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HomeCorporations CodeCh. 4§ 420 Joint Tenant Share Transfers

§ 420 Joint Tenant Share Transfers

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

§ 420 Joint Tenant Share Transfers

Key Takeaways

  • •If two or more people own shares together, the company can transfer the shares to the surviving owner(s) without worrying about any secret agreements between them.
  • •If a minor or someone who can't make decisions owns shares, the company can still transfer or deal with those shares unless a guardian has been officially appointed and the company knows about it.
  • •If a married person owns shares, the company can transfer them without needing the spouse's signature, even if the shares are community property.
  • •If a court order about transferring shares is later changed, the company isn't liable unless they were officially told about the change before the transfer happened.

Example

A husband and wife own shares together, and the husband passes away.

The company can transfer the shares to the wife without worrying if there was any secret agreement between them about who really owned the shares.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 420 Joint Tenant Share Transfers

Neither a domestic nor foreign corporation nor its transfer agent or registrar is liable: (a) For transferring or causing to be transferred on the books of the corporation to the surviving joint tenant or tenants any share or shares or other securities issued to two or more persons in joint tenancy, whether or not the transfer is made with actual or constructive knowledge of the existence of any understanding, agreement, condition or evidence that the shares or securities were held other than in joint tenancy or of a breach of trust by any joint tenant. (b) To a minor or incompetent person in whose name shares or other securities are of record on its books or to any transferee of or transferor to either for transferring the shares or other securities on its books at the instance of or to the minor or incompetent or for the recognition of or dealing with the minor or incompetent as a shareholder or security holder, whether or not the corporation, transfer agent or registrar had notice, actual or constructive, of the nonage or incompetency, unless a guardian or conservator of the property of the minor or incompetent has been appointed and the corporation, transfer agent or registrar has received written notice thereof. (c) To any married person or to any transferee of such person for transferring shares or other securities on its books at the instance of the person in whose name they are registered, without the signature of such person’s spouse and regardless of whether the registration indicates that the shares or other securities are community property, in the same manner as if such person were unmarried. (d) For transferring or causing to be transferred on the books of the corporation shares or other securities pursuant to a judgment or order of a court which has been set aside, modified or reversed unless, prior to the registration of the transfer on the books of the corporation, written notice is served upon the corporation or its transfer agent in the manner provided by law for the service of a summons in a civil action, stating that an appeal or other further court proceeding has been or is to be taken from or with regard to such judgment or order. After the service of such notice neither the corporation nor its transfer agent has any duty to register the requested transfer until the corporation or its transfer agent has received a certificate of the clerk of the court in which the judgment or order was entered or made, showing that the judgment or order has become final. (e) The Commercial Code shall not affect the limitations of liability set forth in this section. Section 1100 of the Family Code shall be subject to the provisions of this section and shall not be construed to prevent transfers, or result in liability to the corporation, transfer agent or registrar permitting or effecting transfers, which comply with this section. (Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 784, Sec. 89. Effective January 1, 2003.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

corporationjudgmentregistrationagreementliabilityshareholdersecuritiesspouse

Related Statutes

  • § 16908 Entity Conversion To Partnership
  • § 17703.04 Llc Member Liability Limits
  • § 1305 Appraiser Report And Valuation
  • § 16909 Entity Conversion Continuity
  • § 17708.03 Foreign Llc Intrastate Business Transactions

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 420.
View Official Source