originally enacted. A list of the changes and interpretations of the act is included in this Historical Documents section. This is a large file. Please give it time to download.

1933 Nonprofit Corporation Law - History of Changes
This is a listing obtained from the PA Legislative Reference Bureau detailing the various changes and interpretations of the 1933 Nonprofit Corporation Law. We decided against trying to reproduce all of these changes in PDF format since there are so many.

1972 Nonprofit Act
This is the original enactment, prior to any changes, of the 1972 version of the nonprofit act. There were a number of amendments but if they are an issue, each amendment would have to be research on the history list in this Historical section of our Forms Library. This is a large file - please give it time to download.

1972 Nonprofit Act History of Changes
This is a listing of changes made to the 1972 Nonprofit Act as obtained from the PA Legislative Reference Bureau.

Fictitious CORPORATE Name Act of 1957
This is the Fictitious CORPORATE Name Act of 1957. See prior historical enactments in this section. Note, these are the original enactments as they appears prior to any amendments.

Fictitious Name Act of 1917
This is the 1917 fictitious name act. See subsequent enactments. Note, these versions of the law are the original enactments as they appear prior to any amendments.

Note: This act answers the age old question that so many have asked over the years, i.e. were FN's required to be registered in both the Prothonotary and the Secretary of State. The answer is: YES.

Note also that the fine for failure to register was $500 in 1917. It remains $500 now.

Fictitious Name Act of 1917 History
This is a history of changes made to the 1917 Fictitious Name Act as obtained from the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Fictitious Name Act of 1945
This is the Fictitious Name Act of 1945. See subsequent and prior enactments also in this section of Historical Documents. Note, these are the original enactments as they appears prior to any amendments.

Fictitious Name Act of 1945 History
This is the history of changes made to the Fictitious Name Act of 1945 as obtained from the PA Legislative Reference Bureau.

Fictitious Name Act of 1982
The FN Act of 1982 as originally enacted prior to any changes. The history for this act is found in the Title 54 history.

Title 15 History
History of Title 15 Changes (Business Associations)

Title 54 History (Fictitious Names etc.)
View the history of changes to Title 54.