LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
DISSOLUTION PACKET:
TENNESSEE
Electronic Version
INTRODUCTORY NOTES AND LAW SUMMARY
STATUTORY REFERENCE
TENNESSEE CODE, §§ 48-245-101 through 48-245-1201
A Tennessee limited liability company (LLC) may be dissolved in three different ways:
voluntarily, administratively, or judicially. This form packet deals ONLY with the
voluntary dissolution of a Tennessee LLC.
Dissolution Events
An LLC is dissolved upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
Upon the expiration of the period stated in the articles of organization;
By the organizers or by the members or upon the occurrence of an event specified in the
articles of organization or operating agreement;
Judicially by court order;
Administratively by the secretary of state;
Unless the articles or operating agreement provide that one or more of the following events
will not constitute an event of dissolution:
1. Death of any member;
2. Retirement from membership of any member;
3. Resignation or other withdrawal of any member;
4. Acquisition of a member's complete membership interest by the LLC;
5. Assignment of a member's governance rights which leaves the assignor with no
governance rights;
6. Expulsion of any member if expulsion is permitted by the articles;
7. Bankruptcy of any member;
8. Dissolution of any member;
9. Insanity of any member; or
10. The occurrence of any other event that terminates the continued membership of a
member in The LLC.
For LLCs formed on or after July 1, 1999, or for LLCs formed prior to July 1, 1999, that
elect by providing in their articles for the amendments by Acts 1999, ch. 455, regarding
dissolution events to apply to such LLC, the LLC shall be dissolved upon the occurrence of:
1. In accordance with § 48-245-202 or any event specified in the articles or operating
agreement including, but not limited to, events of withdrawal by a member or action or
procedure as set forth in the articles or operating agreement; or
2. A merger in which the LLC is not the surviving organization.
However, a LLC is not dissolved and is not required to be wound up by reason of any event that
terminates the continued membership of a member if there is at least one (1) remaining member
and the existence and business of the LLC are continued by the consent of a majority vote of the
remaining members (or such greater vote of the remaining members as provided in the articles).
Member consent must be obtained no later than ninety (90) days after the dissolution event. The
granting of consent is at the discretion of each member, but may be unreasonably withheld.
A dissolved LLC must be wound up and terminated as provided by statute.
~ SPECIAL CASE ~
Dissolution By Initial Organizers
A LLC that has not accepted initial contributions from members may be dissolved
and terminated by the organizer(s) by filing articles of termination with the
Secretary of State. Dissolution is effective when the articles of termination are
filed. No other steps need be taken. Download the form from the link below. Mail
in the completed, signed form and one copy to the address on the form. THERE
IS A $20.00 FILING FEE. Make check payable to: Secretary of State.
Download the form by clicking the link below, or copying the link into the address window of
your web browser.
http://www.uslegalforms.com/dissolution/TN/TN-DissLLC-initial.pdf
The form is in .pdf format and you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the form. In the unlikely
circumstance that the Adobe Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer, you can download it free from
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html . The download is quick and easy.
Dissolution By Members (after LLC has begun business)
A LLC may be dissolved by the members:
Upon any event of dissolution set forth in the articles, operating agreement, or the Tennessee
Limited Liability Company Act;
By any procedures set forth in the articles or operating agreement; or
By the members when authorized in the manner set forth in the Tennessee Limited Liability
Company Act.
A proposed dissolution must be submitted for approval at a meeting of members. Written notice
must be given to each member, whether or not entitled to vote at a meeting of members. The
meeting must be within the time and in the manner statutorily provided for meetings of members,
and whether the meeting is a regular or a special meeting, the written notice must state that a
purpose of the meeting is to consider dissolving the LLC and that dissolution must be followed
by the winding up and termination of the LLC.
If the proposed dissolution is approved at a meeting by a majority vote (or such greater vote as
may be provided for in the articles or operating agreement), the LLC must be dissolved and
notice of dissolution must be filed with the secretary of state.
Notice of Dissolution
The LLC must file with the secretary of state a notice of dissolution, unless the existence and
business of the LLC is continued.
