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HomeCorporations CodeCh. 3Art. 5§ 5352 Creditor Claims Against Members

§ 5352 Creditor Claims Against Members

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

§ 5352 Creditor Claims Against Members

Key Takeaways

  • •If a company owes you money, you can't go after the owners unless you've already tried to get the money from the company and failed.
  • •If you sue the company and win but still don't get paid, then you can try to get the money from the owners.
  • •Other people the company owes money to can join in your lawsuit against the owners.
  • •If an owner pays money in this lawsuit, it counts toward what they owe the company.

Example

Imagine a small toy store owes money to a supplier for toys but can't pay. The supplier sues the store and wins, but the store still has no money.

The supplier can then try to get the money from the store owners, but only after proving the store can't pay. Other people the store owes money to can also join the lawsuit to try to get paid.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 5352 Creditor Claims Against Members

(a) No action shall be brought by or on behalf of any creditor to reach and apply the liability, if any, of a member to the corporation to pay the amount due on such member’s membership or otherwise due to the corporation unless final judgment has been rendered in favor of the creditor against the corporation and execution has been returned unsatisfied in whole or in part or unless such proceedings would be useless. (b) All creditors of the corporation, with or without reducing their claims to judgment, may intervene in any such creditor’s action to reach and apply unpaid amounts due the corporation and any or all members who owe amounts to the corporation may be joined in such action. Several judgments may be rendered for and against the parties to the action or in favor of a receiver for the benefit of the respective parties thereto. (c) All amounts paid by any member in any such action shall be credited on the unpaid balance due the corporation by such member. (Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 567.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

creditormemberliabilitycorporationfinal judgmentexecution unsatisfiedinterveneunpaid amountscredited

Related Statutes

  • § 9352 Creditor Claims Against Members
  • § 7353 Creditor Claims Against Members
  • § 12443 Creditor Actions Against Members
  • § 12441 Member Dues And Fees Liability
  • § 2702 Agent Indemnification Expenses

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 5352.
View Official Source