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HomeCorporations CodeCh. 16§ 12631 Corporate Dissolution Certificate Filing

§ 12631 Corporate Dissolution Certificate Filing

Corporations Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 12631 Corporate Dissolution Certificate Filing

This law requires a corporation that wants to shut down to file a certificate of dissolution, and it explains who can sign that certificate and what details must be included.

Key Takeaways

  • •A corporation must file a certificate of dissolution when it decides to wind up.
  • •The certificate must be signed by officers or a majority of directors, or by members with majority voting power.
  • •It must record that the corporation voted to dissolve and show how that vote was approved.
  • •If all members or all board members approve the dissolution, a separate election filing is not required.

Example

A neighborhood bakery incorporated as a small company decides to close its doors.

The bakery's board approves the dissolution and prepares a certificate signed by the CEO and two of the three directors, who together represent a majority of the voting power. The certificate states that the owners voted to dissolve the business and includes the required details before being filed with the state.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 12631 Corporate Dissolution Certificate Filing

(a) Whenever a corporation has elected to wind up and dissolve a certificate evidencing that election shall forthwith be filed. (b) The certificate shall be an officers’ certificate or shall be signed and verified by at least a majority of the directors then in office or by one or more members authorized to do so by approval of a majority of all members (Section 12223) and shall set forth: (1) That the corporation has elected to wind up and dissolve. (2) If the election was made by the vote of members alone, the number of votes for the election and that the election was made by persons holding at least a majority of the voting power. (3) If the certificate is executed by a member or members, that the subscribing person or persons were authorized to execute the certificate by persons representing at least a majority of the voting power. (4) If the election was made by the board pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 12630, the certificate shall also set forth the circumstances showing the corporation to be within one of the categories described in that subdivision. (c) If an election to dissolve made pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 12630 is made by the vote of all the members of a corporation with members or by a vote of all members of the board of a corporation without members pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 12630 and a statement to that effect is added to the certificate of dissolution pursuant to Section 12635, the separate filing of the certificate of election pursuant to this section is not required. (Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 834, Sec. 19. (SB 1041) Effective January 1, 2015.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

wind up and dissolvecertificate of electionmajority of the voting powercertificate of dissolution

Related Statutes

  • § 6611 Corporate Dissolution Certificate Filing
  • § 8612 Revoke Corporate Dissolution Election
  • § 12632 Revoke Dissolution Before Distribution
  • § 12633 Corporate Voluntary Dissolution Process
  • § 12635 Corporate Dissolution Certificate

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 12631.
View Official Source