Winding Up - Generally
When the notice of dissolution has been filed with the secretary of state, the LLC must cease to
carry on its business, except to the extent necessary (or appropriate) for the winding up of the
business of the LLC. The members retain the right to revoke and the right to remove or appoint
governors or managers. The LLC's existence continues to the extent necessary to wind up the
affairs of the LLC until the dissolution is revoked or articles of termination are filed with the
secretary of state.
As part of winding up, the LLC may participate in a merger with another LLC or one or more
foreign or domestic business entities, but the dissolved LLC shall not be the surviving business
entity.
The filing with the secretary of state of a notice of dissolution does not affect any remedy in
favor of the LLC or any remedy against it or its members, governors, or managers in those
capacities, except as provided in § 48-245-502.
Winding Up - Procedures
If the business of the LLC is to be wound up and terminated other than by merging the dissolved
LLC into a surviving business entity, the following procedures must be followed.
When a notice of dissolution has been filed with the secretary of state, the board of governors
of a board-managed LLC, the members of a member-managed LLC, or the managers acting
under the direction of the members or board of governors must proceed as soon as possible
to:
(1) Collect or make provision for the collection of all known debts due or owing to the LLC,
including unperformed contribution agreements; and
(2) Pay or make provision for the payment of all known debts, obligations, and liabilities of
the LLC according to their priorities. (See below Disposing of Known and Unknown
Claims).
When a notice of dissolution has been filed with the secretary of state, the governors of a
board-managed LLC may sell, lease, transfer, or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all
of the property and assets of a dissolved LLC without a vote of the members.
All tangible or intangible property, including money, remaining after the discharge of the
debts, obligations, and liabilities of the LLC must be distributed to the members in
accordance with § 48-236-103 and § 48-245-1101.
Disposing of Known and Unknown Claims
When a notice of dissolution is filed with the secretary of state, then the LLC may give notice of
the filing to each creditor of and claimant against the LLC, known or unknown, present or
future, and contingent or noncontingent.
An LLC may dispose of the known claims against it by following these procedures:
To dispose of known claims against it, the dissolved LLC must notify its known claimants, at
any time after the effective date of the dissolution, in writing of the dissolution. The written
notice must:
Describe information that must be included in a claim;
State whether the claim is admitted, or not admitted, and if admitted:
1. The amount that is admitted, which may be as of a given date; and
2. Any interest obligation if fixed by an instrument of indebtedness;
Provide a mailing address where a claim may be sent;
State the deadline (not fewer than four months from the effective date of the written notice)
by which the dissolved LLC must receive the claim; and
State that, except to the extent that any claim is admitted, the claim will be barred if written
notice of the claim is not received by the deadline.
A claim against the dissolved LLC is barred to the extent that it is not admitted:
If the dissolved LLC delivered written notice to the claimant in accordance with the statute
and the claimant does not deliver a written notice of the claim to the dissolved LLC by the
deadline; or
If the dissolved LLC delivered written notice to the claimant that the claimant's claim is
rejected, in whole or in part, and the claimant does not commence a proceeding to enforce the
claim within three months from the effective date of the rejection notice.
"Claim" does not include a contingent liability or a claim based on an event occurring after the
effective date of dissolution.
Written notice is effective at the earliest of the following:
When received;
Five days after its deposit in the United States mail, if mailed correctly addressed and with
first class postage affixed thereon;
On the date shown on the return receipt, if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, and the receipt is signed by or on behalf of the addressee; or
Twenty days after deposit in the United States mail, as evidenced by the postmark if mailed
correctly addressed, and with other than first class, registered or certified postage affixed.
A dissolved LLC may also publish notice of its dissolution and request that persons with claims
against the LLC present them in accordance with the notice. The notice must:
Be published one time in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the
dissolved LLC's principal executive office is or was last located;
Describe the information that must be included in a claim and provide a mailing address
where the claim may be sent; and
State that a claim against the LLC will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce the claim is
commenced within two years after the publication of the notice.
