When a limited liability company (LLC) reaches the end of its life, properly closing it is important. There are several steps you may take, including many required by law. Accordingly, you should understand how to dissolve an LLC in Pensacola before doing so. Our business lawyers will explain.
Dissolving a Pensacola LLC has three main stages: making sure dissolution is appropriate under the circumstances; taking care of the LLC’s remaining obligations, and filing the articles of dissolution.
Once the Florida Division of Corporations (DOC) processes your articles of dissolution, your LLC ceases to exist as a legal entity, except for the purpose of winding up its affairs.
For help dissolving a LLC, please contact us online or call (850) 433-6581 today for a consultation.
A majority of Pensacola LLCs function under an operating agreement, although it is not technically required. This document serves as an agreement between the owners or members of a Pensacola LLC regarding how they will run the business.
If present, the operating agreement will govern how and when dissolution should occur.
For example, an operating agreement may say that dissolution occurs if one of the founding members dies. Regardless of what it says specifically, make sure you review your LLC’s operating agreement before proceeding with dissolving an LLC in Pensacola.
For LLCs without an operating agreement, the Florida Revised Limited Liability Company Act provides some default options.
Generally, this Act permits dissolving an LLC in Pensacola:
Once the appropriate condition triggers dissolution, the winding-up process for the Pensacola LLC begins.
When you dissolve an LLC in Pensacola, it’s likely that the LLC still has some unpaid debts. The state law requires LLCs to distribute their assets in a particular order while winding up. As a result, it is very important that you follow this order properly to avoid potential legal liability.
First, the LLC must use its assets to discharge its obligations to creditors, including any remaining taxes owed. A creditor can be anyone outside the company to whom a debt is owed or any member who made personal loans to the company.
A crucial part of how to dissolve an LLC in Pensacola is properly handling these claims. There are specific notice requirements for known and unknown claimants you must follow.
We recommend speaking with a Pensacola business law attorney who can advise you of your options and how to comply with these requirements.
If there are still assets left over after paying all creditors, distributing those assets to the LLC’s members is the next step in LLC dissolution.
Florida law requires LLCs to make these distributions in the following order:
Once the LLC members have received their distributions, it is almost time to file the Florida LLC articles of dissolution.
Many businesses choose to operate in more than one state. To do so, however, a business must register in any foreign state in which it wants to conduct business. If this is the case for your LLC, make sure to properly close out these foreign registrations during the LLC dissolution process.
Each state handles foreign business entities differently, so make sure to check each relevant state’s laws for specifics.
The last step is to file the articles of dissolution with the state’s DOC. In Pensacola, the state offers online or paper filing with a fee of $25. There may be additional fees for certified documents.
Additionally, the DOC strongly recommends hiring legal counsel prior to submitting any documents. The Division’s website provides more information about how to close an LLC in Pensacola.
Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon is a full-service law firm well equipped to handle your business law needs. For over 100 years, we have helped clients start and end their businesses, as well as assist in a variety of other business law matters.
If you need to dissolve your LLC, we can help. To get started, contact us today or give us a call at (850) 433-6581 for a consultation.