FL - Partnerships & LLCs Flashcards
NATURE OF A PARTNERSHIP
“Partnership” Defined
FL adopted Revised Uniform Partnership Act (RUPA)
Partnership is an association of 2 or more persons to carry on as co-owners a business for profit.
NATURE OF A PARTNERSHIP
Joint Venture is a Partnership
Joint Venture is an association of persons with intent to engage in a single business venture for joint profit.
Legal consequences of Joint Ventures almost identical to Partnerships.
NATURE OF A PARTNERSHIP
Governing Law (Default Rules)
MAY NOT BE WAIVED
Can agree to different rules in Partnership Agreements (RUPA Governs those not provided for).
(i) Rights and duties regarding execution, filing, and recording of PARTNERSHIP REGISTRATION except to eliminate the duty to provide copies of statements to all partners;
(ii) A Partner’s RIGHT OF ACCESS to books and records and to information reasonably required for the proper exercise of the partner’s rights and duties;
(iii) a Partner’s duties of LOYALTY AND CARE;
(iv) The Power to DISSOCIATE as a Partner;
(v) the Power of a Court to EXPEL a Parnter;
(vi) The Requirement that a partnership BE WOUND UP in the event of either the illegality of the business or certain judicial determinations that continuing the business is not practicable or equitable;
(vii) the RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES under the RUPA;
(viii) a Partner’s duty of GOOD FAITH AND FAIR DEALING; and
(ix) the law applicable to limited liability partnerships
FORMATION OF A PARTNERSHIP
How a Partnership is formed
As soon as two or more people associate to carry on as co-wners a business for profit.
THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT THE PARTIES SUBJECTIVELY INTEND TO FORM A PARTNERSHIP, ONLY THAT THEY INTEND TO RUN A BUSINESS AS CO-OWNERS.
No Agreement or writing required.
FORMATION OF A PARTNERSHIP
Capacity
Who May Be Partner?
Anyone capable of entering into a binding contract.
MINORS
FORMATION OF A PARTNERSHIP
Capacity
Liability Where No Capacity
If lack capacity, NOT PERSONALLY LIABLE for the obligations of the partnerships or breaches of the partnership agreements.
- Bound to the extent of her contribution of capital to the Partnership
FORMATION OF A PARTNERSHIP
Capacity
Consent
Unless otherwise provided, no one can become a partner in a partnership without the express or implied consent of ALL PARTNERS
(blackballing @ a frat)
FORMATION OF A PARTNERSHIP
Capacity
Statement of Partnership Authority
A Partnership may (but is NOT required to) file a registration statement with the department of state.
Statement can give CONSTRUCTIVE knowledge of the intent of the partner’s authority to enter into real estate contracts on behalf of the partnership.
FORMATION OF A PARTNERSHIP
Proof of Partnership Existence
Courts look @ INTENT OF THE PARTIES to carry on a business as co-owners. If so, there is a partnership even if they did not subjectively intend to be partners.
Where party intent is uncertain look to:
(1) Sharing profits raises presumption of partnerships unless if profits were received in payment of debt, rent, services, wages, annuity, interest, sale of goodwill
FORMATION OF A PARTNERSHIP
Purported Partners
No agreement and parties (as between themselves) are not partners, they may be held liable to 3rd parties as if they were partners
FORMATION OF A PARTNERSHIP
Purported Partners
Liability of Person Who is Held Out As Partner?
When a person, by words or conduct, represents herself as a Partner or consents to being represented by another as partner, she will be liable to 3rd parties who enter into transactions w/ the actual or apparent partnership in reliance on representation
–> no duty to deny partnership –> only liable if actually consents
FORMATION OF A PARTNERSHIP
Purported Partners
Liability of Person Who Holds Another Out As Partner?
Makes the alleged partner her agent with POWER TO BIND her to third parties as if the other were, in fact, a Partner.
- If the person making the representation is in fact a member of an already existing partnership and the representation is to the effect that the would be partner is a member of this partnership, ONLY those partners who MADE or CONSENTED to the reprensentation will be bound (not necessarily all or even the partnership as a whole)
PROPERTY OF A PARTNERSHIP
Classifications of Property
Partnership Capital
Partnership capital consists of the PROPERTY OR MONEY CONTRIBUTED by each of the partners for the purpose of carrying on the Partner’s Business
PROPERTY OF A PARTNERSHIP
Classifications of Property
Partnership Property
Partnership Property embraces everything that the partnership owns consisting both of the capital contributed by its members AND the properties subsequently acquired in partnership transactions
PROPERTY OF A PARTNERSHIP
Rights of Partner in Partnership Property
A partner is not a co-owner of partnership property and has no interest in partnership property. Thus, a partner’s creditors may NOT reach partnership property to satisfy the personal (non partnership) obligations of a Partner
PARTNER’S INTEREST IN THE PARTNERSHIP
In General
A partners interest in the Partnership consists of (i) management and other rights and a right to share in the partnership profits and losses and receive distributions
A partner may NOT transfer his interest in management and other rights, BUT MAY transfer his interest in profits, losses and distributions.
