Legal Question in Bankruptcy in Nevada

My husband and I are a partnership LLC, just us 2 members. I had a consult with a bankruptcy attorney and I was told to dissolve the LLC before filing chapter 7. We live in Nevada and looking at the SOS website, to dissolve the LLC we must sign a form that states that we do not owe any debt-

On the Dissolution of Limited Liability Company form:

2. The undersigned declare the following:

(a) All debts, obligations and liabilities have been paid and discharged or that adequate provision has been made therefore

I need to dissolve and file Chapter 7 because we have debt, but seems like I can't dissolve because I do have debt.

Another attorney I had a consult with said that by filing chapter 7, it automatically dissolves the LLC.

As I researched this, I came across an article on the internet that said .."If you are trying to discharge any debts the LLC has, you may file a bankruptcy and then use the insolvency as grounds to terminate the entity."

Should I dissolve the LLC even with the debts before filing chapter 7? Or is it true that after filing will dissolve the LLC?


Asked on 3/15/10, 4:50 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

So at this point, I think you can see that there is a wide range of opinion about doing this. I am sure if any of my collegues on LawGuru answer this, they will have other opinions. My answer is "it depends on the specific facts in your case."

My analysis is this - if the LLC OWNS your assets, such as your vehicle, your home, a bank account, those assets are NOT protected under the Nevada exemption laws (contained in NRS 21.090). The Bankruptcy Trustee can take the LLC & the all the assets if you file Chapter 7 and use the sale proceeds to pay your debts. This would happen even though the assets would be protected under the exemption laws if you owned them in your own name. So I would advise you to transfer the assets into your personal name from the LLC.

But if the LLC is heavily in debt, there could be problems doing this, so I would suggest consulting with your bankruptcy attorney first regarding the specifics.

If the LLC has no debt, then I don't see any problem with you transfering any assets back into your names.

If ALL the LLC debts are co-signed or guaranteed by you both personally, I wouldn't see any need to dissolve the LLC before you file Bankruptcy. Once you stop renewing the LLC with the secretary of state, the LLC will dissolve without you taking any further steps.

Because there are so many variables that could apply to your case, you need personal attention paid to this issue in order to protect yourself. While many of the bankruptcy firms take a "factory approach" to their cases & handle a high volume, you may need boutique representation to address this special issue.

Good luck!

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Answered on 3/20/10, 9:54 am


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