Partnerships MEE Flashcards
General Partnership
association of two or more persons to carry on as co-owners of a business for profit
General Partnership Formation Timing
formed as soon as it happens, regardless of whether the parties subjectively intended to form a partnership
General Partnership Determination
courts generally look to the intent of the parties
General Partnership Determination Question
“did the parties intend to carry on as co-owners a business for profit is just another way of asking whether their association meets the definition
Factors for Deciding Whether Partnership Exists
(1) sharing of profits raises presumption of partnership
(2) Right to Participate in Control
Sharing of Profits Raises Presumption of Partnership
sharing of profits raises a presumption of partnership unless the share was received as payment of a debt, as wages or compensation, for services rendered, as rent payment, as an anunity or other retirement benefit, as interest on a loan, or for the sale of goodwill of a business
Profit Sharing - Rebuttable Presumption
if there is profit sharing, and therefore a presumption of partnership status, one can try to rebut that presumption with evidence suggesting the lack of co-ownership relationship
Additional Evidence of Partnership
these do not raise a rebuttable presumption:
(A) title to property is held in joint tenancy or tenancy in common
(B) parties designate their relationship as a partnership
(C) venture undertaken by the parties requires extensive activity
(D) sharing of gross returns
Writing if More Than One Year
if partners wish to have an enforceable agreement to remain partners for more than one year, they generally must execute a writing reflecting their agreement
Partnership by Estoppel
if no partnership was formed in fact, parties may still be liable as if they were partners to protect reasonable reliance by third parties
Liability of Person Held out as Partner
when a person by words or conduct represents himself as a partner or consents to being represented by another as a partner, he will be liable to third parties who extend credit to the actual or apparent partnership in reliance on the representation
No Presumption of Partnership When “Holding Out”
a person held out by another as a partner is not liable as a partner unless they actually consent to the holding out - mere failure to deny a representation of the partnership does not give rise to liability as a purported partner
Partnership Agreement Form
partnership agreements may be written, oral, or implied
Partnership’s Entity Status
partnership is a legal entity distinct from its partners - may sue or be sued in the partnerships name
Additional Formation Considerations
(a) capacity - anyone who is capable of entering into a binding contract may be a partner
(b) legality of purpose - must have legal purpose or its void
(c) consent - no one can become a partner without the express or implied consent of all partners
(d) Statement of partnership authority
Statement of Partnership Authority
may choose to file a statement of partnership authority with the secretary of state, which can give constructive knowledge of the extent of the partner’s authority with regard to the partnership
Governing Law of Partnership - No Agreement or Silent Agreement
the Revised Uniform Paternship Act provides a default set of rules - if agreement RUPA will provide for issues not in the agreement
Governing Law - Partnership Agreement
partners are free to agree through a partnership agreement - to abide by different rules for governing the relationships among themseleves
Partner’s Equal Rights
all partners have equal rights in the management decisions of the business and equal votes (one vote - one partner)
Decisions within Ordinary Course of Business
decisions regarding matters within the ordinary course of partnership business requires a majority vote of the partners
Decisions outside the Ordinary Course of Business
matters outside the ordinary course of partnership business require the unanimous consent of all partners
No Right to Salary/Compensation
unless otherwise agreed, a partner has no right to compensation for services rendered to the partnership
Partner Who Fails to Follow Through Promise
if a partner has impliedly or expressly promised to devote time to the partnership, and fails to do so, they may be charged in accounting for damages caused to the partnership
Partners’ Accounts
each partner is deemed to have an account that is credited with an amount equal to the partner’s contribution plus his share of any profits and debited with the partner’s share of any losses and partnership liabilities