PARTNER’S INTEREST IN THE PARTNERSHIP
Transferable Interest is Personal Property
Each partner has a TRANSFERABLE interest in the partnership, which consists of his share of the PROFITS AND LOSSES and the right to receive distributions. This interest is treated as personal property. Absent an agreement to the contrary, each partner is entitled to an EQUAL share of the partnership profits and must contribute toward the partnership losses in proportion to his share of the profits.
LOSSES FOLLOW PROFITS
PARTNER’S INTEREST IN THE PARTNERSHIP
Transfer of Transferable Interest
Because a partner’s transferable interest in the partnership is personalty, IT MAY BE TRANSFERRED by the partner voluntarily or involuntary at any time. Such a conveyance does not dissolve the partnership or cause the transferring partner’s dissociation.
PARTNER’S INTEREST IN THE PARTNERSHIP
Transfer of Transferable Interest
Transferee’s Rights
In Partnership
In absence of an agreement, a transfer does not entitle the transferee to interfere in the management or administration of the partnership business or affairs, to require any information or account of the partnership transactions, or to inspect the partnership books.
Rather, a transfer merely entitles the transferee to receive , in accordance with the contract, distributions to which the transferring partner would otherwise be entitled. However, a partnership need not give effect to an transferee’s rights until it has notice of the transfer
PARTNER’S INTEREST IN THE PARTNERSHIP
Transfer of Transferable Interest
Transferee’s Rights
At Dissolution
Transferee entitled to receive his transferor’s net amount distributable, and may require an accounting only from the date of the last accounting agreed to by all the partners.
PARTNER’S INTEREST IN THE PARTNERSHIP
Charge of Transferable Interest (Attachment)
Judgement creditor of a partner may charge (attach) the transferable interest of the debtor to satisfy the judgment. The charging order becomes a lien on the interest. The Court may also appoint a receiver of the debtor’s share of the distributions due or to become due from the partnership.
RELATIONS BETWEEN PARTNERS ( DEFAULT RULES)
Right to Participate in Management
UOA, all partners have EQUAL RIGHTS in the management of the partnership business. Decisions regarding matters within the ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS of the partnership may be controlled by a MAJORITY VOTE, but matters OUTSIDE THE ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS require the consent of ALL PARTNERS
RELATIONS BETWEEN PARTNERS ( DEFAULT RULES)
Fiduciary Duties
Partners owe the partnership and other partners two fiduciary duties: duties of loyalty and care. Partners must discharge these duties in good faith and fair dealing.
RELATIONS BETWEEN PARTNERS ( DEFAULT RULES)
Fiduciary Duties
Duty of Loyalty
A partner’s duty of loyalty is three-fold:
(i) to account for profits, property, opportunities, or other benefits derived by the partner in conjunction with the partnership business;
(ii) the refrain from dealing with the partnership as or on behalf of a party having an interest adverse to the partnership; and
(iii) to refrain from competing with the partnership
RELATIONS BETWEEN PARTNERS ( DEFAULT RULES)
Fiduciary Duties
Duty of Care
A partner’s duty of care to the partnership and the other partners is limited to refraining from engaging in grossly negligent or reckless conduct, intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law
RELATIONS BETWEEN PARTNERS ( DEFAULT RULES)
Remuneration (working for Profits)
UOA, a partner is NOT entitled to remuneration except for reasonable compensation for services rendered in winding up the partnership’s business.
Unless the circumstances indicate otherwise, it is implied that each partner will devote her entire time and energy to the partnership business. Where a partner impliedly or expressly promises to devote time to the partnership business and fails to do so, she may be charged in an accounting for damages caused to the partnership. This includes the amount expanded by the partnership to replace the services she should have performed as well as any other loss caused by her breach of contract.
RELATIONS BETWEEN PARTNERS ( DEFAULT RULES)
Indemnification and other Repayment
The partnership must indemnify partners for payments reasonably made and obligations reasonably incurred by a partner in carrying on the business of the partnership. Similarly, if a parter makes any payment or advance on behalf of the partnership beyond the amount the partner agreed to contribute, the partnership must repay the partner. In any case, such payments, obligations, and advances constitute loans to the partnership, which must be repaid WITH INTEREST.
RELATIONS BETWEEN PARTNERS ( DEFAULT RULES)
Books and Information
The partnership books must be kept, subject to an agreement to the contrary, at the partnerships chief executive office and every partner has the RIGHT TO INSPECT AND COPY them. Each partner, upon demand of another partner/legal rep, must provide complete and accurate information concerning the partnership.