Partners can create a partnership easily—often with nothing more than a handshake or a plan written down on the back of a napkin. However, the trade-off for that ease is that partnerships can often be more difficult to end, especially when only one partner wants out.
The process of dissolving your partnership Discuss the terms and issues. Draft a dissolution agreement. Double-check the terms. Check your state's business laws. File a statement of dissolution with your state. Notify all of your customers, clients and suppliers directly. Divide the remaining assets.
As far as the state of Illinois is concerned, there is a process for officially dissolving your business. You will need to file a document called Articles of Dissolution with the Secretary of State. If you fail to notify the state and simply stop renewing your registration, Illinois will dissolve the business for you.
Negotiating a Buyout One of the most common ways to remove a partner is through a buyout agreement, in which one partner buys the other's share of the business.
In such a business, you can simply write a withdrawal from partnership letter, if you want to withdraw your partnership. This letter will serve as a notice of intimation to your other partner (s) regarding your impending exit. The notice must mention the date from which the withdrawal will be effective.
In some instances, a partner's withdrawal will lead to the end of the business as it cannot operate without that person. In others, the business continues and the remaining partners either proceed as is or look for options.
If there isn't such a clause, then all partners, unanimously, at the same time, must agree to dissolve the partnership. Dissolution by notice – If the partnership is a partnership “at will”, any partner can dissolve the partnership “by notice”. However, it takes very little for a partnership not to be “at will”.
In the case of a general partnership business, the partners participate in day-to-day business operations. They are also jointly accountable for the debts occurring in the business. In such a business, you can simply write a withdrawal from partnership letter, if you want to withdraw your partnership.