A request to search the records of the department for the availability of an organization name shall be in writing and be accompanied by the appropriate fee. If the search reveals that a name is not available, the department in so responding need not state the reason why unless asked in writing to do so. When the reason is that the name conflicts with the name of another organization, the department need provide no more than one example unless specifically and separately asked to provide additional conflicting names.

Except for a name availability search, a request to search the records of the department need not be in writing. Unless the required fee accompanies the request, the department shall limit the number of names searched to the number the law allows without fee. To determine if a fee is due, the department shall treat as one all requests received from the same source in the same business day.

By responding that a name is available or by accepting a reservation of a name, the department does not approve the name. Availability or reservation does not imply that the name satisfies any particular requirement of law nor any particular standard of a body with power to grant or withhold its approval, license, or permit or to take any other action. No expenditure or other commitment should be made in reliance upon the availability of or reservation of a name.