Confidence and Trust.: Law On Partnerships
Confidence and Trust.: Law On Partnerships
PARTNERSHIP is a contract whereby two or more persons bind themselves to contribute money, property or industry to a
common fund, with the intention of dividing the profits among themselves, or in order to exercise a profession.
CHARACTERISTICS:
1. Consensual – it is perfected by mere consent or the meeting of minds between parties (Art. 1305).
2. Bilateral or Multilateral – it is entered into between two or more persons;
3. Nominate – it is designate by a specific name and there are specific rules applicable only to it;
4. Principal – its existence does not depend on the life of another contract;
5. Onerous – certain contributions have to be made;
6. Preparatory – in the sense that after it has been entered into, other contracts essential in the carrying out of its
purposes can be entered into.
There must be Affectio Societatis – the desire to formulate an ACTIVE union with people among whom there exist mutual
confidence and trust.
In connection thereto, the principle of Delectus Personae (Personal Choices), which pertains to the right to choose who
to associate with, is also applicable.
PURPOSE: can either be for the intention of dividing the profits among themselves, or in order to exercise a profession.
Nevertheless, it is required that a partnership must have a LAWFUL object or purpose, oherwise it may be declared
dissolved by judicial decree, and the profits shall be confiscated in favor of the state. (Art. 1770)
PARTNERSHIP CORPORATION
Creation: Voluntary agreement of parties. Created by the state in the form of a special character
or by a general enabling law (The Corporation Code)
Existence: No time limit except agreement of parties. Not more than 50 years (now with perpetual existence
under the Revised Corporation Code)
Liability: may extend to private property. Liable only upto their capital contributions
Transferability of Interest: All partners need to Does not need the consent of the other stockholders.
consent to the transfer of interest to another.
Ability to bind the firm: Generally, partners acting on Generally, stockholders cannot bind corporations since
behalf of the partnership are agents thereof; its official acts are through a board of directors
Mismanagement: A partner can sue another partner who A stockholder cannot sue a director who mismanages, it
mismanages must be in the name of the corporation, through a
derivative suit.
Nationality: A partnership is a national of the country Generally, under whose laws it was created as to whether
where it was created, and dependent on percentage of domestic or foreign, and as to nationality, on the
ownership. ownership of the outstanding capital stock.
Legal Personality: from the time the contract begins Generally from issuance of COR.
Dissolution: Death, retirement, insolvency, civil Such causes do not dissolve a corporation.
interdiction, or insanity of a partner dissolves the
partnership.
SEPARATE JURIDICAL PERSONALITY: The partnership has a judicial personality separate and distinct from that of each of
the partners. The partnership can, in general:
(a) acquire and possess property of all kinds;
(b) incur obligations;
(c) bring civil or criminal actions;
(d) adjudged insolvent even if the individual members be each financially solvent.
FORMAL REQUIREMENTS:
A contract of partnership is void, whenever immovable property is contributed thereto, if an inventory of said property
is not made, signed by the parties, and attached to the public instrument.
*Capital is more than P3,000 – the contract of partnership must appear in a public instrument, which must be recorded
in the SEC. This does not in any way affect validity of the partnership as it is intended only to affect third
persons.
KINDS OF PARTNERSHIPS:
According to OBJECT:
1. Universal:
• Persons not allowed to form a universal partnership: those who cannot donate to each other, namely:
1. Husband and Wife (Art. 133)
2. Those guilty of adultery and concubinage (Art. 739);
3. Those guilty of the same criminal offense, if the partnership was entered into in consideration of the same (Art.
739);
A universal partnership is virtually a donation to each other of the partner’s properties (or at least their
usufruct). Therefore, if persons are prohibited by law to donate to each other, they should not be allowed to do
indirectly what the law forbids directly.
According to LIABILITY:
1. General where all the partners are general partners whose liability extends to their individual properties, after
the assets of the partnership have been exhausted;
2. Limited where at least one of the partners are liable only up to the extent of his contribution.
According to TERM:
1. Partnership with a fixed term or particular undertaking - upon arrival of the fixed term or fulfilment of a particular
undertaking, partnership is dissolved, and if continued, it will constitute a partnership at will and the rights and
duties of the partners remain the same, so far as is consistent with a partnership at will.
