Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Article 1767. By the contract of partnership 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.
Two or more persons may also form a partnership for the exercise of a profession. (1665a)
2. Characteristics of partnership:
a. Consensual;
-it is perfected by mere consent, that is, upon the express or implied agreement of two or more persons
b. Nominate;
- because it has a special name or designation in our law
c. Bilateral;
- it is entered into by two or more persons and the rights and obligations arising therefrom are always
reciprocal
d. Principal;
- it does not depend for its existence or validity upon some other contracts
e. Preparatory;
- it is entered into as a means to an end, i.e., to engage in business or specific venture for the realization
of profits with the view of dividing them among the contracting parties
f. Onerous;
- each of the parties aspires to procure for himself a benefit through the giving of something
g. Commutative;
- the undertaking of each of the partners is considered as the equivalent of that of the others
ART. 1768. The partnership has a juridical personality separate and distinct from that of each of the
partners even in case of failure to comply with the requirements of Article 1772, first paragraph. (n)
Partnership, a juridical person. A partnership is sometimes referred to as a “firm’’ or a “company,’’ terms that
connote an entity separate from its aggregate individual partners.
Like the corporation, a partnership duly formed under the law is a juridical person to which the law
grants a juridical personality separate and distinct from that of each of the partners. (Art. 44, par. 3.) As an
independent juridical person, a partnership may enter into contracts, acquire and possess property of all kinds in
its name, as well as incur obligations and bring civil or criminal actions in conformity with the laws and
regulations of its organizations. (Art. 46.)
5. What are the formalities required by law for the constitution of partnership?
a. Article 1771 (General rule); (Where immovable property or real rights are contributed.)
Article 1771. A partnership may be constituted in any form, except where immovable property or real
rights are contributed thereto, in which case a public instrument shall be necessary. (1667a)
General rule. — As a general rule, no special form is required for the validity or existence of the contract of
partnership. (see Art. 1356.)
The contract may be made orally or in writing regardless of the value of the contributions.
Article 1772. Every contract of partnership having a capital of three thousand pesos or more, in money or
property, shall appear in a public instrument, which must be recorded in the Office of the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Failure to comply with the requirements of the preceding paragraph shall not affect the liability of the
partnership and the members thereof to third persons.
Article 1773. 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. (1668a)
(1) Requirements. — Where immovable property, regardless of its value, is contributed, the failure to
comply with the following requirements will render the partnership contract void in so far as the
contracting parties are concerned:
(3) As to third persons. — Article 1773 is intended primarily to protect third persons. With regard to
them, a de facto partnership or partnership by estoppel may exist. (see Art. 1825.) There is
nothing to prevent the court from considering the partnership agreement an ordinary contract from
which the parties’ rights and obligations to each other may be inferred and enforced.
(Torres vs. Court of Appeals, 320 SCRA 428 [1999].)
A limited partnership is formed if there has been substantial compliance in good faith with the
foregoing requirements. Limited partnership not created by mere voluntary agreement.
As owner of a business can avoid personal liability for business debts only if this is provided by statute.
Since in a limited partnership a person is allowed to share in the profits without becoming personally
liable to partnership creditors, a limited partnership can be created only where permitted by statute.
The creation of a limited partnership is a formal proceeding and is not a mere voluntary agreement, as
in the case of a general partnership. Accordingly, the requirements of the statute
must be followed (Barrett & Seago, op. cit., Vol. 2, p. 494.) so that public notice may be given to all who
desire to know the essential features of the partnership. (see 68 C.J. 1006.) A limited partnership is
formed if there has been substantial compliance in good faith with the requirements set forth in Article
1844. (last par.); otherwise, the liability of the limited partners becomes the
same as that of general partners.
a. Manner of creation
Manner of creation. — A partnership is created by mere agreement of the parties (Art. 1787.), while a
corporation is created by law or by operation of law (Sec. 2, B.P. Blg. 68.);
b. Number of incorporators/partners
Number of incorporators. — A partnership may be organized by only two persons (Art. 1767.), while a
corporation (except a corporation sole) requires at least five incorporators
(Sec. 10, Ibid.);
Commencement of juridical personality. — A partnership commences to acquire juridical personality from the
moment of the execution of the contract of partnership (Art. 1784.), while a corporation begins to have juridical
personality only from the date of issuance of the certificate of incorporation by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (Sec. 19, Ibid.);
Powers. — A partnership may exercise any power authorized by the partners provided it is not contrary to law,
morals, good customs, public order, or public policy (Art. 1306.), while a corporation can exercise only the
powers expressly granted by law or implied from those granted or incident to its existence (Secs. 2, 36, Ibid.);
Management. — In a partnership, when the management is not agreed upon, every partner is an agent of the
partnership (Art. 1803.), while in a corporation, the power to do business and manage its affairs is vested in the
board of directors or trustees (Sec. 23, Ibid.);
Effect of mismanagement. — In a partnership, a partner as such can sue a co-partner who mismanages (see
Arts. 1794, 1806, 1809.), while in a corporation, the suit against a member of the board of directors or trustees
who mismanages must be in the name of the corporation (see Sec. 23, Ibid.);
Extent of liability to third persons. — In a partnership, the partners (except limited partners) are liable personally
and subsidiarily (sometimes solidarily) for partnership debts to third persons (see Arts. 1816, 1822-1824.), while
in a corporation, the stockholders are liable only to the extent of the shares subscribed by them (see Secs. 64,
37, Ibid.);
h. Right of succession
Right of succession. — A partnership has no right of succession (see Arts. 1828-1831, 1860.), while a corporation
has such right (Sec. 2, Ibid.);
i. Term of existence
Term of existence. — A partnership may be established for any period of time stipulated by the partners (see
Arts. 1767, 1785.), while a corporation may not be formed for a term in excess of 50 years extendible to not
more than 50 years in any one instance (Sec. 11, Ibid.);
j. Firm name
Firm name. — A limited partnership is required by the law to add the word “Ltd.” to its name (Art. 1844[1, a].),
while a corporation may adopt any fi rm name provided it is not the same as or similar to any registered fi rm
name (see Sec. 18, Ibid.);
k. Governing law
Governing law. — A partnership is governed by the Civil Code, while a corporation is governed by the Corporation
Code.