If the dissolved LLC publishes a newspaper notice in accordance with the statute, the claim of
each of the following claimants is barred unless the claimant commences a proceeding to enforce
the claim against the dissolved LLC within two (2) years after the publication date of the
newspaper notice:
A claimant who did not receive written notice under § 48-245-502(b);
A claimant whose claim was timely sent to the dissolved LLC but not acted on; or
A claimant whose claim is contingent or based on an event occurring after the effective date
of dissolution.
A claim may be enforced:
Against the dissolved LLC, to the extent of its undistributed assets; or
If the assets have been distributed in liquidation, against a member of the dissolved LLC to
the extent of the member's pro rata share of the claim or the LLC assets distributed to the
member in liquidation, whichever is less. A member's total liability for all may not exceed
the total amount of assets distributed to the member.
If the dissolved LLC does not comply with the statutory notice provisions, then claimants against
the LLC may enforce their claims:
Against the dissolved LLC to the extent of its undistributed assets; or
If the assets have been distributed in liquidation, against a member of the dissolved LLC to
the extent of the member's pro rata share of the claim or the LLC assets distributed to the
member in liquidation, whichever is less. A member's total liability for all claims may not
exceed the total amount of assets distributed to the member; provided, however, that a claim
may not be enforced against a member of a dissolved LLC who received a distribution in
liquidation after three years from the date of the filing of articles of termination.
Articles of Termination
Articles of termination are filed with the secretary of state upon the dissolution and the
completion of winding up of the LLC.
Effective date of Articles of Termination
When the articles of termination have been filed with the secretary of state, the existence of the
LLC is terminated.
Supervised Winding Up and Termination
After an event of dissolution and before a certificate of termination has been issued, the LLC or,
for good cause shown, a member or creditor may apply to a court within the county in which the
registered office of the LLC is situated to have the dissolution conducted or continued under the
supervision of the court.
Disposition of LLC Assets
Upon the winding up of an LLC, the assets shall be distributed as follows:
To creditors, including members who are creditors, to the extent otherwise permitted by law,
in satisfaction of liabilities of the LLC (whether by payment or the making of reasonable
provisions for payment thereof) other than:
1. Liabilities for which reasonable provision for payment has been made; and
2. Liabilities for distributions to members under § 48-236-102;
Unless otherwise provided in the articles or operating agreement, to members and former
members in satisfaction of liabilities for distributions under § 48-236-102; and
Unless otherwise provided in the articles or operating agreement, to members, first, for the
return of their contributions including any restated value thereof, and, second, respecting
their membership interests, in the proportions in which the members share in distributions.
Any distributions in any form other than cash shall be in accordance with § 48-236-103.
An LLC which has dissolved must pay (or make reasonable provision to pay) all claims and
obligations, including all contingent, conditional or unmatured claims and obligations which are
known to the LLC and all claims and obligations which are known to the LLC but for which the
identity of the claimant is unknown.
If there are sufficient assets, claims and obligations must be paid in full and any provision for
payment made must be made in full.
If there are insufficient assets, claims and obligations are to be paid or provided for according to
their priority and, among claims and obligations of equal priority, ratably to the extent of assets
available therefor.
Unless otherwise provided in articles or operating agreement, any remaining assets shall be
distributed as provided in chapters 201-248 of this title.
Obligations Incurred During Winding Up
All known contractual debts, obligations, and liabilities incurred in the course of winding up and
terminating the LLC's affairs must be paid or provided for by the LLC before the distribution of
assets to a member. A person to whom this kind of debt, obligation, or liability is owed but not
paid may pursue any remedy before the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations against
the managers and governors of the LLC who are responsible for, but who fail to cause, the LLC
to pay or make provision for payment of the debts, obligations, and liabilities or against
members.
Omitted Assets
Title to assets remaining after payment of all debts, obligations, or liabilities and after
distributions to members may be transferred by a court in this state.
Suit After Termination.
