Partnerships Flashcards
A partnership is an
association of two or more legal entities (person or a corporation / other legal entity) who carry on a for-profit business as co-owners
Intent to form a partnership is
not needed to form a partnership, only
(1) Carry on as co-owners
(2) For profit
When two or more people or legal entities share profits there is a
presumption of a partnership relationship
Note: Does not apply to payments of a debt, interest payments, rent, wages, or goodwill
Partnerships are separate legal entities meaning
they are distinct from the partners and can hold property and sue/be sued independently of the partners
Partnerships have no entity-level taxation meaning
taxes are only paid when profits are distributed to partners
Partnership agreements will generally govern all rules of the partnership EXCEPT when
State law is mandatory (e.g. can’t waive personal liability)
Can’t:
(1) Waive liability to third parties
(2) Deny Partner access to books and records
(3) Eliminate fiduciary duties
The duty of loyalty owed to partnerships by its partners prevent
(1) partners from competing with the partnership business
(2) partners from advancing an interest adverse to the partnership
(3) partners from usurping partnership opportunities
The duty of loyalty may be
limited so long as it is not manifestly unreasonable
Safe-harbor for duty of loyalty violations is
full disclosure of all material facts and then either a certain percentage (or all) partners vote to authorize or ratify the transaction
The duty of care owed to partnerships is to not
(1) engage in grossly negligent or reckless conduct
(2) engage in intentional misconduct
(3) engage in a knowing violation of the law
Prospective / Former partners do not
owe duties of loyalty or care to the partnership
The division of losses and profits is
generally dictated by the partnership agreement
default rule = split profits evenly, and losses follow profits
Note: capital or financial contributions need not have an effect on the division of profits or losses
Financial distributions from a partnership to a partner may
be done if agreed upon in advance and made according to partnership agreement
generally there is NO right to demand distribution
Transferring of a property interest is
presumed allowed (old rule led to dissolving of partnership) though partners may still agree to change default rule to require majority vote of partners
The default rule for new partners is
all partners must consent (may be changed in partnership agreement)
Management and control of a partnership is
presumed equal between the partners (may be modified by partnership agreement and may reflect capital contribution)
Ordinary v. Extraordinary business matters
Ordinary = vote of majority of partners
Extraordinary = vote of all partners (unanimity)
Dissociation from a partnership may be either
voluntary or involuntary
Note: voluntary requires notice of intent and may be done at ANY time even if wrongful
Involuntary dissociation may arise when
(1) Event specified in partnership agreement occurs
(2) Partner is expelled pursuant to partnership agreement
(3) Court may order it
(4) A partner goes bankrupt
(5) A partner dies
(6) A partner has become incapacitated
(7) One of the entities of a partnership dissolves
Consequences of Dissociation are
former partner has no rights to participate in management but does not owe any duties to partnership
partnership must buy out dissociating partner if the partnership continues (may be affected if partner wrongfully dissociates)
Every partner is an
agent of the partnership