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- /* The following is the full text of the Uniform Limited
- Partnership Act, with comments. */
-
- UNIFORM LIMITED PARTNERSHIP ACT
-
- /* Alas, most uniform acts are not "uniform." Each state makes
- changes in the basic framework, often in important ways. There
- are also several different versions. What follows is the 1976
- version as amended in 1985. Each state's version of this law may
- differ significantly. However, this law represents the latest
- thinking about limited partnership law.*/
-
- Section 101. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context
- otherwise requires:
-
- (1) Certificate of limited partnership means the certificate
- referred to in Section 201, and the certificate as amended or
- restated.
-
- (2) Contribution means any cash, property, services
- rendered, or a promissory note or other binding obligation to
- contribute cash or property or to preform services, which a
- partner contributes to a limited partnership in his capacity as a
- partner.
-
- /* It is significant to note that the act permits a binding
- commitment to provide future services to be a contribution. */
-
- (3) Event of withdrawal of a general partner means an event
- that causes a person to cease to be a general partner as provided
- in Section 402.
-
- (4) Foreign limited partnership means a partnership formed
- under the laws of any State other than this State and having as
- partners one or more general partners and one or more limited
- partners.
-
- (5) General partner means a person who has been admitted to
- a limited partnership as a general partner in accordance with the
- partnership agreement and named in the certificate of limited
- partnership as a general partner.
-
- (6) Limited partner means a person who has been admitted to
- a limited partnership as a limited partner in accordance with the
- partnership agreement.
-
- (7) Limited partnership and domestic limited partnership
- means a partnership formed by two or more persons under the laws
- of this State and having one or more limited partners and one or
- more general partners.
-
- (8) Partner means a limited or general partner.
-
- (9) Partnership agreement means any valid agreement, written
- or oral, of the partners as to the affairs of a limited
- partnership and the conduct of its business.
-
- (10) Partnership interest means a partner's share of the
- profits and losses of a limited partnership and the right to
- receive distributions of partnership assets.
-
- (11) Person means a natural person, partnership, limited
- partnership (domestic or foreign) trust, estate, association, or
- corporation.
-
- (12) State means a state, territory, possession of the
- Untied States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of
- Puerto Rico.
-
- Section 102. Name. The name of each limited partnership as set
- forth in its certificate of limited partnership:
-
- (1) shall contain without abbreviation the words "limited
- partnership;"
-
- (2) may not contain the name of a limited partner unless (i)
- it is also the name of a general partner or the corporate name of
- a corporate general partner or (ii) the business of the limited
- partnership had been carried on under than name before the
- admission of that limited partner.
-
- (3) may not be the same as, or deceptive similar to, the
- name of any corporation or limited partnership organized under
- the laws of this State or license or registered as a foreign
- corporation or limited partnership in this State; and
-
- (4) may not contain the following words: [insert]
-
- /* This usually include: bank, credit union, insurance company,
- trust company, rail road, as they are required to have permission
- from state or federal authorities first before formation. */
-
- Section 103. Reservation of Name.
-
- (a) The exclusive right to the use of a name may be reserved by:
-
- (1) any person intending to organize a limited partnership
- under this Act and to adopt that name;
-
- (2) any domestic limited partnership or any foreign limited
- partnership registered in this State, which in either case,
- intends to adopt that name;
-
- (3) any foreign limited partnership intending to register in
- this State and use that name;
-
- (4) any person intending to organize a foreign limited
- partnership and intending to have it register in this State and
- adopt that name.
-
- (b) The reservation shall be made by filing with the Secretary of
- State an application, executed by the applicant, to reserve a
- specified name. If the Secretary of State finds that the name is
- available for use by a domestic or foreign limited partnership,
- he or she shall reserve that name for the exclusive use of the
- applicant for a period of 120 days. Once having so reserved a
- name, the same applicant may not again reserve the same name
- until more than 60 days after the expiration of the last 120-day
- period for which that applicant reserved that name. The right to
- the exclusive use of a reserved name may be transferred to any
- other person by filing with the Secretary of State a notice of
- the transfer, executed by the applicant for whom the name was
- reserved and specifying the name and address of the transferee.
-
- Section 104. Specified Office and Agent. Each limited partnership
- shall keep at the office referred to in Section 104(1) the
- following:
-
- (1) A current list of the full name and last known business
- address of each partner, separately identifying the general (in
- alphabetical order) and the limited partners (in alphabetical
- order);
-
- (2) A copy of the certificate of limited partnership and all
- certificates of amendment thereto, together with executed copies
- of any powers of attorney pursuant to which any certificate has
- been executed;
-
- (3) copies of the limited partnership's federal, state and
- local income tax returns and reports, if any, for the three most
- recent years;
-
- (4) copies of any then efficient written partnership
- agreements and of any financial statements of the limited
- partnership for the three most recent years; and
-
- (5) unless contained in a written partnership agreement, a
- writing setting out:
-
- (i) the amount of cash and a description and statement
- of the agreed value of the other property or services contributed
- by each partner and which each partner has agreed to contribute;
-
- (ii) the times at which or events on the happening of which
- any additional contributions agreed to be made by each partner
- are to be made;
-
- (ii) any right of a partner to receive, or a general partner
- to make, distributions to a partner which include a return of all
- or any part of the partner's contribution;
-
- (iii) any right of a partner to receive, or of a general
- partner to make, distributions to a partner which include a
- return of all or any part of the partner's contribution;
-
- (iv) any events upon the happening of which the limited
- partnership is to be dissolved and its affairs wound up.