2. Partnership at will – when there is no fixed term or particular undertaking.
OBLIGATIONS OF A PARTNER:
Risk of Loss:
LOSS BORNE BY THE PARTNER:
(1) Thing contributed is specific and determinate which is NOT fungible and only their use and fruits may be for the
common benefit; and
(2) There is stipulation that he shall bear the loss of the thing brought and appraised in the inventory.
2. To give additional contribution in case of imminent losses: In case of an imminent loss of the business of the
partnership, any partner who refuses to contribute an additional share to the capital to save the venture, shall he
obliged to sell his interest to the other partners. Except:
a. Industrial partners except if there is stipulation that he will likewise contribute
b. If there is stipulation to the contrary
b. Capitalist partners – the prohibition is limited to businesses in the same industry as that of the partnership
which may result in competition. Exceptions:
i. When it is expressly stipulated that the capitalist partner can so engage himself;
ii. When the other partners expressly allow him to do so;
iii. When the other partners impliedly allow him to do so, as when all are violation the article.
iv. During the period of liquidation and winding up, when the partnership is already non-existent.
v. When the general-capitalist partner becomes a limited partner in a competitive enterprise.
Effect of non-compliance:
i. He shall bring to the partnership all the profits illegally obtained;
ii. He is liable, personally, for all the losses;
iii. He may be ousted for loss of trust and confidence.
4. Credit to the firm the payment made by a debtor who owes both the partnership and the managing partner (Art. 1792)
MANAGING PARTNER COLLECTING FROM A COMMON DEBTOR: To prevent the managing partner from furthering his personal
interest to the detriment of the firm, if such managing partner collects a sum from a common debtor who owes money
both to said partner and to the partnership:
1. If the managing partner issued a receipt in the name of the partnership: the payment shall be applied to the
partnership credit;
2. If the managing partner issued a receipt in his name: the payment shall be applied proportionate to the amounts
of the two debts. EXCEPT: When the debt owed by the debtor to the managing partner is more onerous, the debtor
may choose to apply the payment exclusively to such
ILLUSTRATION: D owed ABC partnership and A, the managing partner, P7,000 and P3,000, respectively. A was able to
collect P5,000 from D.
• If A issued a receipt in the name of the partnership, the whole amount of P5,000 will be applied to the
partnership credit.
• If A issued a receipt in his own name, the P5,000 shall be applied as follows:
a. P3,500 (P5,000 * P7,000/P10,000) to the partnership credit;
b. P1,500 (P5,000 * P3,000/P10,000) to A’s credit.
5. Not to convert partnership funds/ property for his own use (Art. 1788)
6. To account for and hold as trustee, unauthorized (or secret) personal profits (Art. 1807)
7. Pay for damages caused by his fault (Art. 1794)
8. Share with other partners the share of the partnership credit which he has received from an insolvent firm debtor
(Art. 1743)
9. Keep the partnership books in the principal office and allow other partners to have access, inspect and copy the
same.
Strangers who include their name in the firm are liable as partners because of estoppel but do not have the rights
of partners. – this is to protect customers from being misled.
Under Art. 1846, if a limited partner included his name in the firm name, he shall be liable as a general partner.
2. LIABILITY AFTER EXHAUSTION OF PARTNERSHIP ASSETS: All partners, including industrial ones, shall be liable pro rata
with all their property and after all the partnership assets have been exhausted, for the contracts which may be
entered into in the name and for the account of the partnership, under its signature and by a person authorized to
act for the partnership. However, any partner may enter into a separate obligation to perform a partnership contract.
Any stipulation to the contrary shall be void, except as to the partners.
A, B, C and D partners of ABCD Partnership agreed on equal distribution of profits. As regards third parties,
however, they exempted C, an industrial partner. Total Assets of the partnership amounted to P200,000 while the
liabilities are now at P800,000. In this case:
• The liabilities can be settled first through the remaining partnership assets of P200,000
• The P600,000 shall be borne by all partners: A, B, C and D, because as to third persons, the stipulation
exempting C from liability from such third parties do not apply.
• C, however, if made to pay P150,000 can seek reimbursement from A, B and D, since the agreement exempting him
is valid as to the partners.
3. AUTHORITY TO ACT FOR AND IN BEHALF OF THE PARTNERSHIP: Every partner is an agent of the partnership for the purpose
of its business.
