Which provision generally applies to the financial obligations of stockholders in a corporation?

In a corporation, the general rule regarding the financial obligations of stockholders is that their liability is limited to unpaid subscriptions. This means that stockholders are not personally liable for the debts of the corporation beyond their investment in shares. If a stockholder has fully paid for their shares, they typically have no further financial obligations to the corporation, making their risk limited to the amount they invested.

This structure is one of the primary advantages of operating as a corporation, as it protects stockholders from the corporation's financial liabilities. Such protection encourages investment since stockholders do not risk losing more than their initial investment in the company.

In contrast to this principle, other options suggest a broader scope of personal liability for stockholders. Unlimited liability would imply that stockholders would be responsible for all corporate debts, which is not the case in a corporation. Additionally, personal guarantees for corporate debts or liability only applicable to profit distributions do not align with the typical protections offered to stockholders in a corporation. These incorrect options fail to reflect the foundational concept of limited liability that characterizes corporate structures.