Legal Definitions - prête-nom

PRÊTE-NOM

A prête-nom (pronounced pret-nohm) is someone who lends their name to another person or entity.

• A businessman uses a prête-nom to register a company in their name, but the businessman is the one who actually runs the company.
• A celebrity uses a prête-nom to purchase a property, so that their name is not publicly associated with the purchase.

These examples illustrate how a prête-nom can be used to conceal the true identity of the person or entity behind a transaction or business. The prête-nom is essentially a front or a cover for the actual person or entity involved.