Governance
Confirm the partnership agreement version, amendments, partner admission/withdrawal records, voting thresholds, and authorized signatory lists to ensure decisions were taken under proper authority and documented.
A standard checklist reduces oversight risk by ensuring consistent review of governance, tax, and contractual obligations. It documents reviewer findings, supports regulatory compliance, and creates a repeatable process for future reviews.
Use collaborative review workflows to capture evidence, limit single-point errors, and create an audit trail for future reference.
Often authorized to approve operational changes, capital calls, and amendments; must verify partner acknowledgements and sign where the partnership agreement requires partner-level consent.
Responsible for confirming regulatory and tax-related items are complete, documenting evidence, and coordinating any required filings or disclosures with external advisers.
Confirm the partnership agreement version, amendments, partner admission/withdrawal records, voting thresholds, and authorized signatory lists to ensure decisions were taken under proper authority and documented.
Verify capital account ledgers, bank statements, recent audited or reviewed financial statements, intercompany balances, and distribution records to reconcile book positions before reporting or distributions.
Inventory material contracts, guarantees, leases, and service agreements; note change-of-control clauses, assignment restrictions, and any required partner consents for continued performance.
Confirm EIN, tax election status, prior-year returns (Form 1065), open tax positions, allocation schedules, and any correspondence with the IRS or state tax authorities.
Check business licenses, state registrations, annual reports, required filings, and filings for foreign qualification to ensure the partnership is in good standing in relevant jurisdictions.
Document identified deficiencies, assign remediation owners, set target dates, and include escalation paths to reduce likelihood of recurring issues and to prepare for audits or transactions.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Reviewer Fields | Make name, role, and comments required fields to ensure accountability and completeness. |
| Conditional Steps | Auto-route exceptions to legal or finance based on selected issue type for faster remediation. |
| Authentication | Use email or SMS verification; for sensitive items, require two-factor or advanced signer authentication. |
| Attachments | Allow PDF, DOCX uploads and link external storage for supporting documentation. |
Ensure the chosen solution can meet any regulatory requirements such as HIPAA or 21 CFR Part 11 where applicable and can export a compliance-ready certificate of completion.
Complete at least once per fiscal year, ideally ahead of tax filing and annual reporting cycles.
Partnerships file Form 1065 by March 15 for calendar-year partnerships; extensions typically extend to September 15.
Record the effective date in MM/DD/YYYY format to determine obligations and statute of limitations timing.
Perform a focused checklist review before partner admissions, withdrawals, or capital distributions to reconcile accounts.
Set remediation target dates and follow up within 30–90 days depending on issue severity.
Include the original partnership agreement, all amendments, admission/withdrawal consents, and any executed side letters to establish the governing instrument.
Attach recent compiled, reviewed, or audited financial statements, bank reconciliations, and schedules showing partner capital account activity for the review period.
Provide prior-year Form 1065, K-1s, tax elections, and any IRS correspondence that affects current year reporting or positions under review.
Supply copies of leases, loan documents, guarantees, and supplier or customer agreements cited in the checklist for immediate reference.
| Document Type | Purpose | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Partnership Review Checklist | assess records | annual and transaction-focused review |
| Partnership Agreement | governing contract | legal obligations and partner rights |
| Due Diligence Checklist | transaction-specific | detailed target review for m&a or investment |
| Operating Agreement | company governance | internal management and operations |
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | Yes, 7-day trial | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | No cap | No cap | No cap |
When preparing for a partner buy-in, the team centralized documents and used a checklist to reconcile capital accounts and partners’ consents.
Before a property portfolio transfer, management ran the checklist to confirm partnership agreements, liens, and distribution schedules.