Which type of liability is common for shareholders in a corporation?

Shareholders in a corporation typically have limited liability, meaning their financial responsibility for the corporation’s debts is confined to the amount they invested in the corporation. This structure protects personal assets from being used to satisfy corporate debts or liabilities. If the corporation incurs debts or faces lawsuits, the most a shareholder can lose is the value of their shares; they are not personally liable for any additional financial obligations of the corporation beyond their investment.

In contrast, unlimited liability would obligate shareholders to cover corporate debts with their personal assets, which is not the case in a typical corporate structure. Joint liability generally pertains to partnerships where all partners share responsibility for the obligations of the partnership. Contingent liability involves obligations that may become due depending on the outcome of a future event, which also doesn’t apply directly to the standard liabilities faced by shareholders in a corporation.