A Limited Partnership is a business entity that consists of one or more General Partners and one or more Limited Partners. A General Partner may be an individual or an entity, such as a corporation, that is responsible for daily management of the company. A limited partner on the other hand is not involved in business operations and has no obligations to manage or make business decisions.
In order to form a limited partnership, you must file a Certificate of Limited Partnership with the Delaware Division of Corporations. This is a very simple form that states the name of the General Partner.
Not to be confused with "general partners" and "limited partners," Limited Partnships and General Partnerships are different types of entities. A Limited Partnership and a General Partnership are actually similar except for the types of partners, or owners, involved in the each entity. While Limited Partnerships consist of both limited and general partners, a General Partnership will have two or more general partners and no limited partners at all.
Typically, the General Partners are liable for any and all of the company's financial obligations, while the Limited Partners possess no liability for the company's debts, obligations or actions.
General Partners usually possess all the rights and responsibilities of managing the business entity, including all of its activities and financial matters. They also hold general liability for the debts, obligations and activities of the Limited Partnership.
On the other hand, the Limited Partners, also called Silent Partners, do not participate in the management of the business entity and/or its properties in any way. In fact, engaging in management activity will nullify the limitation against personal liability that a Limited Partner enjoys.
Limited Partnerships are typically pass-through entities. This means that after the general partners and limited partners received their annual wages, they'll generally only be taxed a single time, rather than being taxed a both the corporate level and at the personal income level.
Like the LLC, the limited partnership is a creature of contract, meaning that it is flexible and subject to few requirements or terms fixed by Delaware law. However, it is used less frequently since the adoption of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act.
Limited Partnerships are typically utilized for two main purposes:
In both cases, if the Limited Partners comply with all laws and IRS Regulations concerning Limited Partnerships, the most they can each lose is the amount he/she invests in the partnership or the amount he/she is given in the Limited Partnership.
No court can reach into the assets of a Limited Partner in order to satisfy debts or obligations of the Limited Partnership as a business entity.
However, if a Limited Partner begins to participate in the management of the company, he/she risks personal liability, thereby reaching the same legal exposure as the General Partner(s).
Limited Partnerships are typically formed by individuals or corporations who want to maintain 100% of the control of an asset or project while including investors or heirs on the income from the Limited Partnership.
Limited Partnerships do not have stock or stockholders. Each Limited Partner has a specifically stated percentage of interest in the income from the entity.
Limited Partners do not receive dividends but are entitled to their share of the income. Generally, Limited Partnerships are pass-through entities, meaning that after the general partner and limited partners receive their income, they typically are taxed on it a single time. Some other business entities experience double taxation, being taxed at the corporate level and at the personal income level.
Delaware Limited Partnerships may have any number of limited partners.
For even more detailed information on forming a Limited Partnership, check out Harvard Business Services Inc.’s limited partnership formation packages, then form an LP with our easy-to-use order form. You can also click on the button below to get started.
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