Why Does the Owner's Name Appear Reversed in Worth ?

Introduction

In some cases, an owner’s name may appear in a different format within Worth than it does on incorporation documents or other business records.

This can make it appear as though the first and last names have been reversed, but in most cases this is simply a difference in how the source records display the information.


Why Does This Happen?

Worth retrieves business ownership information from authoritative sources, including Secretary of State records and KYB data providers. Because we display the information returned by these sources, the formatting may differ from what appears on other business documents.

Common reasons include:

• Secretary of State Formatting Conventions

Many Secretary of State databases store or display names in a Last Name, First Name format to make records easier to sort alphabetically. For example:

Articles of Incorporation: First Name Last Name

Secretary of State Record: Last Name, First Name

• Different Source Documents

The Articles of Incorporation and the Secretary of State database may not always be displaying information from the same filing or record. Some systems display names exactly as stored, while others automatically reformat names for readability. As a result, the same underlying information may appear differently across systems. For example:

• An Articles of Incorporation document may have been prepared by an attorney, incorporator, or registered agent.
• A Secretary of State database may display information from a later filing, annual report, officer record, or ownership filing.

Is This a Worth Issue?

Worth does not alter or reformat names returned by source records

If a name appears differently in Worth than on another document, it is typically due to differences in how the source records store or present the information.

Does a Different Format Mean the Information Is Incorrect?

Not necessarily. A name displayed as:

Format A: John Smith

Format B: Smith, John

This would generally be considered the same individual presented in two different formats.

If verification issues occur, review the underlying source records and ensure the individual’s information is entered consistently throughout the application process.