What it means
One or more shareholders may create a voting trust by signing an agreement that sets out the trust's provisions and transferring their shares to the trustee, who then has the right to vote or otherwise act for them. The agreement may include anything consistent with the trust's purpose.
When the agreement is signed, the trustee must prepare a list of the names and addresses of all beneficial owners, with the number and class of shares each transferred, and deliver copies of the list and agreement to the corporation at its principal office. Once filed there, the copy is open to inspection during business hours by any shareholder (subject to s. 607.1602(3)) or any beneficiary of the trust under the agreement.
The voting trust becomes effective on the date the first shares subject to it are registered in the trustee's name (subsection (2)). The text of the section states no maximum duration.
- A voting trust is created by a signed agreement and a transfer of shares to a trustee (§ 607.0730(1)).
- The trustee has the right to vote or otherwise act for the shareholders (§ 607.0730(1)).
- The trustee prepares a list of beneficial owners and delivers it, with the agreement, to the corporation's principal office (§ 607.0730(1)).
- The filed copy is open to inspection by any shareholder (subject to s. 607.1602(3)) or trust beneficiary during business hours (§ 607.0730(1)).
- The trust is effective on the date the first shares are registered in the trustee's name (§ 607.0730(2)).
- A voting agreement under s. 607.0731 is not subject to this section (§ 607.0731(1)).
Text of the statute (2026)
(1) One or more shareholders may create a voting trust, conferring on a trustee the right to vote or otherwise act for him or her or for them, by signing an agreement setting out the provisions of the trust (which may include anything consistent with its purpose) and transferring their shares to the trustee. When a voting trust agreement is signed, the trustee shall prepare a list of the names and addresses of all voting trust beneficial owners, together with the number and class of shares each transferred to the trust, and deliver copies of the list and agreement to the corporation at its principal office. After filing a copy of the list and agreement in the corporation’s principal office, such copy shall be open to inspection by any shareholder of the corporation (subject to the requirements of s. 607.1602(3)) or by any beneficiary of the trust under the agreement during business hours.
(2) A voting trust becomes effective on the date the first shares subject to the trust are registered in the trustee’s name.
Excerpts are the subsections the summary relies on. Read the full official text of § 607.0730.
History. s. 65, ch. 89-154; s. 18, ch. 93-281; s. 17, ch. 97-102; s. 1, ch. 98-101; s. 69, ch. 2019-90.
How it applies
A voting trust separates the right to vote shares from their beneficial ownership. After the shares are transferred, the trustee acts on the terms of the trust agreement, and the beneficial owners appear on the list kept at the corporation's principal office. A person with an interest in shares placed in a voting trust, including a personal representative, starts with that agreement and list to see the trustee's authority and the owners' rights. The section requires only the agreement, the transfer, the list, and registration; the agreement's other terms are left to the parties.
Where this shows up
Pages on this site where § 607.0730 does real work:
Questions people ask
Sources
- Florida Statutes (2026), section 607.0730 (Subsection (1): creation, list of beneficial owners, inspection; (2): effective date.)
- Florida Statutes (2026), section 607.0731 (Subsection (1): voting agreements are not subject to s. 607.0730.)
Last checked: October 17, 2026
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