-
- (b) Records kept under this section are subject to inspection and
- copying at the reasonable request and at the expense of any
- partner during ordinary business hours.
-
- Section 106. Nature of partnership. A limited partnership may
- carry on any business that a partnership without limited partners
- may carry on except [add here]
-
- Section 107. Business Transaction of Partner with Partnership.
- Except as provided in the partnership agreement, a partner may
- lend money to and transact other business with the limited
- partnership and, subject to other applicable law, has the same
- rights and obligations with respect thereto as a person who is
- not a partner.
-
- /* It is not unusual for a partner to be a creditor, limited and
- general partner at once. The ULPA accommodates extreme flexibility
- in the form and nature of contributions and other financial
- arrangements. */
-
-
- ARTICLE 2
- FORMATION; CERTIFICATE OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
-
-
- Section 201. Certificate of Limited Partnership. (a) In order to
- form a limited partnership, a certificate of limited partnership
- must be executed and filed in the office of the Secretary of
- State. The certificate shall set forth:
-
- (1) the name of the limited partnership;
-
- (2) the address of the office and name and address of the
- agent for service of process required to be maintained by Section
- 104;
-
- (3) the name and business address of each general partner;
-
- (4) the latest date upon which the limited partnership is to
- dissolve;
-
- (5) any other matters the general partners determine to
- include therein.
-
- /* Ordinarily the actual certificate of limited partnership is
- kept rather sparse to maintain confidentiality. The partnership
- agreement is the place where all of these matters MUST be set
- forth. */
-
- Section 202. Amendment of Certificate. (a) A certificate of
- limited partnership is amended by filing a certificate of
- amendment thereto in the office of the Secretary of State. The
- certificate shall set forth:
-
- (1) the name of the limited partnership;
-
- (2) the date of filing the certificate;
-
- (3) the amendment to the certificate.
-
- (b) within 30 days after the happening of any of the following
- events, an amendment to a certificate of limited partnership
- reflecting the occurrence of the event or events shall be filed:
-
- (1) the admission of a new general partner;
-
- (2) the withdrawal of a general partner;
-
- (3) the continuation of business under section 801 after an
- event of withdrawal of a limited partnership.
-
- (c) A general partner who becomes aware that any statement in a
- certificate of limited partnership was false when made or than
- any arrangements or other facts described have changed, making
- the certificate inaccurate in any respect, shall promptly amend
- the certificate.
-
- (d) A certificate of limited partnership shall be may be amended
- at any time for any other proper purpose the general partners
- determine.
-
- (e) No person has any liability because an amendment to a
- certificate of general partnership has not been filed to reflect
- the occurrence of any event referred to in subsection (b) of this
- section if the amendment is filed within the 30-day period
- specified in subsection (b).
-
- (f) A restated certificate of limited partnership may be executed
- and filed in the same manner as a certificate of amendment.
-
- Section 203. Cancellation of Certificate. A certificate of
- limited partnership shall be canceled upon the dissolution and
- the and the commencement of winding up of the partnership or at
- any other time there are no limited partners. A certificate of
- cancellation shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of
- State and set forth:
-
- (1) the name of the limited partnership;
-
- (2) the date of filing of its certificate of limited
- partnership;
-
- (3) the reason for the filing of the certificate of
- cancellation;
-
- (4) the effective date (which shall be a date certain) of
- cancellation if it is not to be effective upon the filing of the
- certificate;
-
- (5) any other information the general partners filing the
- certificate of amendment.
-
- Section 204. Execution of Certificates. (a) Each certificate
- required by this Article to be filed in the office of the
- Secretary if State shall be executed in the following manner:
-
- (1) an original certificate of limited partnership must be
- signed by all general partners;
-
- (2) a certificate of amendment must be signed by at least
- one general partner and by each other general partner designated
- in the certificate as a new general partner;
-
- (3) a certificate of cancellation must be signed by all
- general partners,
-
- (b) any person may sign a certificate by an attorney in fact, but
- a power of attorney to sign a certificate relating to the
- admission of a general partner must specifically describe the
- admission;
-
- (c) The execution of a certificate by a general partner
- constitutes an affirmation under penalties of perjury that the
- facts stated therein are true.
-
- Section 205. Execution by Judicial Act. If a person required by
- Section 204 to execute any certification fails or refuses to do
- so any person who is adversely affected by the failure or
- refusal, may petition [designate court] to direct the execution
- of the certificate. If the court finds that it is proper for the
- certificate to be executed and that any person so designated has
- failed or refused to execute the certificate, it shall order the
- Secretary of State to record an appropriate certificate.
