Who is liable for debts in a Swedish trading partnership?
Two or more parties must agree to conduct business together and the partnership must be entered in the trade register. Partners are jointly and severally liable for partnership obligations. A creditor can therefore claim the entire debt from one partner.
Source status
- Source reference registered, source text not re-verified
Lag (1980:1102) om handelsbolag och enkla bolag
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What the rules say
- Two or more parties must agree to conduct business together and the partnership must be entered in the trade register.
- Partners are jointly and severally liable for partnership obligations. A creditor can therefore claim the entire debt from one partner.
- A trading partnership can acquire rights and assume obligations. A simple partnership cannot do so.
The requirements line by line
| Question | Requirement | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Formation | Two or more parties must agree to conduct business together and the partnership must be entered in the trade register. | Lag (1980:1102) om handelsbolag och enkla bolag |
| Joint and several liability | Partners are jointly and severally liable for partnership obligations. A creditor can therefore claim the entire debt from one partner. | Lag (1980:1102) om handelsbolag och enkla bolag |
| Legal personality | A trading partnership can acquire rights and assume obligations. A simple partnership cannot do so. | Lag (1980:1102) om handelsbolag och enkla bolag |
What it means for the company
Review the agreement, debts and signing authority before joining. An internal agreement does not itself remove a creditor’s rights.
What it means for the individual
Personal liability depends on your role, any personal guarantees and the circumstances of the individual case.
Source lines
- Svensk författningssamling, RiksdagenLag (1980:1102) om handelsbolag och enkla bolag · read 2026-10-30 · proof 86cbca136c483c20
Next step
Review the agreement, debts and signing authority before joining. An internal agreement does not itself remove a creditor’s rights.
This page reports what the sources say, with the identifier and address of the publisher. It is not legal advice and does not decide an individual matter.
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