§9.2 - Development of General Partnership Law in Washington

• Jurisdiction: Washington

§9.2 DEVELOPMENT OF GENERAL PARTNERSHIP LAWIN WASHINGTON

Before adopting the UPA, the determination of whether a partnership existed in Washington was primarily a matter of common law. Nicholson v. Kilbury, 83 Wash. 196, 201, 145 P. 189 (1915) (adopting the commonlaw definition of a partnership as a contract of two or more competent persons, to place their money, effects, labor, and skill, or some or all of them, in lawful commerce or business, and to divide the profit and bear the loss, in certain proportions). Common law governed partnerships in Washington until 1945.

(1) History of the Uniform Partnership Act in Washington

Although Washington ultimately adopted the NCCUSL's UPA, it was not until March 15, 1945, when the Washington Uniform Partnership Act was signed into law by the governor. Laws of 1945, ch. 137. The Washington UPA was based generally on the NCCUSL's UPA, as adopted in 1914. S. Bill Rep., SHB 2386 at 1 (Feb. 26, 1998). The Washington UPA remained largely intact for another 40 years, until 1997 when...