-
- Section 206. Filing in Office of Secretary of State. (a) Two
- signed copies of the certificate of limited partnership and of
- any certificate of amendment or cancellation (or any judicial
- decree of amendment or cancellation) shall be delivered to the
- Secretary of State. A person who executes a certificate as an
- agent or fiduciary need not exhibit evidence of his or her
- authority as a prerequisite to filing. Unless the Secretary of
- State finds that any certificate does not conform to law, upon
- receipt of all filing fee required by law he or she shall:
-
- (1) endorse on each duplicate original the word "Filed" and
- the day, month and year of the filing thereof;
-
- (2) file one duplicate original in his or her office;
-
- (3) return the other duplicate original to the person who
- filed it or his or her representative.
-
- (b) Upon filing of a certificate of amendment (or judicial decree
- of amendment) in the Office of the Secretary of State, the
- certificate of limited partnership shall be amended as set forth
- therein, and upon the effective date of a certificate of
- cancellation (or a judicial decree thereof) the certificate of
- limited partnership is canceled.
-
- Section 207. Liability for False Statement in Certificate. If any
- certificate of limited partnership or certificate of amendment or
- cancellation contains a false state, one who suffers loss by
- reliance on the statement may recover damages for the loss from:
-
- (1) any person who executes the certificate, or causes
- another to execute it on his behalf, and knew, and any general
- partner who knew or should have known, the statement to be false
- at the time the certificate was executed; and
-
- (2) any general partner who thereafter knows or should have
- known that any arrangement or other fact described in the
- certificate has changed, making the statement inaccurate in any
- respect within a sufficient time before the statement was relied
- upon reasonably to have enabled that general partner to cancel or
- amend the certificate, or to file a petition for its cancellation
- or amendment under Section 205.
-
- Section 208. Scope of Notice. The fact that a certificate of
- limited partnership is on file in the office of the Secretary of
- State is notice that the partnership is a limited partnership and
- the persons designated therein as general partners are general
- partners, but it is not notice of any other fact.
-
- Section 209. Delivery of Certificates to Limited Partners. Upon
- the return by the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 206 of a
- certificate marked filed, the general partners shall promptly
- deliver or mail a copy of the certificate of limited partnership
- to each limited partner unless the partnership agreement provides
- otherwise.
-
- ARTICLE 3
- LIMITED PARTNERS
-
- Section 301. Admission of Limited Partners.
-
- (a) A person becomes a limited partner:
-
- (1) at the time that the limited partnership is formed;
- or,
-
- (2) at any later time specified in the records of the
- limited partnership for becoming a limited partner.
-
- (b) After the filing of a limited partnership's original
- certificate of limited partnership, a person may be admitted as
- an additional limited partner:
-
- (1) in the case of a person acquiring a partnership
- interest directly from the limited partnership, upon compliance
- with the partnership agreement or, if the partnership agreement
- does not so provide, upon the written consent of all partners;
- and
-
- (2) in the case of an assignee of a partnership
- interest of a partner who has the power, as provided in Section
- 704, to grant the assignee the right to become a limited partner,
- upon the exercise of that power and compliance with any
- conditions limiting the grant or exercise of the power.
-
- Section 302. Voting. Subject to Section 303, the partnership
- agreement may grant to all or a specified group of the limited
- partners the right to vote (on a per capita or other basis) upon
- any matter.
-
- /* Such power if used should be used sparingly. See Section 303
- making limited partners involved in the business liable for the
- debts of the limited partnership. Being a limited partner is
- primarily designed to allow the benefits of ownership (such as
- flow through of tax losses) without the risk of ownership
- outright, personal liability for the debts. */
-
- Section 303. Liability to Third Parties. (a) Except as provided
- in subsection (d), a limited partner is not liable for the
- obligations of a limited partnership unless he or she is also a
- general partner, or, in addition to the exercise of his or her
- rights and powers as a limited partner, participates in control
- of the business. However, if the limited partner participates in
- the control of the business he or she is liable only to persons
- who transact business with the limited partnership, reasonably
- believing, based upon the limited partner's conduct, that the
- limited partner is a general partner.
