Partnership Flashcards
Partnership Generally
Association of two+ persons as co-owners of business for profit.
may not be formed for nonprofit purposes
Agreement will arise by actions of the parties
must be voluntary
Tax Benefits of a Partnership
Flow-through entity.
No taxes as an entity.
gains and losses flow through to partners
Must pay proportional shares of partnership profits.
Fundamental Principles of a Partnership
- Partners - equal rights to control business
- unlimited personal liability for partnerships debts.
- Partners can exit at will.
Factors indicating Partnership Formation
- Joint Ownership of Property
- Contributing Capital to the Business
- Sharing Gross Income, but not profits
Partnership Formation
2 or more persons engage in business together with
intent to create profit.
Intent is to make profit, not necessarily be in business together.
Sharing profits is prima facie evidence of intent to form a partnership.
Partnerships taking more than one year to complete -Statute of Frauds. Common law
*In NY Partnership agreements can be oral
legal entities can form partnerships
unanimous consent of existing partners required to add members
Property of the Partnership
Property brought into partnership or
subsequently acquired by partnership
belong to partnership.
Property acquired with partnership funds is partnership property
absent contrary intent.
partners are co-owners of property held by partnership
Partners Rights in Specific Partnership Property
Not assignable, except in connection with the assignment rights of all partners in the same property and
Is not subject to attachment by personal creditors, except on a claim against the partnership.
Partnership property that is attached for a partnership debt the partners together, or any one of them, cannot claim any right under the homestead or exemption laws.
Property Rights of a Partner
transferability of interests
- co-owners as tenants in partnership.
- Economic interests in partnership, is transferrable.
- participation in management not transferrable without unanimous consent of non-transferring partners.
Accounting
partners must account for any benefits
hold as trustee any profits derived without consent of other partners resulting from any transaction connected with the partnership.
Relationship Between Partners
- Partners are fiduciaries to each other.
- Each owes a duty of loyalty to other partners
- Partners have to disclose opportunities to other partners before taking them for themselves.
Non-Competition
A partner may not compete with the partnership without consent of all partners.
If he does he must account for all profits he derives.
When the right to a formal accounting arises when
- wrongfully excluded from partnership business or possession of property.
- right exists under terms of any agreement
- circumstances render it just and reasonable.
Remuneration
Partnership must indemnify partners for payments made and liabilities reasonably incurred in ordinary and conduct of business or preservation of business property.
Partners are entitled to compensation for services in shutting down partnership affairs.
Partners advancing payments beyond agreed capital amount
is paid interest from date of advance.
Capital contributions are entitled to interest only from the date repayment should be made.
Partnership and Agency
Every partner is agent of partnership
governed by rules of agency in dealings with 3rd parties.
Remuneration
Partnership must indemnify partners for payments made and liabilities reasonably incurred in ordinary and conduct of business or preservation of business property.
Partners are entitled to compensation for services in shutting down partnership affairs.
Partners advancing payments beyond agreed capital amount
is paid interest from date of advance. because it is in essence a loan
Capital contributions are entitled to interest only from the date repayment should be made. is a loan after it should have been repaid
Act of a partner apparently carrying on the business of the partnership
act will bind the partnership UNLESS
partner has no actual authority AND
3rd party knows the partner lacks authority
Partner actions outside of acts related to carrying on the business.
binds partnership ONLY if partners grant actual authority.
Admissibility of Admissions or representations of partners
Admissions made by partner concerning affairs of partnership are admissible as evidence against the partnership.
Prohibited Actions of Partners absent unanimous agreement
- Assignment property of in trust for creditors or on the assignees promise to pay the debts of the partnership.
- Dispose of the goodwill of the business
- Commit an act making it impossible to carry on the ordinary business of the partnership
- Confess a judgement
- subject a partnership claim or liability to arbitration or reference.
Partnership by Estoppel
Person representing himself as a partner in existing partnership to a 3rd party is liable to the 3rd party if that person relied in good faith on the representation to give credit to the partnership.
A person held out by others as a partner without consent who refrains from denying this status will NOT be held liable as a partner.
New Partners
New admissions are liable for all obligations of partnership arising before admission. Liability can only be satisfied from partnership property.
Departing partners are protected from new liabilities but remain liable for obligations incurred prior to leaving.
Partnership Charged with Knowledge of or Notice to Partner
partnerships have knowledge and notice of any matter relating to partnership and partners actions on behalf of the partnership
except for fraud.
Partnership Bound by Partner’s Wrongful Acts
joint and several liability for partners
acting in ordinary course of business
or
with the authority of co-partners
Partners are jointly, not severally liable for contractual obligations of partnership.
Partnership Profits and Losses
share profits and losses according to partnership agreement.
split profits equally and losses like profits