In an action against a corporation which has forfeited its charter or right to do business, or has dissolved, the court in which the action is pending has jurisdiction over all the trustees of such corporation and of its stockholders or members from the time summons is served on one of the trustees as provided by Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 413.10).
§ 410.60.Action Against Corporation Which Has Forfeited Charter Or Right to Do Business Or Dissolved
Title 5. Jurisdiction and Service of Process · Chapter 1. Jurisdiction and Forum · Article 3. Jurisdiction in Action · Enacted 1610 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 410.60 gives a California court jurisdiction over all the trustees and stockholders or members of a corporation that has forfeited its charter, lost its right to do business, or dissolved, once summons is served on one of the trustees.
Full Text of § 410.60
Plain-English Summary
A corporation that has forfeited its charter, lost its right to do business, or dissolved is not beyond a lawsuit’s reach. Section 410.60 provides that once summons is served on one of the corporation’s trustees, in the manner set out in Chapter 4 of this Title, the court gains jurisdiction over all of the corporation’s trustees and over its stockholders or members as a group.
This section works together with § 416.20, which specifies the actual mechanics of serving such a corporation, and with § 410.70’s treatment of jointly liable defendants. Together they let a plaintiff pursue a claim against a defunct corporate entity’s successors in interest without having to track down and separately serve every individual trustee, stockholder, or member.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you still sue a corporation that has dissolved or lost its charter in California?
Yes. Section 410.60 gives the court jurisdiction over the corporation’s trustees and its stockholders or members once summons is served on one of the trustees under Chapter 4 of this Title.
Do you have to serve every trustee, stockholder, and member individually?
No. Under § 410.60, serving summons on one trustee, in the manner provided by Chapter 4, gives the court jurisdiction over all of the trustees and over the stockholders or members as a group.
How is a forfeited or dissolved corporation served with a summons?
Section 416.20 sets out the specific manner of service for a corporation that has forfeited its charter, lost its right to do business, or dissolved; § 410.60 addresses the jurisdictional effect of that service.
Amendment History
Added by Stats. 1969, Ch. 1610.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: suing a dissolved corporation californiajurisdiction over forfeited corporation trusteesservice on dissolved corporation california