-
- (b) A limited partner does not participate in the control of the
- business within the meaning of subsection (1) solely by doing one
- or more of the following:
-
- (1) being a contractor for or an agent or employee of the
- limited partnership or of a general partner or being an officer,
- director, or shareholder of a general partner that is a
- corporation;
-
- (2) consulting with and advising a general partner with
- respect to the business of the limited partnership;
-
- (3) acting as surety for the limited partnership or
- guaranteeing or assuming one or more specific obligations of the
- limited partnership;
-
- (4) taking any action required or permitted by law to bring
- or pursue a derivate action in the right of the limited
- partnership;
-
- (5) requesting or attending a meeting of partners;
-
- (6) proposing, approving, or disapproving, by voting or
- otherwise, one ore more of the following matters;
-
- (i) the dissolution and winding up of the limited
- partnership;
-
- (ii) the sale, exchange, lease, mortgage, pledge, or
- other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the
- limited partnership;
-
- (iii) the incurrence of indebtedness by the limited
- partnership other than in the ordinary course of business;
-
- (iv) a change in the nature of the business;
-
- (v) the admission or removal of a general partner;
-
- (vi) the admission or removal of a limited partner;
-
- (vii) a transaction involving an actual or potential
- conflict of interest between a general partner and the limited
- partnership or the limited partners;
-
- (viii) an amendment to the partnership agreement or
- certificate of limited partnership;
-
- (ix) matters related to the business of the limited
- partnership not otherwise enumerated in this subsection (b),
- which the partnership agreement states in writing may be subject
- to the approval or disapproval of the limited partners;
-
- (7) winding up the limited partnership pursuant to
- section 803;
-
- (8) exercising any right or power permitted to limited
- partners under this Act and not specifically enumerated in this
- subsection (b).
-
- (c) The enumeration in subsection (b) does not mean that the
- possession or exercise of any other powers by a limited partner
- constitutes participation by him or her in the business of the
- limited partnership.
-
- (d) A limited partner who knowingly permits his or her name
- to be used in the name of the limited partnership, except under
- circumstances permitted by Section 102(2), is liable to creditors
- who extend credit to the limited partnership without actual
- knowledge that the limited partner is not a general partner.
-
- Section 304. Person Erroneously Believing Himself or Herself a
- Limited Partner. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a
- person who makes a contribution to a business enterprise and
- erroneously but in good faith believes that he or she has become
- a limited partner in the enterprise is not a general partner in
- the enterprise and is not bound by its obligations by reason of
- making the contribution, receiving distributions from the
- enterprise or exercising any rights of a limited partner, if on
- ascertaining the mistake, he or she:
-
- (1) cause an appropriate certificate of limited
- partnership or a certificate of amendment to be executed and
- filed; or
-
- (2) withdraws from future equity participation in the
- enterprise by executing and filing in the office of the Secretary
- of State a certificate declaring withdrawal under this Section.
-
- (b) A person who makes a contribution of the kind described in
- subsection (a) is liable as a general partner to any third party
- who transacts business with the enterprise (i) before the person
- withdraws and an appropriate certificate is filed to show
- withdrawal, or (ii) before an appropriate certificate is filed to
- show that he or she is not a general partner; but in either case
- only if the third party actually believed in good faith that the
- person was a general partner at the time of the transaction.
-
- Section 305. Each limited partner has a right to:
-
- (1) inspect and copy any of the partnership records required
- to be maintained by Section 105; and
-
- (2) obtain from the general partners from time to time upon
- reasonable demand (i) true and full information regarding the
- state of the business and financial condition of the partnership,
- (ii) promptly after becoming available, a copy of the limited
- partnership's federal, state, and local income tax returns for
- each year, and (iii) other information regarding the affairs of
- the limited partnership as is just and reasonable.
-
- ARTICLE 4
- GENERAL PARTNERS
-
- Section 401. Admission of Additional General Partners. After the
- filing of a limited partnership's original certificate of limited
- partnership, additional general partners may be admitted as
- provided in writing in the partnership agreement or, if the
- partnership agreement does not provide in writing for the
- admission of additional general partners, with the written
- consent of all partners.
-
- Section 402. Events of Withdrawal. Except as approved by the
- specific written consent of all partners at the time, a person
- ceases to be a general partner of a limited partnership only upon
- the happening of any of the following events:
-
- (1) the general partner withdraws from the limited
- partnership as provided in Section 602;
-
- (2) the general partner ceases to be a member of the limited
- partnership as provided in Section 702;
-
- (3) the general partner is removed as a general partner in
- accordance with the partnership agreement;
-
- (4) unless otherwise provided in writing in the partnership
- agreement, the general partner: (i) makes an assignment for the
- benefit of creditors; (ii) files a voluntary petition in
- bankruptcy; (iii) is adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent; (iv)
- files a petition or answer seeking for himself or herself any
- reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment,
- liquidation, dissolution, or similar relief under any statute,
- law, or regulation; (v) files an answer or other pleading
- admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a
- petition filed against him or her in any proceeding of this
- matter; (vi) seeks, consents to, or acquiesces in the appointment
- of a trustee, receiver, or liquidator of the general partner or
- of all or any substantial part of his or her properties;
-
- (5) unless otherwise provided in writing in the partnership
- agreement, 120 days after the commencement of any proceeding
- against the general partner seeking reorganization, arrangement,
- composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution, or similar
- relief under any statute, law, or regulation, the proceeding has
- not been dismissed, or if within 90 days after the appointment
- without his or her consent or acquiescence of a trustee,
- receiver, or liquidator of the general partner or of all or any
- substantial part of his or her properties, the appointment is not
- stayed or within 90 days after the expiration of any such stay,
- the appointment is not vacated;
-
- (6) in the case of a general partner who is a natural
- person,
-
- (i) his or her death; or
-
- (ii) the entry of an order by a court of competent
- jurisdiction adjudicating him or her incompetent to manage his or
- her person or his or her estate;
-
- (7) in the cases of a general partner who is acting as a
- general partner by virtue of being a trustee of a trust, the
- termination of the trust (but not merely the substitution of a
- new trustee);
-
- (8) in the case of a general partner that is a separate
- partnership, the dissolution and commencement of winding up of
- the separate partnership;
-
- (9) in the case of a general partner that is a corporation,
- the filing of a certificate of dissolution, or its equivalent,
- for the corporation, or the revocation of its charter; or
-
- (10) in the case of an estate, the distribution by the
- fiduciary of the estate's entire interest in the partnership.
