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HomeCorporations CodeGENERAL PROVISIONSCh. 5Art. 9§ 16912 Merger Effectiveness Requirements

§ 16912 Merger Effectiveness Requirements

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

§ 16912 Merger Effectiveness Requirements

This law says a merger becomes official when the latest of three things happens—everyone signs off, all required papers are filed, or the date written in the agreement—unless another domestic business is part of the deal, in which case it’s official as soon as the merger certificate is filed with the Secretary of State.

Key Takeaways

  • •A merger without another domestic business is effective on the later of (1) all parties approving the agreement, (2) filing all required documents, or (3) the date set in the agreement.
  • •If a domestic other business entity is part of the merger, it becomes effective as soon as the certificate of merger is filed with the Secretary of State.
  • •A certified copy of the merger certificate is proof that the merger has happened.

Example

Two small companies decide to merge and set a date of June 1 for the merger. They both sign the agreement on May 20, file the required paperwork on May 25, and the agreed date is June 1. The merger becomes official on June 1, the latest of those three steps.

Because no other domestic business is involved, the merger only takes effect after the last of the sign‑off, the filing, or the date they wrote in the agreement happens. If a third company were joining, the merger would be official the moment the state office receives the merger certificate.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 16912 Merger Effectiveness Requirements

(a) Unless a future effective date or time is provided in a certificate of merger if a certificate of merger is required to be filed under Section 16915 in which event the merger shall be effective at the future effective date or time: (1) A merger in which no domestic other business entity is a party to the merger shall be effective upon the later of any of the following: (A) The approval of the agreement of merger by all parties to the merger as provided in Section 16911. (B) The filing of all documents required by law to be filed as a condition to the effectiveness of the merger; or (C) Any effective date specified in the agreement of merger; and (2) A merger in which a domestic other business entity is a party to the merger shall be effective upon the filing of the certificate of merger in the office of the Secretary of State. (b) For all mergers in which a certificate of merger is required to be filed under Section 16915, a copy of the certificate of merger duly certified by the Secretary of State is conclusive evidence of the merger of (A) the constituent partnerships (either by themselves or together with constituent other business entities) into the surviving other business entity, or (B) the constituent partnerships or the constituent other business entities, or both, into the surviving partnership. (Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1003, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

mergercertificate of mergeragreement of mergerdomestic other business entitySecretary of State

Related Statutes

  • § 16915 Partnership Merger Filing Requirements
  • § 16901 Partnership Merger Definitions
  • § 16902 Partnership Conversion Requirements
  • § 16904 Partnership Conversion Effectiveness
  • § 16910 Partnership And Business Mergers

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 16912.
View Official Source