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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>78235</law_id><section_number>13.1-747</section_number><catch_line>Grounds for judicial dissolution</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>13.1-749</reference><reference>13.1-749.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="13.1">Corporations</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="9">Virginia Stock Corporation Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="16">Dissolution</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> in any city or county described in subsection C may dissolve a <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>: <a id="paragraph-280420" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-747/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> In a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> by a <span class="dictionary">shareholder</span> of a corporation that is not a <span class="dictionary">public corporation</span> if it is established that:
				a. The directors are deadlocked in the management of the corporate affairs, the <span class="dictionary">shareholders</span> are unable to break the deadlock, and irreparable injury to the corporation is threatened or being suffered, or the business and affairs of the corporation can no longer be conducted to the advantage of the <span class="dictionary">shareholders</span> generally, because of the deadlock;
				b. The directors or those in control of the corporation have acted, are acting, or will act in a manner that is illegal, oppressive, or fraudulent;
				c. The <span class="dictionary">shareholders</span> are deadlocked in <span class="dictionary">voting power</span> and have failed, for a period that includes at least two consecutive annual meeting dates, to elect successors to directors whose terms have expired; or
				d. The corporate <span class="dictionary">assets</span> are being misapplied or wasted; <a id="paragraph-280421" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-747/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> In a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> by a <span class="dictionary">creditor</span> if it is established that:
				a. The <span class="dictionary">creditor</span>&#x2019;s claim has been reduced to <span class="dictionary">judgment</span>, the execution on the <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> returned unsatisfied, and the corporation is insolvent; or
				b. The corporation has admitted in <span class="dictionary">writing</span> that the <span class="dictionary">creditor</span>&#x2019;s claim is due and owing and the corporation is insolvent; <a id="paragraph-280422" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-747/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> In a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> by the corporation to have its voluntary dissolution continued under <span class="dictionary">court</span> supervision; <a id="paragraph-280423" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-747/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> In a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> by a <span class="dictionary">shareholder</span> if the corporation has abandoned its business and has failed within a reasonable time to liquidate and distribute its <span class="dictionary">assets</span> and terminate its corporate existence; <a id="paragraph-280424" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-747/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Upon application by the board of directors when it is established that circumstances make it impossible to obtain a representative vote by <span class="dictionary">shareholders</span> on the question of dissolution and that the continuation of the business of the corporation is not in the <span class="dictionary">interest</span> of the <span class="dictionary">shareholders</span> but it is in their <span class="dictionary">interest</span> that the <span class="dictionary">assets</span> and business be liquidated; or <a id="paragraph-280425" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-747/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> When the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> has instituted a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> for the involuntary termination of corporate existence and entered an <span class="dictionary">order</span> <span class="dictionary">finding</span> that the corporate existence of the corporation should be terminated but that <span class="dictionary">liquidation</span> of its business and affairs should precede the entry of an <span class="dictionary">order</span> of termination of corporate existence. <a id="paragraph-280426" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-747/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> in the city or county named in subsection C shall have full power to liquidate the <span class="dictionary">assets</span> and business of the corporation at any time after the termination of corporate existence, pursuant to the provisions of this article upon the application of any <span class="dictionary">person</span>, for good cause, with regard to any <span class="dictionary">assets</span> or business that may remain. The <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> conferred by this clause may also be exercised by any such <span class="dictionary">court</span> in any city or county where any property may be situated whether of a <span class="dictionary">domestic</span> or a <span class="dictionary">foreign corporation</span> that ceased to exist. <a id="paragraph-280427" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-747/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> <span class="dictionary">Venue</span> for a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> brought under this section lies in the city or county where the corporation&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">principal office</span> is or was located, or, if none in the Commonwealth, where its registered office is or was last located. <a id="paragraph-280428" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-747/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> It is not necessary to make directors or <span class="dictionary">shareholders</span> parties to a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> to be brought under this section unless relief is sought against them individually. <a id="paragraph-280429" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-747/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> A <span class="dictionary">court</span> in a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> brought to dissolve a corporation may <span class="dictionary">issue</span> <span class="dictionary">injunctions</span>, appoint a receiver or custodian <span class="dictionary">pendente lite</span> with such powers and duties as the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may direct, take other action required to preserve the corporate <span class="dictionary">assets</span> wherever located, and carry on the business of the corporation until a full <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> can be held. <a id="paragraph-280430" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-747/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Within 15 days of the commencement of a <span class="dictionary">proceeding</span> to dissolve a corporation under subdivision A 1, the corporation shall <span class="dictionary">deliver</span> to all <span class="dictionary">shareholders</span>, other than the petitioner, a notice stating that the corporation and the <span class="dictionary">shareholders</span> are entitled to avoid the dissolution of the corporation by electing to purchase the petitioner&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">shares</span> under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Election to purchase in lieu of dissolution" href="/13.1-749.1/">13.1-749.1</a> and accompanied by a copy of that section. <a id="paragraph-280431" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-747/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 13.1-94; 1956, c. 428; 1959, Ex. Sess., c. 57; 1968, c. 112; 1985, c. 522; 2005, c. 765; 2007, c. 165; 2019, c. 734.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