After an LLC has been terminated, any of its former managers, governors, or members may
assert or defend, in the name of the LLC, any claim by or against the LLC.
STEPS TO DISSOLVE A TENNESSEE LLC
Step 1: SEE FORM 1 - RESOLUTION OF MEMBERS CONSENTING TO
DISSOLUTION
(If the decision to dissolve is made by the organizer(s), SEE FORM 4.)
Step 2: SEE FORM 2 - NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION
Instructions to complete the Notice of Dissolution:
The Notice should be typed or printed legibly in black ink.
1. Provide the name of the LLC.
2. Indicate how the dissolution was approved by the members OR the basis for
the dissolution.
3. If the dissolution is not to be effective on filing, indicate the effective date
(cannot be more than 90 days after filing).
Provide the date of signing, the signer's capacity, the name of the LLC, the
signature of the person signing the Notice, and the typed/printed name of the
signer.
File the original and one copy.
There is a $20.00 fee for this filing.
Mail the original and one copy of the NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION and the
$20.00 filing fee (make check payable to the Secretary of State) to:
Department of State
Corporate Filings
6 TH
Floor, William R. Snodgrass Tower
312 Eighth Avenue North
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Telephone: 615-741-2286
FAX: 615-741-7310
A transmittal letter to send with the Notice is included for your use.
SEE FORM A - TRANSMITTAL LETTER (Notice of Dissolution)
Step 3: Complete the winding up process as set out above in the Introductory Notes.
SEE FORM 3 - NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS
SEE FORM 4 - NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS (For Publication)
SEE FORM 5 - NOTICE OF REJECTION OF CLAIM
Step 4: When you have completed the winding up process, you are ready to file the
Articles of Termination.
SEE FORM 6 - ARTICLES OF TERMINATION
Instructions to complete the Articles of Dissolution:
The Articles should be typed or printed legibly in black ink.
1. Provide the name of the LLC.
2. Provide the date the Articles of Organization were filed.
3. Provide (briefly) the reason for filing the Articles of Termination (for
example, out of business).
4. Check this space provided.
5. If there is any other information that you feel you need to provide, do so in
this section.
Provide the date of signing, the signer's capacity, the name of the LLC, the
signature of the person signing the Notice, and the typed/printed name of the
signer.
File the original and one copy.
The filing fee is $20.00.
Mail the original and one copy of the ARTICLES OF DISSOLUTION and the
$20.00 filing fee (make check payable to the Secretary of State) to:
Department of State
Corporate Filings
6 TH
Floor, William R. Snodgrass Tower
312 Eighth Avenue North
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Telephone: 615-741-2286
FAX: 615-741-7310
A transmittal letter to send with the Articles of Termination is included for your
use.
SEE FORM B - TRANSMITTAL LETTER (Articles of Termination)
* * *
Disclaimer: If you are not an attorney, you are advised to seek the advice of an
attorney for all serious legal matters. The information and forms contained
herein are not legal advice and are not to be construed as such. Although the
information contained herein is believed to be correct, no warranty of fitness
or any other warranty shall apply. All use is subject to the U.S. Legal Forms,
Inc. Disclaimer and License located at http://www.uslegalforms.com/disclaimer.htm
FORM A
TRANSMITTAL LETTER
(Notice of Dissolution)
Return Name and Address
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Date:
Department of State
Corporate Filings
6 TH
Floor, William R. Snodgrass Tower
312 Eighth Avenue North
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Re: __________________________
Dear Sir:
Enclosed please find the original and one copy of Notice of Dissolution for
______________________________________________, a Tennessee limited liability
company. Also, enclosed is the $20.00 filing fee.
Please file this document and provide a "filed" copy to me.
Should you have any questions, or should I need to furnish further information, please feel free
to contact me at the following address and telephone number: ___________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Yours very truly,
FORM B
TRANSMITTAL LETTER
(Articles of Termination)
Return Name and Address
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Date:
Department of State
Corporate Filings
6 TH
Floor, William R. Snodgrass Tower
312 Eighth Avenue North
Nashville, Tennessee 37243
Re: __________________________
Dear Sir:
Enclosed please find the original and one copy of Articles of Termination for
______________________________________________, a Tennessee limited liability
company. Also, enclosed is the $20.00 filing fee.
