GENERAL PARTNERSHIP Flashcards
What is generally required to form a General Partnership?
1) 2 or more persons/entities
- Capacity
- Consent
2) Co-ownership
- Objective
- Parties’ intent
3) For profit
- NOT debt/services/rent/retirement
- NOT joint tenancy/tenancy in common
- NOT extensive activity
- NOT returns
Is a written agreement required to form a general partnership?
No - does not require an express agreement or a formal filing
Can a general partnership be made even if the formalities are not met?
Governing law
- Agreement
- Revised Uniform Partnership Act (RUPA)
Legal purpose
Limited Liability Partnership
A business entity created under a state’s general partnership laws, which grants all individual partners protection from vicarious liability for claims against the entity.
Purported Partner
A person who is not a partner, but by word or action represents to being a partner or consents to being represented as such.
Limited Partnership
A statutorily created business entity that must have, at a minimum, one general partner and one limited partner.
General Partner
A partner in a limited partnership who has the right to participate in the management and conduct of the limited partnership’s activities, and who is jointly and severally liable for the partnership’s obligations.
Limited Partner
A partner in a limited partnership who generally has no right to participate in the management or control of the limited partnership, and who enjoys limited liability protection.
Limited Liability Limited Partnership
A type of limited partnership in which the general partners and limited partners receive limited liability protection under state law.
How many votes do partners have?
Equal votes
How many votes are required to pass decisions in the ordinary course of business?
Majority vote
How many votes are required to pass decisions outside the ordinary course of business?
Unanimous vote
How much profits are partners entitled to?
Equal profits
According to agreement
How much losses are partners liable for?
Proportionate to profits
According to agreement
What is partner’s duty of care?
Not act with malice/negligence
Act in good faith
Act as reasonably prudent person in similar position
What is partner’s duty of loyalty?
Account for profits
Not act adversely
Not act in competing ventures
Not usurp corporate opportunities
What is partner’s duty of obedience?
Obey partnership’s reasonable directions
Act within scope of partnership
What remedies are available to a partnership for a partner’s breach of duties?
Assert existing judgment
What is required for Partner’s actual authority?
Express
- Statement of authority filed with Secretary of State
- Partnership agreement
- Majority vote (ordinary course of business)
- Unanimous vote (NOT ordinary course of business)
Implied
- Communication with Partner
- Partner’s reasonable belief
What is required for Partner’s apparent authority?
RUPA
1) Partner’s authority held out
2) Ordinary course of business/Of the kind
What are the exceptions to Partner’s apparent authority?
NO authority
TP knowledge/notice
- Actual knowledge (NOT negligent)
- Delivered notice/TP’s attention
What type of partners are liable?
Joint and severally liable partners
- Pre-existing liability
- Personal liability
Are newly joined partners liable?
No
- But they can lose investment share in partnership to satisfy debt obligations
Liability for partner’s acts
A partnership is liable for the loss or injury caused by a partner acting in the ordinary course of business, including contract (authority), tort (outside scope), or criminal acts (principal/associate).
What may partners be liable for?
Entire partnership obligations
- Obtain contribution from co-partnersfor paying more than fair share
- Obtain indemnification from co-partners for paying whole obligation
Dissociation
The act of a partner leaving a partnership
What is required for dissociation?
At-will partnership
- Notice (express will to withdraw)
- Agreed event
- Valid expulsion
- Partner’s death/incapacity
- Court judgment
- Termination of partnership
Term partnership (wrongful dissociation)
- Before term expiration
- Before completion of specific purpose
- Partner’s bankruptcy
What is the difference between at-will partnership and term partnership?
At-will partnership
- Mutual termination
Term partnership
- Termination after end of term