Business guide
Partnership Dispute: What to Gather Before You Call a Lawyer
The first consultation goes further when the right documents are already in hand. Here is what to pull together before you call.
The governing documents
The partnership or operating agreement, any amendments, and buy-sell provisions control most of the analysis. If no written agreement exists, say so, California default rules will matter instead.
Financial records
Recent bank statements, tax returns, profit-and-loss reports, and records of distributions or draws. Disputes about money are won with numbers, not recollections.
Communications
Emails, texts, and messages about the disagreement, especially anything about expenses, decisions, or one partner excluding the other. Preserve them; do not edit or delete.
A short timeline
One page listing the key events: when the business formed, when the conflict started, and what happened most recently. Dates turn a vague story into a case a lawyer can evaluate.
What not to do first
Do not lock a partner out of accounts, move funds, or announce the dispute publicly before getting advice. Unilateral moves can create liability and destroy negotiating leverage.
This guide is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Every case turns on its own facts. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.