Limited Liability Partnerships & Limited Liability Limited Partnerships

Registered Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP) and Registered Limited Liability Limited Partnerships (LLLP) limit a partner’s personal liability in the business to their personal investment in the business, except in areas related to their personal professional conduct. LLPs and LLLPs will usually be taxed as partnerships but may elect to be taxed as corporations. Both entities are created by filing a “Registration Statement” with the Colorado Secretary of State. The partners in LLPs and LLLPs are directly considered the operators of the business. There is usually no election of officers or managers as in corporations or LLCs.

Advantages — New businesses and existing general partnerships (currently registered with the Colorado Department of Revenue) may register as a Registered Limited Liability Partnership. Existing limited partnerships (currently registered with the Colorado Secretary of State) may register as a Registered Limited Liability Limited Partnership and gain liability protection for all partners without a complete reorganization of the business. The liability protection is similar to the protection provided to the owners of a corporation. Once an LLP or LLLP has been registered with the Colorado Secretary of State, no other business may register with the Colorado Secretary of State using the same name. The intent of the law is to gain the benefits of the partnership form of business while limiting the personal liability of the owners.

Disadvantages — LLPs are primarily for businesses where all the owners belong to a single licensed profession, e.g. CPAs, attorneys, doctors, etc. It is a new form of legal structure and it is not a recognized form of legal structure in all states. Anyone considering the formation of a LLP or a LLLP should consult a knowledgeable attorney.

For more information visit https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/business/helpFiles/REG_LLP_HELP.html or https://mybiz.colorado.gov/intro.