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HomeCorporations CodeCh. 4§ 9421 Member Signature Acceptance Rules

§ 9421 Member Signature Acceptance Rules

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

§ 9421 Member Signature Acceptance Rules

Key Takeaways

  • •If the name on a vote or form matches the member's name, the company can accept it.
  • •If the name doesn't match, the company can still accept it if it looks like an officer, lawyer, or co-owner signed it.
  • •The company can say no if they think the signature or permission is fake.
  • •The company won't get in trouble if they make a good-faith decision about accepting or rejecting the form.

Example

A person named John Smith is a member of a company. His friend, Jane Doe, signs a vote form for him without his permission.

The company can reject Jane's vote because her name doesn't match John's, and she isn't his lawyer or co-owner.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 9421 Member Signature Acceptance Rules

(a) If the name signed on a ballot, consent, waiver, or proxy appointment corresponds to the name of a member, the corporation if acting in good faith is entitled to accept the ballot, consent, waiver, or proxy appointment and give it effect as the act of the member. (b) If the name signed on a ballot, consent, waiver, or proxy appointment does not correspond to the record name of a member, the corporation if acting in good faith is nevertheless entitled to accept the ballot, consent, waiver, or proxy appointment and give it effect as the act of the member if any of the following occur: (1) The member is an entity and the name signed purports to be that of an officer or agent of the entity. (2) The name signed purports to be that of an attorney-in-fact of the member and if the corporation requests, evidence acceptable to the corporation of the signatory’s authority to sign for the member has been presented with respect to the ballot, consent, waiver, or proxy appointment. (3) Two or more persons hold the membership as cotenants or fiduciaries and the name signed purports to be the name of at least one of the coholders and the person signing appears to be acting on behalf of all the coholders. (c) The corporation is entitled to reject a ballot, consent, waiver, or proxy appointment if the secretary or other officer or agent authorized to tabulate votes, acting in good faith, has a reasonable basis for doubt concerning the validity of the signature or the signatory’s authority to sign for the member. (d) The corporation and any officer or agent thereof who accepts or rejects a ballot, consent, waiver, or proxy appointment in good faith and in accordance with the standards of this section shall not be liable in damages to the member for the consequences of the acceptance or rejection. (e) Corporate action based on the acceptance or rejection of a ballot, consent, waiver, or proxy appointment under this section is valid unless a court of competent jurisdiction determines otherwise. (Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 589, Sec. 44. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

corporationappointmentacceptancetenantdamageswaiverportsecretary

Related Statutes

  • § 12466 Member Signature Acceptance Rules
  • § 9411 Remote Member Meeting Rules
  • § 6615 Corporate Dissolution Certificate
  • § 15800 Foreign Partnership Agent Designation
  • § 12331 Director Number Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 9421.
View Official Source