-
- Section 403. General Powers and Liabilities.
-
- (a) Except as provided in this Act or in the partnership
- agreement, a general partner of a limited partnership has the
- rights and powers and is subject to the restrictions of a partner
- in a partnership without limited partners.
-
- /* Thus, it is possible that a general partner's right to manage
- can be less extensive or more extensive. This is why banks and
- others who deal with limited partnerships will want to examine
- the partnership agreement and get assurances that the general
- partners can borrow, etc. */
-
- (b) Except as provided in this Act or in the partnership
- agreement a general partner of a limited partnership has the
- liabilities of a partner in a partnership without limited
- partners to persons other than the partnership and other
- partners. Except as provided in this Act or in the partnership
- agreement, a general partner of a limited partnership has the
- liabilities of a partner in a partnership without limited
- partners to the partnership and to other partners.
-
- Section 404. Contributions by General Partner. A general partner
- of a limited partnership may make contributions to the
- partnership and share in the profits and losses of, and in
- distributions from, the limited partnership as a general partner.
- A general partner may also make contributions to and share in
- profits, losses and distributions as a limited partner. A person
- who is both a general and limited partner has the rights and
- powers, and is subject to the restrictions and liabilities, of a
- general partner, and, except and provided in the partnership
- agreement, also has the powers, and is subject to the
- restrictions, of a limited partner to the extent of his or her
- participation in the partnership as a limited partner.
-
- Section 405. Voting. The partnership agreement may grant to all
- or certain identified limited partners the right to vote (on a
- per capita or any other basis), separately or with all or any
- other class of the limited partners, on any matter.
-
- ARTICLE 5
- FINANCE
-
- Section 501. Form of Contribution. The Contribution of a partner
- may be in cash property, or services rendered, or a promissory
- note or other obligation to contribute cash or property or to
- perform services.
-
- Section 502. Liability for Contribution. (a) A promise by a
- limited partner to contribute to the limited partnership is not
- enforceable unless set out in a writing signed by the limited
- partner.
-
- (b) Except as provided in the partnership agreement, a partner is
- obligated to the limited partnership to perform any enforceable
- promise to contribute cash or property or to perform services,
- even if he or she is unable to perform because of death,
- disability or any other reason. If a partner does not make the
- required contribution of property or services, he or she is
- obligated at the option of the limited partnership to contribute
- cash equal to that portion of the value, as stated in the
- partnership records required to be kept pursuant to Section 105,
- of the stated contribution which has not been made.
-
- (c) Unless otherwise provided in the partnership agreement, the
- obligation of a partner to make a contribution or return money or
- other property paid or distributed in violation of this Act may
- be compromised only by consent of all partners. Notwithstanding
- the compromise, a creditor of a limited partnership who extends
- credit, or otherwise acts in reliance on that obligation after
- the partner signs a writing which, reflects the obligation, and
- before the amendment or cancellation thereof to reflect the
- compromise, may enforce the original obligation.
-
- Section 503. Sharing of Profits and Losses. The profits and
- losses of a limited partnership shall be allocated among the
- partners, and among classes of partners, in the manner provided
- in wiring in the partnership agreement. If the partnership
- agreement does not so provide in writing, profits and losses
- shall be allocated on the basis of value, as stated in the
- partnership records required to be kept pursuant to Section 105,
- of the contribution made by each partner to the extent that they
- have been received by the partnership and have not been returned.
-
- Section 504. Sharing of Distributions. Distributions of cash or
- other assets of a limited partnership shall be allocated among
- the partners and among classes of partners in the manner provided
- in writing in the partnership agreement. If the partnership
- agreement does not so provide in writing, distributions shall be
- made on the basis of the value as stated in the partnership
- records required to be kept under section 105, of the
- contribution made by each partner to the extent that they have
- been received by the partnership and have not been returned.
-
- ARTICLE 6
- DISTRIBUTIONS AND WITHDRAWAL
-
- Section 601. Interim Distributions. Except as provided in this
- article, a partner is entitled to receive distributions from a
- limited partnership before his or her withdrawal from the limited
- partnership and before the dissolution and winding up thereof:
-
- to the extent and at the times or upon the happening of the
- events specified in the partnership agreement.
