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HomeCorporations CodeCh. 19§ 1903 Corporate Voluntary Winding Up

§ 1903 Corporate Voluntary Winding Up

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

§ 1903 Corporate Voluntary Winding Up

This law tells how a company can start a voluntary shutdown when its owners or directors decide, what the board can do during the shutdown, and that the company must stop normal business and tell shareholders and creditors about the shutdown.

Key Takeaways

  • •Winding up starts when shareholders or directors adopt a resolution or file a written consent.
  • •The board stays in charge and can do everything needed to wrap up the company, even after the dissolution certificate is filed.
  • •The company must stop regular business, only do what’s needed to finish up, and must mail notice of the winding‑up to all shareholders (except those who voted for it) and to known creditors.

Example

A family‑owned bakery decides to close because the owners are retiring.

The owners vote to dissolve, the board keeps running the winding‑up tasks, the bakery stops selling bread except to finish existing orders, and it mails a notice to the other shareholders and any creditors it knows about.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 1903 Corporate Voluntary Winding Up

(a) Voluntary proceedings for winding up the corporation commence upon the adoption of the resolution of shareholders or directors of the corporation electing to wind up and dissolve, or upon the filing with the corporation of a written consent of shareholders thereto. (b) When a voluntary proceeding for winding up has commenced, the board shall continue to act as a board and shall have full powers to wind up and settle its affairs, both before and after the filing of the certificate of dissolution. (c) When a voluntary proceeding for winding up has commenced, the corporation shall cease to carry on business except to the extent necessary for the beneficial winding up thereof and except during such period as the board may deem necessary to preserve the corporation’s goodwill or going-concern value pending a sale of its business or assets, or both, in whole or in part. The board shall cause written notice of the commencement of the proceeding for voluntary winding up to be given by mail to all shareholders (except no notice need be given to the shareholders who voted in favor of winding up and dissolving the corporation) and to all known creditors and claimants whose addresses appear on the records of the corporation. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 682.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

voluntary proceedings for winding upresolution of shareholders or directorswritten

Related Statutes

  • § 12680 Foreign Corporation Compliance
  • § 1900 Corporate Voluntary Dissolution Rules
  • § 1900.5 Corporate Dissolution Without Shares
  • § 1901 Corporate Dissolution Certificate Filing
  • § 1902 Revoking Corporate Dissolution Election

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 1903.
View Official Source