l. Transferability of interest
Transferability of interest. — In a partnership, a partner cannot transfer his interest in the partnership so as to
make the transferee a partner without the consent of all the other existing partners because the partnership is
based on the principle of delectus personarum (see Arts. 1767, 1804.), while in a corporation, a stockholder has
generally the right to transfer his shares without the prior consent of the other stockholders because a
corporation is not based on this principle (Sec. 63, Ibid.);
m. Dissolution
Dissolution. — A partnership may be dissolved at any time by the will of any or all of the partners (Art. 1830[1,
2].), while a corporation can only be dissolved with the consent of the State (Secs. 117-122, Ibid.); and
7. Classification of partners:
a. Capitalist partner;
Capitalist partner or one who contributes money or property to the common fund (see Art. 1767.);
b. Industrial partner;
Industrial partner or one who contributes only his
industry or personal service (Arts. 1789, 1767.);
c. General partner
General partner or one whose liability to third persons extends to his separate property; he may be either a
capitalist or industrial partner. (see Arts. 1843, 1816.) He is also known as real partner;
d. Limited partner
Limited partner or one whose liability to third persons is limited to his capital contribution. (see Art. 1843.)
He is also known as special partner. The terms “general partner” and “limited partner” have relevance only in
a limited partnership;
e. Partner by estoppel
Partner by estoppel or one who is not really a partner, not being a party to a partnership agreement, but is
liable as a partner for the protection of innocent third persons. (see Art. 1825.) He is one who is represented
as being in fact a partner, but who is not so as between the partners themselves. He is also known as
partner by implication or nominal partner. The term “quasi-partner” is sometimes used (68 C.J.S. 405.);
Additional:
(e) Managing partner or one who manages the affairs or business of the partnership; he may be appointed either
in the articles of partnership or after the constitution of the partnership. (see Art. 1800.) He is also known as general or
real partner;
(f) Liquidating partner or one who takes charge of the winding up of partnership affairs upon dissolution (see Art.1836.);
(h) Continuing partner or one who continues the business of a partnership after it has been dissolved by reason of the
admission of a new partner, or the retirement, death, or expulsion of one or more partners (see Art. 1840.);
(i) Surviving partner or one who remains after a partnership has been dissolved by the death of any partner
(see Art. 1842.); and
(j) Subpartner or one who, not being a member of the partnership, contracts with a partner with reference to the latter’s
share in the partnership. (see Art. 1804.)
(2) Other classifications. — They have also been classified into:
(a) Ostensible partner or one who takes active part and known to the public as a partner in the business (see Art. 1834,
par. 2.), whether or not he has an actual interest in the firm. Thus, he may be an actual partner or a nominal partner.
If he is not actually a partner, he is subject to liability by the doctrine of estoppel (Art. 1825.);
(b) Secret partner or one who takes active part in the business but is not known to be a partner by outside parties
nor held out as a partner by the other partners (Ibid.), although he participates in the profi ts and losses of the
partnership. He is an actual partner. He is also an active partner in the sense that he participates in the management of
the partnership affairs;
(c) Silent partner or one who does not take any active part in the business although he may be known to be a partner.
(Ibid.) Thus, he need not be a secret partner. If he withdraws from the partnership, he must give notice to those persons
who do business with the fi rm to escape liability in the future;
(d) Dormant partner or one who does not take active part in the business and is not known or held out as partner. (see
Art. 1834, par. 2.) He would be both a silent and a secret partner. He would be both a secret and a silent partner. He
may retire from the partnership without giving notice and cannot be held liable for obligations of the fi rm subsequent
to his withdrawal. His only interest in joining the partnership would be the sharing of the profits earned. The term is used
as synonymous with “sleeping partner” (68 C.J.S. 404.);
(e) Original partner or one who is a member of the partnership from the time of its organization;
(f) Incoming partner or a person lately, or about to be, taken into an existing partnership as a member (68 C.J.S. 404;
see Arts. 1826, 1828.); and
(g) Retiring partner or one withdrawn from the partnership; a withdrawing partner. (68 C.J.S. 404-405; see Arts. 1840,
1841.)
All partners in any of these six classes are subject to liability for all partnership obligations. (see Arts. 1816, 1822-1824,
1826, 1835, 1844, 1841.)