-
- Section 602 Withdrawal of General Partner. A general partner may
- withdraw from a limited partnership at any time by giving written
- notice to the other partners, but if the withdrawal violates the
- partnership agreement, the limited partnership may recover from
- the withdrawing general partner damages for breach of the
- partnership agreement and offset the damages against the amount
- otherwise distributable to him or her.
-
- Section 603. Withdrawal of Limited Partner. A limited partner may
- withdraw from a limited partnership at the time or upon the
- happening of events specified in writing in the partnership
- agreement. If the agreement does not specify in writing the time
- or events upon the happening of which a limited partner may
- withdraw or a definite time for dissolution of the limited
- partnership, a limited partner may withdraw upon less than six
- months prior written notice to each general partner at his
- address on the books of the limited partnership at its office in
- this state.
-
- Section 604. Distribution Upon Withdrawal. Except as provided in
- this Article, upon withdrawal any withdrawing partner is entitled
- to receive any distribution to which he or she is entitled under
- the partnership agreement and, if not otherwise provided in the
- agreement, he or she is entitled to receive, within a reasonable
- time after withdrawal, the fair value of his or her interest in
- the limited partnership as of the date of withdrawal based upon
- his or her right to share in distributions from the limited
- partnership.
-
- /* This underlies the importance of making provisions in the
- partnership agreement regarding limited partners shares.
- Otherwise, you could be in the uncomfortable position of having
- to find the money to pay a limited partner back his contribution.
- Most limited partnership agreements prevent the partners from
- demanding repayment prior to the expiration of the partnership.*/
-
- Section 605. Distribution in kind. Except as provided in writing
- in the partnership agreement, a partner, regardless of the nature
- of his or her contribution, has no right to demand and receive
- any distribution from a limited partnership in any other form
- than cash. Except as provided in writing in the partnership
- agreement, a partner may not be compelled to accept a
- distribution of any asset in kind from a limited partnership to
- the extent that the percentage of the asset distributed to him or
- her exceeds a percentage of that asset which is equal to the
- percentage in which he or she shares in distributions from the
- limited partnership.
-
- Section 606.. Right to Distribution. At the time a partner
- becomes entitled to receive a distribution, he or she, has the
- status of, and is entitled to, all remedies available to, a
- creditor of the limited partnership with respect to the
- distribution.
-
- Section 607. Limitations On Distribution. A partner may not
- receive a distribution from a limited partnership to the extent
- that, after giving effect to the distribution, all liabilities of
- the limited partnership, other than liabilities to partners on
- account of their partnership interests, exceed the fair value of
- the partnership assets.
-
- Section 608. Liability Upon Return of Contribution. (a) If a
- partner has received the return of any part of his or her
- contribution without violation of the partnership agreement or
- this Act, he or she is liable to the limited partnership for a
- period of one year thereafter for the amount of the returned
- contribution, but only to the extent necessary to discharge the
- limited partnership's liabilities to creditors who extended
- credit to the limited partnership during the period the
- contribution was held by the partnership.
-
- (b) If a partner has received the return of any part of his or
- her contribution in violation of the partnership agreement or
- this Act, he or she is liable to the limited partnership for a
- period of six years thereafter for the amount of the contribution
- wrongfully returned.
-
- (c) A partner receives a return of his or her contribution to the
- extent that a distribution to him or her reduces his or her share
- of the fair value of the of the fair value of the net assets of
- the limited partnership below the value, as set forth in the
- partnership records required to be kept pursuant to Section 105,
- of his contribution which has not been distributed to him or her.
-
- ARTICLE 7
- ASSIGNMENT OF PARTNERSHIP INTEREST
-
- Section 701. Nature of partnership interest. A partnership
- interest is personal property.
-
- /* This has the effect of making it clear that if a partnership
- has real estate, that it is the limited partnership who owns the
- real estate, not the limited or general partners. */
-
- Section 702. Assignment of partnership interest. Except as
- provided in the partnership agreement, a partnership interest is
- assignable in whole or in part. An assignment of a partnership
- interest does not dissolve a limited partnership or entitle the
- assignee to become or to exercise any rights of a partner. An
- assignment entitled the assignee to receive, to the extent
- assigned, only the distribution to which the assignor would be
- entitled. Except as provided in the partnership agreement, a
- partner ceases to be a partner upon assignment of all his [or
- her] partnership interest.
-
- /* The key phrase in this section is "except as provided in the
- partnership agreement," which means that the limited partnership
- agreement could forbid any transfer, or make all interests
- transferable. In cases where the limited partnership agreement
- does not specify, only the right to receive income (or losses)
- can be transferred by a limited partner. */
-
- Section 703. Rights of creditor.- On application to a court of
- competent jurisdiction by any judgment creditor of a partner, the
- court may charge the partnership interest of the partner with
- payment of the unsatisfied partnership interest. This Act does
- not deprive any partner of any exemption law applicable to his
- [or her] partnership interest.
