Wash. Rev. Code » Title 23B · Chapter 23B.16
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 23B.16.020 (2026)

Inspection of records by shareholders

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section WA-LEGapp.leg.wa.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
(1) A shareholder of a corporation is entitled to inspect and copy, during regular business hours at the corporation's principal office, any of the records of the corporation described in RCW 23B.16.010(5) if the shareholder gives the corporation an executed written notice of the shareholder's demand at least five business days before the date on which the shareholder wishes to inspect and copy.
(2) A shareholder of a corporation is entitled to inspect and copy, during regular business hours at a reasonable location specified by the corporation, any of the following records of the corporation if the shareholder meets the requirements of subsection (3) of this section and gives the corporation an executed written notice of the shareholder's demand at least five business days before the date on which the shareholder wishes to inspect and copy:
(a) Excerpts from minutes of any meeting of the board of directors, or of any meeting of a committee of the board of directors while exercising the authority of the board of directors, minutes of any meeting of the shareholders, and records of corporate actions approved by the shareholders or board of directors or a committee thereof without a meeting, to the extent not subject to inspection under subsection (1) of this section;
(b) Accounting records of the corporation; and
(c) The record of shareholders.
(3) A shareholder may inspect and copy the records described in subsection (2) of this section only if:
(a) The shareholder's demand is made in good faith and for a proper purpose;
(b) The shareholder describes with reasonable particularity the shareholder's purpose and the records the shareholder desires to inspect; and
(c) The records are directly connected with the shareholder's purpose.
(4) The right of inspection granted by this section may not be abolished or limited by a corporation's articles of incorporation or bylaws.
(5) This section does not affect:
(a) The right of a shareholder to inspect records under RCW 23B.07.200 or, if the shareholder is in litigation with the corporation, to the same extent as any other litigant; or
(b) The power of a court, independently of this title, to compel the production of corporate records for examination.
(6) For purposes of this section, "shareholder" includes a beneficial owner whose shares are held in a voting trust or by a nominee on the beneficial owner's behalf.
[ 2020 c 57 s 74; 2009 c 189 s 55; 2002 c 297 s 46; 1989 c 165 s 183.]
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2007–2025 · leading case: Richard Fortin, V. Callum Herdson, 530 P.3d 220 (Wash. Ct. App. 2023).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Richard Fortin, V. Callum Herdson, 530 P.3d 220 (Wash. Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 6× “8 In response, Herdson contends he was entitled to the financial documents under RCW 23B.16.020. At the time of Herdson’s request, RCW 23B.”
Nakata v. Blue Bird, Inc., 191 P.3d 900 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “360; RCW 23B.16.020. Ms. Nakata claims that Blue Bird refused to provide records.”
Nakata v. Blue Bird, Inc., 191 P.3d 900 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “Nakata requested a number of documents and asked a number of questions.”
McCormick v. Dunn & Black, PS, 167 P.3d 610 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “He argues that, as a shareholder, he has the right to confidential client information under RCW 23B.16.020 that cannot be revealed to those outside the attorney-client relationship.”
Scotsman Guide, Inc., V. Brian Simmons (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 34× “(SGI), appeals from rulings on cross motions for summary judgment in a declaratory judgment action initiated by SGI that stemmed from Simmons’ request for corporate records under RCW 23B.16.020. SGI had been voluntarily producing similar records for several years after Simmons’…”
James Robinson Scott Smith v. Am. Legion Dep't (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 2× “16 RCW, and that the records subject to inspection under RCW23B.16.020 included “all records related to the income and expenses of [ALWAJ” but not “employee complaints” or “records of lawsuits.”
Larry Costello, Et Ano. v. Tanner Elec. Coop. (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “020, that "Cooperative association members have the right to inspect and copy business records, including accounting records, excerpts from minutes of any meeting of the board of directions, and the record of shareholders.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 23B.16.020(1) — 3 cases
Nakata v. Blue Bird, Inc., 191 P.3d 900 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). “360; RCW 23B.16.020. Ms. Nakata claims that Blue Bird refused to provide records.”
Richard Fortin, V. Callum Herdson, 530 P.3d 220 (Wash. Ct. App. 2023). “8 In response, Herdson contends he was entitled to the financial documents under RCW 23B.16.020. At the time of Herdson’s request, RCW 23B.”
Scotsman Guide, Inc., V. Brian Simmons (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “(SGI), appeals from rulings on cross motions for summary judgment in a declaratory judgment action initiated by SGI that stemmed from Simmons’ request for corporate records under RCW 23B.16.020. SGI had been voluntarily producing similar records for several years after Simmons’…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 23B.16.020(1)(3) — 1 case
Nakata v. Blue Bird, Inc., 191 P.3d 900 (Wash. Ct. App. 2008). “Nakata requested a number of documents and asked a number of questions.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 23B.16.020(2) — 2 cases
Scotsman Guide, Inc., V. Brian Simmons (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “(SGI), appeals from rulings on cross motions for summary judgment in a declaratory judgment action initiated by SGI that stemmed from Simmons’ request for corporate records under RCW 23B.16.020. SGI had been voluntarily producing similar records for several years after Simmons’…”
James Robinson Scott Smith v. Am. Legion Dep't (Wash. Ct. App. 2019). “16 RCW, and that the records subject to inspection under RCW23B.16.020 included “all records related to the income and expenses of [ALWAJ” but not “employee complaints” or “records of lawsuits.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 23B.16.020(2)(b) — 1 case
Richard Fortin, V. Callum Herdson, 530 P.3d 220 (Wash. Ct. App. 2023). “8 In response, Herdson contends he was entitled to the financial documents under RCW 23B.16.020. At the time of Herdson’s request, RCW 23B.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 23B.16.020(3) — 2 cases
Richard Fortin, V. Callum Herdson, 530 P.3d 220 (Wash. Ct. App. 2023). “8 In response, Herdson contends he was entitled to the financial documents under RCW 23B.16.020. At the time of Herdson’s request, RCW 23B.”
Scotsman Guide, Inc., V. Brian Simmons (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “(SGI), appeals from rulings on cross motions for summary judgment in a declaratory judgment action initiated by SGI that stemmed from Simmons’ request for corporate records under RCW 23B.16.020. SGI had been voluntarily producing similar records for several years after Simmons’…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 23B.16.020(3)(a) — 1 case
Scotsman Guide, Inc., V. Brian Simmons (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “(SGI), appeals from rulings on cross motions for summary judgment in a declaratory judgment action initiated by SGI that stemmed from Simmons’ request for corporate records under RCW 23B.16.020. SGI had been voluntarily producing similar records for several years after Simmons’…”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.