Internal Revenue Code: Federal tax legislation governing the tax treatment of dividend distributions and reporting requirements
Securities Exchange Act of 1934: Federal law governing securities trading and corporate reporting requirements for publicly traded companies regarding dividend declarations
Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002: Federal legislation establishing corporate governance and financial reporting requirements that may affect dividend declaration processes
State Corporation Laws: State-specific laws (such as Delaware General Corporation Law) governing corporate actions including dividend declarations and restrictions
Balance Sheet Test: Legal requirement to verify sufficient surplus exists for dividend distribution according to company's balance sheet
Solvency Test: Legal requirement to ensure company can pay its debts as they become due after dividend distribution
Articles of Incorporation: Company's foundational document that may contain specific provisions regarding dividend declarations and restrictions
Corporate Bylaws: Internal governance rules that may specify procedures and requirements for dividend declarations
Shareholder Agreements: Contracts between shareholders that may contain provisions affecting dividend distribution rights and procedures
SEC Requirements: Securities and Exchange Commission regulations governing dividend declarations and disclosures for public companies
Stock Exchange Rules: Requirements set by stock exchanges regarding dividend declarations and notifications for listed companies
Capital Maintenance Requirements: Legal rules requiring maintenance of minimum capital levels to protect creditors when declaring dividends
Fiduciary Duties: Legal obligations of board members to act in the best interest of the company when declaring dividends
Equal Treatment Principle: Legal requirement to treat all shareholders within the same class equally in dividend distributions