The authority of the partner to act in behalf of the partnership may be:
a. Express; or
b. Implied; or
c. Apparent – when he apparently carries on the usual business of the partnership and the person to whom he is
dealing has no knowledge of the fact that he has no such authority.
If the partner is not carrying on the usual business of the partnership, the act will not bind the partnership unless
it is authorized by the other partners.
Except when authorized by the other partners or unless they have abandoned the business, one or more but less than
all the partners have no authority to:
a. Assign the partnership property in trust for creditors or on the assignee's promise to pay the debts of the
partnership;
b. Dispose of the good-will of the business;
c. Do any other act which would make it impossible to carry on the ordinary business of a partnership;
d. Confess a judgment;
e. Enter into a compromise concerning a partnership claim or liability;
f. Submit a partnership claim or liability to arbitration;
g. Renounce a claim of the partnership.
5. SOLIDARY LIABILITY FOR TORTS: Where, by any wrongful act or omission of any partner acting in the ordinary course
of the business of the partnership or with the authority of co-partners, loss or injury is caused to any person, not
being a partner in the partnership, or any penalty is incurred, the partnership is liable therefor to the same extent
as the partner so acting or omitting to act.
6. SOLIDARY LIABILITY FOR MISAPPROPRIATION: The partnership is bound to make good the loss, in two situations:
a. Pertains to partner as receiver: Where one partner acting within the scope of his apparent authority receives
money or property of a third person and misapplies it.
b. Pertains to partnership as receiver: Where the partnership in the course of its business receives money or
property of a third person and the money or property so received is misapplied by any partner while it is in the
custody of the partnership.
In both 5 and 6 above, all partners are solidarily liable with the partnership.
7. PARTNER BY ESTOPPEL:
a. One who represents himself as a partner of an existing partnership with or without consent of the partnership:
(1) When the partnership consented – a partnership by estoppel is created between the original members and the
deceiver. A partnership liability results.
(2) When the partnership did NOT consent – deceiver becomes a partner by estoppel where he is liable as a partner
but does not acquire the rights thereof. No partnership liability exists.
b. One who represents himself as a partner of a NON-existent partnership. Liability of parties is pro rata, since
there is no partnership liability.
DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS:
a. In accordance with the agreement;
b. In proportion to contribution and the industrial partner shall receive such share as may be just and equitable.
DISTRIBUTION OF LOSSES:
1. In accordance with agreement; If there was agreement as to profits but not losses, same proportion;
2. In proportion to contribution but the industrial partner shall not be liable for losses.
An industrial may be made liable for losses only if there was stipulation to that effect.
Void Stipulation: A stipulation which excludes one or more partners from any share in the profits or losses.
2. To associate with another person in his share (Art. 1804) ASSOCIATE: Every partner may associate another person with
him in his share, but the associate shall not be admitted into the partnership without the consent of all the other
partners, even if the partner having an associate should be a manager.
3. To inspect and copy partnership books (Art. 1805)
4. To demand a formal account (Art. 1809)
5. To ask for a dissolution of the firm at the proper time (Art. 1830-31)
6. Property rights (Art. 1810)
2. His interest in the partnership - A partner's interest in the partnership is his share of the profits and surplus.
RULES ON MANAGEMENT
a. ONE MANAGING PARTNER
MANAGING PARTNER in the ARTICLES OF PARTNERSHIP: May execute all acts of administration, in good faith, even
with opposition from the other partners;
The power to execute all acts of administration can only be revoked if (a) with just or lawful cause; and (2) by
a vote of the partners representing the controlling interest.
MANAGING PARTNER AFTER PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN CONSTITUTED: The power as manager may be revoked by a vote of the
partners representing the controlling interest EVEN WITHOUT just or lawful cause.
i. With stipulation that no Managing Partner may act without the consent of the others – no one can perform
an act of administration without the others’ consent.
ii. With Specification of Duties – each Managing Partner can perform an act of administration within their
respective duties.
iii. Without specification of their respective duties, or without a stipulation that one of them shall not act
without the consent of all the others:
(a) Each partner may separately execute all acts of administration;
(b) Should one of the managing partners oppose the act of another, the matter shall be decided by a majority
of the managing partners per head count;
(c) Should there be a tie in the votes of the managing partners, the controlling interest of ALL the
partners shall prevail.
c. NO MANAGING PARTNER; WITH STIPULATION THAT NO PARTNER CANNOT ACT WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF PARTNERS: the concurrence
of all shall be necessary for the validity of the acts, and the absence or disability of any one of them cannot
be alleged, unless there is imminent danger of grave or irreparable injury to the partnership.