-
- /* This is the same rule as in general partnerships. Creditors of
- a partner do not get to levy [sell through judicial process] the
- partnerships property. They do however have the right to the
- partner's income and capital contribution. */
-
- Section 704. Right of Assignee to become Limited Partner.
-
- (a) An assignee of a partnership interest, including an
- assignee of a general partner, may become a limited partner if
- and to the extent that (i) the assignor gives the assignee that
- right in accordance with authority described in the partnership
- agreement, or (ii) all other partners consent.
-
- (b) An assignee who has become a limited partner has, to the
- extent assigned, the rights and powers, and is subject to the
- restrictions and liabilities, of a limited partner under the
- partnership agreement and this Act. An assignee who becomes a
- limited partner also is liable for the obligations of his or her
- assignor to make and return contributions as provided in Articles
- 5 and 6. However, the assignee is not obligated for liabilities
- unknown to the assignee at the time he or she became a limited
- partner.
-
- /* Thus, a person getting a limited partnership interest can get
- the "right" to make further capital contributions. */
-
- (c) If an assignee of a partnership interest becomes a
- limited partner, the assignor is not released from his or her
- liability to the limited partnership under sections 207 and 502.
-
- Section 705. Power of estate of Deceased or Incompetent Partner.
- If a partner who is an individual dies or a court of competent
- jurisdiction adjudges him ore her to be incompetent to manage his
- or her person or his or her property, the partner's executor,
- administrator, guardian, conservator, or other legal
- representative may exercise all of the partner's rights for the
- purpose of settling his or her estate or administering his or her
- property, including an power the partner had to give an assignee
- the right to become a limited partner. If a partner is a
- corporation, trust, or other entity and is dissolved or
- terminated, the powers of that partner may be exercised by its
- legal representative or successor.
-
- ARTICLE 8
- DISSOLUTION
-
- Section 801. Nonjudicial Dissolution. A limited partnership is
- dissolved and its affairs shall be wound up upon the happening of
- the first to occur of the following:
-
- (1) at the time specified in the certificate of limited
- partnership;
-
- (2) upon the happening of events specified in writing in the
- limited partnership agreement;
-
- (3) written consent of all partners;
-
- (4) an event of withdrawal of a general partner unless at
- the time there is at least one other general partner and the
- written provisions of the partnership agreement permit the
- business of the limited partnership to be carried on by the
- remaining general partner and that partner does so, by reason of
- any event of withdrawal, if, within 90 days after withdrawal, all
- partners agree in writing to continue the business of the limited
- partnership, and to the appointment of one or more additional
- general partners if necessary or desired;
-
- (5) entry of a decree of judicial dissolution under Section
- 802.
-
- Section 802. Judicial dissolution. On application by or far a
- partner the [designated court] may decree dissolution of a
- limited partnership whenever it is not reasonably practicable to
- carry on the business in conformity with the partnership
- agreement.
-
- /* This section is similar to those in corporate law which allow
- a corporation to be dissolved when the governing parties are
- deadlocked. */
-
- Section 803. Winding Up. Except as provided in the partnership
- agreement, the general partners who have not wrongfully dissolved
- a limited partnership, or, if none, the limited partners, may
- wind up the limited partnership's affairs; but the [appropriate
- court] may wind up the limited partnership's affairs upon
- application of any partner, his [or her] legal representative, or
- assignee.
-
- Section 804. Distribution of Assets. Upon the winding up of a
- limited partnership, the assets shall be distributed as follows:
-
- (1) to creditors, including partners who are creditors, to
- the extent permitted by law, in satisfaction of liabilities of
- the limited partnership, other than liabilities for distribution
- to partners under Section 601 or 604;
-
- (2) except as provided in the partnership, to partners and
- former partners in satisfaction of liabilities for distributions
- under Section 601 or 604; and
-
- (3) except as provided in the partnership agreement, to
- partners first for the return of their capital contributions and
- secondly respecting their partnership interests, in the
- proportions in which the partners share in distributions.
-
- ARTICLE 9
- FOREIGN LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS
-
- Section 901. Law Governing. Subject to the Constitution of this
- State, (i) the laws of the state under a foreign limited
- partnership is organized govern its organization and internal
- affairs and the liability of its limited partners, and (ii) a
- foreign limited partnership may not be denied registration in
- this state by reasons of any difference between those laws and
- the laws of this State.
