Reasons to ‘Dust Off’ a Shareholders’ Agreement

All About Estates
By Sébastien Desmarais
April 7th, 2026

A shareholders’ agreement is an important document to shareholders and businesses. Ensure it is up to date and accurate.

It is common to suggest shareholders enter into a shareholders’ agreement, where each shareholder assumes certain rights and obligations relating to the business of the corporation. The shareholders’ agreement typically includes provisions dealing with the management of the business and future transfers of shares upon death or other circumstances.

Unfortunately, once the shareholders’ agreement is signed, it is often filed in the corporate minute book and never reviewed by the signatories. It may be time to dust off your shareholders’ agreement to understand the rights and provisions, and —if needed— amend the document so it remains accurate and relevant.

There are several reasons to review a shareholders’ agreement every 3 to 5 years. This article will highlight some provisions that should be reviewed and understood…