The Limited Liability Limited Partnership (LLLP)

When choosing an organizational form, as if business owners did not have enough "initials" to contend with (LLC, LLP, PLLC, LP, PC), a new business form--the LLLP--is beginning to emerge in the law.

What is an LLLP? It is a limited liability limited partnership or, more specifically, a limited partnership (LP) that registers under state law so the general partner will have limited liability, similar to the limited partners. This is similar to the process of a general partnership registering to be recognized as a limited liability partnership (LLP), so that all of the owners have limited liability.

The LLP is a general partnership that registers in the LLP form. Likewise, an LLLP is a limited partnership that registers in the LLLP form.

The LLLP form primarily is used to convert an existing limited partnership previously created under state law. However, it also will probably prove popular as an alternative to forming an LLC in those states that allow foreclosure of an owner's business interest, and forced liquidation of the business, by the owner's personal creditors.

States Allowing Limited Liability Limited Partnerships as of January 1, 2011

Alabama	Arizona	Arkansas
Colorado	Delaware	District of Columbia
Florida	Georgia	Hawaii
Idaho	Illinois	Iowa
Kansas	Kentucky	Maine
Maryland	Minnesota	Missouri
Nevada	New Mexico	North Carolina
North Dakota	Ohio	Oklahoma
Pennsylvania	Rhode Island	South Dakota
Tennessee	Texas	Virginia
Wyoming