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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>77362</law_id><section_number>13.1-852.1</section_number><catch_line>Member or director agreements</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>13.1-553</reference><reference>13.1-853</reference><reference>13.1-868</reference><reference>13.1-872</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="10">Virginia Nonstock Corporation Act</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="7.1">Member or Director Agreements</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> An agreement among the <span class="dictionary">members</span> or the <span class="dictionary">directors</span> of a <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> that complies with this section is effective among the <span class="dictionary">members</span> or <span class="dictionary">directors</span> and the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>, even though it is inconsistent with one or more other provisions of this chapter in that it: <a id="paragraph-277456" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Eliminates the <span class="dictionary">board of directors</span> or, subject to the requirements of subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Required officers" href="/13.1-872/">13.1-872</a>, one or more officers, or restricts the discretion or powers of the <span class="dictionary">board of directors</span> or any one or more officers; <a id="paragraph-277457" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Establishes who shall be directors or officers of the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>, or their terms of office or manner of selection or removal; <a id="paragraph-277458" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Governs, in general or in regard to specific matters, the exercise or division of <span class="dictionary">voting power</span> by or between the <span class="dictionary">members</span> and directors or by or among any of them, including use of weighted voting rights or <span class="dictionary">director</span> proxies; <a id="paragraph-277459" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Establishes the terms and conditions of any agreement for the transfer or use of property or the provision of services between the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> and any <span class="dictionary">member</span>, <span class="dictionary">director</span>, officer or employee of the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>, or among any of them; <a id="paragraph-277460" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Transfers to one or more <span class="dictionary">members</span>, directors or other <span class="dictionary">persons</span> all or part of the authority to exercise the corporate powers or to manage the business and affairs of the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>, including the resolution of any <span class="dictionary">issue</span> about which there exists a deadlock among directors or <span class="dictionary">members</span>; <a id="paragraph-277461" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Requires dissolution of the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> at the request of one or more of the <span class="dictionary">members</span>, or directors, in the case of a <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> that has no <span class="dictionary">members</span> or in which the <span class="dictionary">members</span> have no voting rights, or upon the occurrence of a specified event or contingency; or <a id="paragraph-277462" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Otherwise governs the exercise of the corporate powers or the management of the business and affairs of the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> or the relationship among the <span class="dictionary">members</span>, the directors and the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>, or among any of them, and is not contrary to public policy. <a id="paragraph-277463" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#A7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> An agreement authorized by this section shall be: <a id="paragraph-277464" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> a. Set forth in the <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> or bylaws and approved by all <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who are <span class="dictionary">members</span> or, if there are no <span class="dictionary">members</span> or the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">members</span> do not have voting rights, by all <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who are directors at the time of the agreement; or
				b. Set forth in a <span class="dictionary">written</span> agreement that is signed by all <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who are <span class="dictionary">members</span> or, if there are no <span class="dictionary">members</span> or the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">members</span> do not have voting rights, by all <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who are directors at the time of the agreement; <a id="paragraph-277465" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Subject to amendment only by all <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who are <span class="dictionary">members</span> or, if the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">members</span> do not have voting rights, by all <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who are directors at the time of the amendment, unless the agreement provides otherwise; and <a id="paragraph-277466" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Valid for an unlimited duration, if the agreement is set forth in the <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> or bylaws, unless the agreement shall be otherwise amended by the <span class="dictionary">members</span> or the directors, as the case may be; or if the agreement is set forth in a <span class="dictionary">written</span> agreement, as set forth in the agreement except that the duration of an agreement that became effective prior to July 1, 2015, remains 10 years unless the agreement provided otherwise or is subsequently amended to provide otherwise. <a id="paragraph-277467" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The existence of an agreement authorized by this section shall be noted conspicuously on the front or back of each certificate evidencing membership, if any. The failure to note the existence of the agreement on the certificate shall not affect the validity of the agreement or any action taken pursuant to it. <a id="paragraph-277468" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> An agreement authorized by this section shall cease to be effective when the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> has more than 300 <span class="dictionary">members</span> of record. If the agreement ceases to be effective for any reason, the <span class="dictionary">board of directors</span> may, if the agreement is contained or referred to in the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> or bylaws, adopt an amendment to the <span class="dictionary">articles of incorporation</span> or bylaws, without <span class="dictionary">member</span> action, to delete the agreement and any references to it. <a id="paragraph-277469" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> An agreement authorized by this section that limits the discretion or powers of the <span class="dictionary">board of directors</span> shall relieve the directors of, and impose upon the <span class="dictionary">person</span> or <span class="dictionary">persons</span> in whom such discretion or powers are vested, liability for acts or omissions imposed by <span class="dictionary">law</span> on directors to the extent that the discretion or powers of the directors are limited by the agreement. <a id="paragraph-277470" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> The existence or performance of an agreement authorized by this section shall not be a ground for imposing personal liability on any <span class="dictionary">member</span> for the acts or debts of the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> even if the agreement or its performance treats the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> as if it were a partnership or results in a failure to observe the corporate formalities otherwise applicable to the matters governed by the agreement. <a id="paragraph-277471" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> Incorporators or subscribers for <span class="dictionary">membership interests</span> may act as <span class="dictionary">members</span> or directors with respect to an agreement authorized by this section if no <span class="dictionary">members</span> have been elected or appointed or, in the case of a <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> that has no <span class="dictionary">members</span>, no directors are elected or holding office when the agreement was made. <a id="paragraph-277472" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H"><p><span class="prefix-number">H.</span> No action taken pursuant to this section shall change any requirement to file articles or other <span class="dictionary">documents</span> with the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or affect the rights of any <span class="dictionary">creditors</span> or other third parties. <a id="paragraph-277473" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#H"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="I"><p><span class="prefix-number">I.</span> An agreement among the <span class="dictionary">members</span> or the directors of a <span class="dictionary">corporation</span> that is consistent with the other provisions of this chapter that does not comply with the provisions of this section shall nonetheless be effective among the <span class="dictionary">members</span>, the directors, and the <span class="dictionary">corporation</span>. <a id="paragraph-277474" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/13.1-852.1/#I"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1991, c. 132; 1997, c. 217; 2007, c. 925; 2015, c. 611.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
