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HomeCorporations CodeCh. 6§ 603 Shareholder Written Consent Actions

§ 603 Shareholder Written Consent Actions

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

§ 603 Shareholder Written Consent Actions

Key Takeaways

  • •Shareholders can make big company decisions without a meeting if enough of them agree in writing.
  • •If not everyone agrees in writing, the company must tell the other shareholders about the decision at least 10 days before it happens.
  • •A shareholder can change their mind and take back their agreement, but only if they do it before enough agreements are collected to make the decision official.
  • •You can’t elect new directors this way unless every single shareholder agrees in writing. But you can fill an empty director spot if most shareholders agree.

Example

A small company wants to sell one of its buildings. Instead of calling a big meeting, they ask all the shareholders to sign a paper saying they agree to sell the building.

If most of the shareholders sign the paper (enough to make the decision if they were all at a meeting), the company can sell the building. But if even one shareholder doesn’t sign, the company has to tell them about the sale at least 10 days before it happens. Also, if a shareholder signs but then changes their mind, they can take back their agreement—but only if they do it before enough signatures are collected.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 603 Shareholder Written Consent Actions

(a) Unless otherwise provided in the articles, any action that may be taken at any annual or special meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice, if a consent in writing, as specified in Section 195, setting forth the action so taken, shall be provided by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take that action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. (b) Unless the consents of all shareholders entitled to vote have been solicited in writing, both of the following shall apply: (1) Notice of any shareholder approval pursuant to Section 310, 317, 1152, 1201 (except for a reorganization as to which shareholders have the right, pursuant to Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 1300) to demand payment of cash for their shares), or 2007 without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given at least 10 days before the consummation of the action authorized by that approval. Notice shall be given as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 601. (2) Prompt notice shall be given of the taking of any other corporate action approved by shareholders without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent, to those shareholders entitled to vote who have not consented in writing. Notice shall be given as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 601. (c) Any shareholder giving a written consent, or the shareholder’s proxyholders, or a transferee of the shares or a personal representative of the shareholder or their respective proxyholders, may revoke the consent personally or by proxy by a writing received by the corporation prior to the time that written consents of the number of shares required to authorize the proposed action have been filed with the secretary of the corporation, but may not do so thereafter. The revocation is effective upon its receipt by the secretary of the corporation. (d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), directors may not be elected by written consent except by unanimous written consent of all shares entitled to vote for the election of directors; provided that the shareholders may elect a director to fill a vacancy, other than a vacancy created by removal, by the written consent of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. (Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 109, Sec. 1. (AB 457) Effective January 1, 2014.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

corporationshareholdersecretarydirectorauthorizationmajorityreorganizationconsummation

Related Statutes

  • § 9680.5 Voluntary Dissolution Without Members
  • § 604 Shareholder Voting Proxy Rules
  • § 9680 Religious Corporation Dissolution Rules
  • § 12364 Filling Board Director Vacancies
  • § 200.5 Trust Conversion To Corporation

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 603.
View Official Source