Short answer. Yes, if you knew it was false. Under Article 1847, where the certificate contains a false statement, anyone who suffers loss by relying on it may hold liable any party to the certificate who knew the statement to be false — either when he signed, or afterwards with enough time to correct it before it was relied upon.

What the law says

one who suffers loss by reliance on such statement may hold liable any party to the certificate who knew the statement to be false

Civil Code, Article 1847 — Liability for a False Certificate. Read the full provision →

Liability for a known falsehood

Signing the certificate of a limited partnership is not a formality without consequence. Article 1847 provides that if the certificate contains a false statement, one who suffers loss by reliance on such statement may hold liable any party to the certificate who knew the statement to be false. So a person harmed because he relied on something untrue in the certificate can recover from the signatory who knew it was untrue.

Knowledge is the essential element

The article does not impose liability for every inaccuracy — it turns on knowledge. Liability attaches only to a party who knew the statement to be false. A signatory who honestly believed the certificate was accurate, and had no reason to know otherwise, is not made liable by this article for an error that later turns out to be there. What the article targets is the party who put his name to something he knew was untrue, or who let a known falsehood stand. So the decisive question in a claim under this article is not merely whether the statement was false and caused loss, but whether the particular signatory knew it was false.

Two moments the knowledge can arise

The article recognises that a party may learn of the falsity at either of two times. A signatory is exposed if he knew the statement was false at the time he signed the certificate. But he is also exposed if he came to know later — subsequently, but within a sufficient time before the statement was relied upon to enable him to cancel or amend the certificate, or to seek its cancellation or amendment. In other words, learning after signing that the certificate is false is not a safe harbour if you had time to fix it and did nothing.

Before you sign a certificate

For anyone asked to sign a limited-partnership certificate, the practical rules are simple. Do not sign a statement you know to be untrue — your liability runs to anyone who later relies on it and loses. Check the particulars you can verify, especially those about your own contribution and role, before putting your name to them. And if you later discover that something in the certificate is false, act on it: move to amend or cancel it while there is still time, rather than letting a known falsehood sit. The safe course is honesty at signing and prompt correction afterwards, because the exposure attaches to what you knew, at both moments.

Related provisions

Note. Statute text quoted on this page is reproduced from the official enactment and is linked to the full provision. The explanation around it is general legal information from Vivas & Nobles Law Office, not legal advice. Whether it applies to your situation depends on facts only a lawyer reviewing them can assess.