Dissolution of a partnership is the change in the relation of the partners caused by any partner ceasing to be associated
in the carrying on as distinguished from the winding up of the business.
On dissolution the partnership is not terminated, but continues until the winding up of partnership affairs is completed.
Winding up: on the other hand, is the process of settling business affairs after dissolution.
Termination: is the point where all the partnership affairs have been wound up.
CAUSES OF DISSOLUTION:
2. In contravention of the agreement between the partners, where the circumstances do not permit a dissolution under
any other provision of this article, by the express will of any partner at any time;
3. By operation of law:
a. By any event which makes it unlawful for the business of the partnership to be carried on or for the members to
carry it on in partnership;
b. When a specific thing which a partner had promised to contribute to the partnership, perishes before the delivery;
in any case by the loss of the thing, when the partner who contributed it having reserved the ownership thereof,
has only transferred to the partnership the use or enjoyment of the same; but the partnership shall not be
dissolved by the loss of the thing when it occurs after the partnership has acquired the ownership thereof;
c. By the death of any partner;
d. By the insolvency of any partner or of the partnership;
e. By the civil interdiction of any partner;
Judicial causes: where the dissolution of the partnership is decreed by the court:
1. A partner has been declared insane in any judicial proceeding or is shown to be of unsound mind;
2. A partner becomes in any other way incapable of performing his part of the partnership contract;
3. A partner has been guilty of such conduct as tends to affect prejudicially the carrying on of the business;
4. A partner wilfully or persistently commits a breach of the partnership agreement, or otherwise so conducts himself
in matters relating to the partnership business that it is not reasonably practicable to carry on the business in
partnership with him;
5. The business of the partnership can only be carried on at a loss;
6. Other circumstances render a dissolution equitable.
EFFECTS OF DISSOLUTION:
1. Act, Insolvency or Death:
a. If the cause of the dissolution is AID – NOTICE should be given by the partners to terminate the mutual agency
b. If the cause is NOT AID – the mutual agency is terminated and the dissolution is binding even without notice.
2. The following acts are still binding even after dissolution:
a. Acts to for winding-up of the affairs of the partnership
b. Contracts with creditors who had no notice of the dissolution
3. The partners may continue the partnership after dissolution of the old partnership. Such continuation still dissolves
the old partnership and a new partnership is created. The creditors of the old partnership are also creditors of the
person or partnership continuing the business.
WINDING UP OR LIQUIDATION
This is the process of liquidating the partnership assets and the distributing the proceeds to satisfy the claims against
the partnership.
Partner’s Liability: in case the assets of the partnership are not sufficient to cover the liabilities, the remaining
claims may be satisfied against the separate assets of the partners.
However, where a partner has become insolvent, the claims against his separate property shall be satisfied in the
following order:
1. Those owing to separate creditors;
2. Those owing to partnership creditors;
3. Those owing to partners by way of contribution.
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Limited Partnership: is one formed by two or more persons under the provisions of the following article, having as
members one or more general partners and one or more limited partners.
Limited liability: a limited partners’ liability is limited only to his capital contribution. Such that, after exhaustion
of partnership assets, he cannot be made to contribute to answer the remaining liabilities to third parties.
The said certificate will be filed with the SEC and a limited partnership is formed if there has been substantial
compliance in good faith with the foregoing requirements
Otherwise, a limited partner whose name appears in the partnership name, not covered by the above exemptions, is
liable as a general partner.
3. The limited partner cannot take part in the management of the partnership. Otherwise, he shall be liable as a general
partner.
Grounds: The retirement, death, insolvency, insanity or civil interdiction of a GENERAL PARTNER dissolves the partnership.
Except: If the partnership business is continued by the remaining general partners under a right to do so as stated in
the Certificate of Limited Partnership OR with the consent of all the partners.
A limited partner may have the partnership dissolved and its affairs wound up when he rightfully but unsuccessfuly
demands the return of his contribution.