In determining whether a partnership exists, these rules shall apply:
- (1) Except as provided by section 16 of this chapter, persons who are not partners as to each other are not partners as to third persons.
- (2) Joint tenancy, tenancy in common, tenancy by the entireties, joint property, common property, or part ownership does not of itself establish a partnership, whether such co-owners do or do not share any profits made by the use of the property.
- (3) The sharing of gross returns does not of itself establish a partnership, whether or not the persons sharing them have a joint or common right or interest in any property from which the returns are derived.
- (4) The receipt by a person of a share of the profits of a business is prima facie evidence that the person is a partner in the business, but no such inference shall be drawn if such profits were received in payment for the following:
- (a) As a debt by installments or otherwise.
- (b) As wages of an employee or rent to a landlord.
- (c) As an annuity to a widow or representative of a deceased partner.
- (d) As interest on a loan though the amount of payment varies with the profits of the business.
- (e) As the consideration for the sale of a goodwill of a business or other property by installments or otherwise.
- (5) The existence of a partnership is not affected by the following:
- (a) The filing or failure or omission to file an original or renewal registration as a limited liability partnership under section 45 of this chapter.
- (b) The expiration of a partnership's status as a limited liability partnership.
- (c) The filing of a notice of withdrawal under section 45 of this chapter.
As amended by P.L.34-1987, SEC.292; P.L.230-1995, SEC.3; P.L.34-1997, SEC.7.