Please file this document and provide a "filed" copy to me.
Should you have any questions, or should I need to furnish further information, please feel free
to contact me at the following address and telephone number: ___________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Yours very truly,
FORM 1
RESOLUTION OF MEMBERS
CONSENTING TO DISSOLUTION
RESOLUTION OF MEMBERS
OF
________________________________________
A TENNESSEE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
The undersigned, being all the members of _______________________________________, a
Tennessee limited liability company, hereby resolve to dissolve and consent to the dissolution of
the limited liability company.
Dated this the ______ day of ______________________________, 20___.
____________________________________
Member
____________________________________
Member
____________________________________
Member
FORM 2
NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION
Download the form by clicking the link below, or copying the link into the address window of your web browser.
http://www.uslegalforms.com/dissolution/TN/TN-DissLLC-notice.pdf
The form is in .pdf format and you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the form. In the unlikely
circumstance that the Adobe Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer, you can download it free from
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html . The download is quick and easy.
Fill out this form, and mail it in as directed.
FORM 3
NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS
NOTICE TO CLAIMANT
You are hereby notified that on the _____day of _____________________________, 20 _____,
___________________________________________________________________, a Tennessee
limited liability company, filed a Notice of Dissolution with the Department of State.
You may be able to assert the following claim against the LLC (describe claim):
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your claim is _____ NOT ADMITTED
_____ ADMITTED IN THE AMOUNT OF $______________________
AS OF THE _____ DAY OF ______________, 20 _____.
There _____ IS NOT _____ IS an interest obligation due in connection with you claim.
Your claim must be received by __________________________________________________
(this can be no less than four months from the date of this notice). Claims must be sent to:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
YOU MUST MAIL CONFIRMATION OF YOUR CLAIM TO THE LLC.
EXCEPT AS ADMITTED, YOUR CLAIM WILL BE BARRED IF WRITTEN NOTICE
OF YOUR IS NOT RECEIVED BY THE DEADLINE.
Name of Limited Liability Company: _______________________________________________
By: _________________________________________________________________________
Title: ___________________________________ Date: _______________________________
FORM 4
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS
(For Publication)
NOTICE TO UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS
You are hereby notified that on the _____day of _____________________________, 20 _____,
__________________________________________________________________, a Tennessee
corporation, filed a Notice of Dissolution with the Department of State.
You may be able to assert a claim against the LLC. If you have a claim against the LLC,
describe the claim and mail it to the address listed below. Your claim must be received by
__________________________________________________ (this can be no less than four
months from the date of this notice).
Claims must be sent to:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
YOU MUST MAIL CONFIRMATION OF YOUR CLAIM TO THE LLC.
Name of Limited Liability Company: _______________________________________________
By: _________________________________________________________________________
Title: ___________________________________ Date: _______________________________
FORM 5
NOTICE OF REJECTION OF CLAIM
NOTICE OF REJECTION OF CLAIM
You are hereby notified that on the _____day of _____________________________, 20 _____,
___________________________________________________________________, a Tennessee
limited liability company, rejected all or part of the claim you submitted to the corporation.
_____ ALL OF YOUR CLAIM WAS REJECTED.
_____A PORTION OF YOUR CLAIM WAS REJECTED. The part of your claim that was
rejected is:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Name of Limited Liability Company: _______________________________________________
By: _________________________________________________________________________
Title: ___________________________________ Date: _______________________________
FORM 6
ARTICLES OF TERMINATION
Download the form by clicking the link below, or copying the link into the address window of your web browser.
http://www.uslegalforms.com/dissolution/TN/TN-DissLLC-termination.pdf
The form is in .pdf format and you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the form. In the unlikely
circumstance that the Adobe Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer, you can download it free from
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html . The download is quick and easy.
Fill out this form, and mail it in as directed.