Partners in a partnership are fiduciaries to each other. This relationship means that they owe each other, and the business, certain basic duties. For example, they must be truthful to each other regarding anything relating to the partnership itself, property owned by the partnership and the other partners. Thus, it would be a violation of these duties if a partner embezzled money from the business, misused or abused property belonging to the partnership, or tried to take advantage of another partner. Related to these fiduciary duties, the partners also have a duty of loyalty, which means that they must remain loyal to the partnership. Thus, a partner cannot do business with another company which is at odds with the partnership, nor can he or she conduct any side business which places them in competition with the business of the partnership itself.
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