Can you sue a LLC that is out of business?
Emma Miller
Updated on January 19, 2026
A limited liability company (LLC) can be sued after it’s no longer operating as a business. If the owners, called members, dissolved the company properly, then the chance of the lawsuit being successful is slim. Members should pay careful attention to their state requirements when dissolving the business.
Can you sue a limited partnership?
A limited partnership is considered to be a separate legal entity, and as such can sue, be sued, and own property. Profits are reported on the partners’ personal tax returns (pass through taxation) Asset protection; when a limited partner is sued, the assets inside of the LP are protected from seizure.
Are limited partners liable for debts?
Because limited partners do not manage the business, they are not personally liable for the partnership’s debts. A creditor may sue for repayment of the partnership’s debt from the general partner’s personal assets.
What happens when an LLC goes out of business?
In a Chapter 7 business bankruptcy, the LLCs assets are sold and used to pay the LLC’s creditors. After the bankruptcy, the LLC’s remaining debts are wiped out and the LLC is no longer in business. If the LLC does not have any assets but the owner has signed a personal guarantee, a personal bankruptcy may be best.
Does an LLC really protect your personal assets?
Understanding an LLC’s Limited Liability Protection The owners’ personal assets such as cars, homes and bank accounts are safe. An LLC owner only risks the amount of money he or she has invested in the business. They may be liable for unpaid payroll taxes. And they are liable if they are sued for their own wrongdoing.
Who can be sued in a limited partnership?
A limited partnership allows two or more people to create a business structure and protect themselves. Although general partners can still be held liable, general partners’ and limited partners’ shares are protected from personal lawsuits.
Who is liable for debt in partnership?
A general partnership can be automatically created without any paperwork if two or more people agree to carry on a business or activity for profit. Each partner is considered a general partner and is personally liable for the debts of the partnership.
Can a company get sued by an employee?
Lawsuits can be filed by employees, clients, vendors or even another business, but no matter who filed it, or if you win or lose, a lawsuit against your company can cost you a lot of money.
What happens if a LLC is sued after it is dissolved?
State laws govern the steps for dissolution. By failing to follow these rules, such as filing articles of dissolution, the company may not terminate. If the company isn’t dissolved according to state law, then it can still be sued until it ceases appropriately.
Can you sue a company that has filed for bankruptcy?
If the dispute involves money but the outcome won’t affect the bankruptcy estate, the bankruptcy court will probably leave the stay in place. If the matter seeks to change behavior only—for instance, suppose the attorney general wants to stop a factory owner from polluting a stream—the chances are that the court will allow the case to continue.
Can a lawsuit be used against a business?
Many of our experts reminded business owners that anything they say regarding the lawsuit can be used against them, so you should not contact the plaintiff at all. “Once a lawsuit has been filed, you should not communicate with the plaintiff at all,” said John R. O’Brien, a retired Chicago-based attorney of O’Brien Watters & Davis.