(a)      The Department shall prepare certificates of merger that specify:

            (1)      The name of each party to the articles of merger;

            (2)      The name of the successor and the location of its principal office in this State or, if it has none, its principal place of business; and

            (3)      The time the articles of merger are accepted for record by the Department.

      (b)      In addition to any other provision of law with respect to recording, the Department shall send one of the certificates of merger to the clerk of the circuit court of each county in the State where the articles of merger show that a merging partnership, limited liability company, limited partnership, corporation or business trust other than the successor owns an interest in land.

      (c)      On receipt of a certificate, a clerk promptly shall record it with the land records.