Implied Terms of Partnership

The Partnership Act 1958 (Vic) provides that unless otherwise agreed between them, the partners are taken to have agreed to the following:

• All the partners are entitled to share equally in the capital and profits of the business and must contribute equally towards the losses whether of capital or otherwise sustained by the partnership.
• The partnership must indemnify every partner in respect of payments made and personal liabilities incurred by him or her— (a) in the ordinary and proper conduct of the business of the partnership; or (b) in or about anything necessarily done for the preservation of the business or property of the partnership.
• A partner making for the purpose of the partnership any actual payment or advance beyond the amount of capital which he or she has agreed to subscribe is entitled to interest at the rate of seven per centum per annum from the date of the payment or advance.
• A partner is not entitled before the ascertainment of profits to interest on the capital subscribed by him.
• Every partner may take part in the management of the partnership business.
• No partner shall be entitled to remuneration for acting in the partnership business.
• No person may be introduced as a partner without the consent of all existing partners.
• Any difference arising as to ordinary matters connected with the partnership business may be decided by a majority of the partners but no change may be made in the nature of the partnership business without the consent of all existing partners.
• The partnership books are to be kept at the place of business of the partnership (or the principal place if there is more than one) and every partner may when he or she thinks fit have access to and inspect and copy any of them.

Other Notable Provisions which apply unless varied by the Partners

Other notable provisions of the Act which apply unless varied by the partners are as follows.

Duty of partners to render accounts

Partners are bound to render true accounts and full information of all things affecting the partnership to any partner or his or her legal representative. 

Accountability of partners for private profits

Every partner must account to the partnership for (i.e. must “pay”) any benefit derived by him or her without the consent of the other partners from any transaction concerning the partnership or from any use by him or her of the partnership property name or business connection.

Duty of partner not to compete with partnership

If a partner without the consent of the other partners carries on any business of the same nature as and competing with that of the partnership he or she must account for and pay over to the partnership all profits made by him or her in that business.

More Information

For more information, see:

• Partnership - Expulsion, Retirement and Continuance
• Dissolution of Partnership
• Partnerships and the Importance of a Partnership Agreement
• The Partnership Act 1958
• Partners as Agents of Other Partners
• Liability of Partners

For information on business relationships and structuring, see:

• Business Relationships
• Business Structures

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