What kind of documents do I need for starting an overseas business partnership? How to sign contract/agreement?

Attorney answers (2)

1. 

   Peter LamontPro

   Hawthorne Business Attorney

   Contributor Level 15

   

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   Answered July 20, 2012 12:31. This type of partnership can be accomplished but I suggest that you hire an attorney as this can be very complicated. We recently assisted an individual who is creating a partnership with an entity in Germany. It took roughly 3 weeks to get everything in order because of the complexity.

   Peter J. Lamont, Esq. Law Offices of Peter J. Lamont 623 Lafayette Avenue, Suite 2, Hawthorne, NJ 07506 Phone: (... morePeter J. Lamont, Esq. Law Offices of Peter J. Lamont 623 Lafayette Avenue, Suite 2, Hawthorne, NJ 07506 Phone: (973) 949-3770 Fax: (866) 603-0471 Toll Free: (855) NJLAW01 (855) 655-2901 www.peterlamontesq.com Additional Offices in Massapequa, NY, Monument, CO, San Juan, PR and affiliates throughout the country. PLEASE NOTE: The above statements are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Transmission of the information is not intended to create, and the receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship between sender and receiver. You should not act or rely on any information contained on this site without first seeking the advice of an attorney. less

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2. 

   Bruce Givner

   Los Angeles Tax Lawyer

   Contributor Level 16

   Answered July 21, 2012 13:43. You can probably use a limited liability company for this business. The issue is "where will the LLC be established?" Will the LLC be established in New York? Or will you be better off establishing it in an offshore jurisdiction, e.g., Belize, and having that LLC register to do business in various places in the U.S.? You do not have to be in the same location in order to "sign" the contract; you can "sign" the contract in your respective locations and then send copies, as signed to each other. Both copies together constitute one signed agreement.
   
   You need a competent business lawyer to help you determine how profits and responsibilities are to be divided, and how capital is to be contributed, among many other important decisions. There will also be important tax filings for which you will need a competent CPA. For example, as a U.S. person with 50% of a foreign partnership (if that's what you decide upon) you will need to file an IRS Form 8865. You may also have to file a Form 8938 under FATCA (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act).

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