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CA-RULLCA Receives Corrections Two Years Later

Photo of CA Corporations Code, which contains CA-RULLCA statutesIn RULLCA Brings New LLC Laws to California in 2014 , I explained how California’s version of the Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (“RULLCA” or “CA-RULLCA” – Corporations Code Sections 17701.01 – 17713.13 ) was to take effect January 1, 2014. This post describes changes to CA-RULLCA that took effect on January 1, 2016.

Most of the changes were minor clean-up of the sort that one expects when major new legislation is adopted. However, some of the changes are noteworthy. (more…)

Under RULLCA Operating Agreements Have Limits

California State Flag, symbolizing this post about RULLCA operating agreementsAt the beginning of this year, the California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (RULLCA) took effect. (See RULLCA Brings New LLC Laws to California in 2014.) This post discusses how under RULLCA operating agreements for LLCs have a wide variety of limits.

RULLCA operating agreements‘ limits are addressed in Corporations Code Section 17701.10. Unfortunately, that section’s discussion of mandatory provisions is pretty difficult to understand for the following reasons. (more…)

RULLCA Brings New LLC Laws to California in 2014

Logo of the California Secretary of State, symbolizing RULLCA (the California Revised Uniform Limited Company Act)RULLCA is an abbreviation for the California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. That Act will bring new LLC laws to the state starting January 1, 2014.

RULLCA – Up to Date and in the Mainstream

RULLCA is intended to reflect changes in LLC law during the past 20 years. Also, it will make California’s LLC law more similar to LLC law in other states.

Perhaps most interesting, the new law applies automatically to all California LLCs in existence as of the effective date. It will apply to all out-of-state LLCs that are registered in California, as of that date, as well. No new documents need be filed with the Secretary of State. The new law has neither opt-in nor opt-out procedures.

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Future Services Can’t Buy Shares in CA but *Can* Buy LLC Membership

Label saying "100% free", symbolizing buying an equity interest by future services rather than cashFuture services seem like a great no-cost way to buy equity in a startup. In California, however, whether you legally can buy equity with future services depends on whether the startup is a corporation or a limited liability company (LLC).

Corporations Code Section 409(a)(1) specifies the types of “consideration” that can be paid for corporate shares. These include, for example, “money paid; labor done; [and] services actually rendered to the corporation or for its benefit or in its formation or reorganization”.

However, “neither promissory notes of the purchaser [subject to certain exceptions] nor future services shall constitute payment or part payment for shares of the corporation“. So a California corporation cannot grant shares in exchange for future services.

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