-
- Section 902. Registration. Before transacting business in this
- State, a foreign limited partnership shall register with the
- Secretary of State. In order to register, a foreign limited
- partnership shall submit to the Secretary of State, in duplicate,
- an application for registration as a foreign limited partnership
- signed and sworn to by a general partner and setting forth:
-
- (1) the name of the foreign limited partnership and, if
- different, the name under which it proposes to register and
- transact business in this state;
-
- (2) the state and date of its formation;
-
- (3) the name and address of any agent for service of process
- on the foreign limited partnership whom the foreign limited
- partnership elects to appoint' the agent must be an individual
- resident of this state, a domestic corporation, or a foreign
- corporation having a place of business, and authorized, to do
- business in this State;
-
- (4) a statement that the Secretary of State is appointed the
- agent of the foreign limited partnership for service of process
- if no agent has been appointed under paragraph (3), or if
- appointed, the agent's authority has been revoked or if the agent
- cannot be found or served with the exercise of reasonable
- diligence;
-
- (5) the address of the office required to be maintained in
- the state of its organization by the laws of that state or, if
- not so required, of the principal office of the foreign limited
- partnership.
-
- (6) the name and business address of each general partner;
-
- (7) the address of the office at which is kept a list of the
- names and addresses of the limited partners and their capital
- contributions, together with an undertaking by the foreign
- limited partnership to keep those records until the foreign
- limited partnership's registration in this State is canceled or
- withdrawn.
-
- Section 903. Issuance of registration.
-
- (a) If the Secretary of State finds that an application for
- registration conforms to law ad all requisite fees have been
- paid, he or she shall:
-
- (1) endorse on the application the word "Filed", and
- the month, day and year of the filing thereof;
-
- (2) file in his or her office a duplicate original of
- the application; and
-
- (3) issue a certificate of registration to transact
- business in this State.
-
- (b) The certificate of registration, together with a duplicate
- original of the application, shall be returned to the person who
- filed the application or his [or her] representative.
-
- Section 904. Name. A foreign limited partnership may register
- with the Secretary of State under any name, whether or not it is
- the name under which it is registered in is state of
- organization, that includes without abbreviation the words
- "limited partnership" and that could be registered by a domestic
- limited partnership.
-
- Section 905. Changes and Amendments. If any statement in the
- application for a foreign limited partnership was false when made
- or any arrangements or other facts described have changed, making
- the application inaccurate in any respect, the foreign limited
- partnership shall promptly file in the office of the Secretary of
- State a certificate, signed and sworn to by a general partner,
- correcting such statement.
-
- Section 906. Cancellation of Registration. A foreign limited
- partnership may cancel its registration by filing with the
- Secretary of State a certificate of cancellation signed and sworn
- to by a general partner. A cancellation does not terminate the
- authority of the Secretary of State to accept service of process
- on the foreign limited partnership with respect to claims for
- relief arising out of the transaction of business in this State.
-
- Section 907. Transaction of Business without Registration. (a) A
- foreign limited partnership transacting business in this State
- may not maintain any action, suit, or proceeding in any court of
- this State until it has registered with this State.
-
- (b) The failure of a foreign limited partnership to register in
- this State does not impair the validity of any contract or act of
- the foreign limited partnership or prevent the foreign limited
- partnership from defending any action, suit, or proceeding in any
- court of this State.
-
- (c) A limited partner of a foreign limited partnership is not
- liable as a general partner of the foreign limited partnership
- solely by reason of having transacted business in this State
- without registration.
-
- (d) A foreign limited partnership, by transacting business in
- this State without registration, appoints the Secretary of State
- as its agent for service of process with respect to claims for
- relief arising out of the transaction of business in this State.
-
- Section 908. Action regarding unregistered limited partnerships.
- The [State officer] may bring an action to restrain a foreign
- limited partnership from transacting business in this State in
- violation of this Article.
-
- ARTICLE 10
- DERIVATIVE ACTIONS
-
- Section 1001. Right of Action. A limited partner may bring an
- action in the right of a limited partnership to recover a
- judgment in its favor if general partners with authority to do so
- have refused to bring the action or if an effort to cause those
- general partners to bring the action is not likely to succeed.
-
- /* This is equivalent to the right of corporate shareholders to
- bring "derivative actions." Generally, if the management of the
- limited partnership (the general partners) have wronged the
- limited partnership, they are not willing to sue themselves.
- Therefore, this part of the act allows the limited partners to
- bring these suits themselves. */
-
- Section 1002. Proper plaintiff. In a derivative action, the
- plaintiff must be a partner at the time of bringing the action
- and (i) must have been a partner at the time of the transaction
- of which he or she complains or (ii) his or her status as a
- partner must have devolved upon him or her by operation of law or
- pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement from a person
- who was a partner at the time of the transaction.
-
- Section 1003. Pleading. In a derivative action, the complaint
- shall set forth with particularity the effort of the plaintiff to
- secure initiation of the action by a general partner or the
- reasons for not making the effort.
-
- Section 1004. Expenses. If a derivative action is successful, in
- whole or in part, or if anything is received by the plaintiff as
- a result of a judgment, compromise, or settlement of an action or
- claim, the court may award the plaintiff reasonable expenses,
- including reasonable attorney's fees, and shall direct him [or
- her] to remit to the limited partnership the remainder of those
- proceeds received by him [or her.]
-
- ARTICLE 11
- MISCELLANEOUS
-
- /* This is omitted since it comprises the effective date of the
- law and other minutiae. */
-