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dissolutionDate
dissolutionDate · Optional
Appears in
What is it?
dissolutionDate records the date an organization ceased to exist as a legal or operational entity. It accepts a date string in ISO 8601 format (YYYY-MM-DD). This field applies to organizations that have permanently closed, merged into another entity, or been dissolved through bankruptcy or regulatory action.
Why this matters for AEO
AI answer engines maintain entity knowledge graphs that include organizational lifecycle information. When users ask "is [company] still operating?" or "what happened to [company]?", a structured dissolutionDate provides a definitive, machine-readable answer. Without it, AI systems must infer operational status from indirect signals (recent news, web presence, domain activity), which can produce incorrect or uncertain answers. For merged, acquired, or bankrupt organizations whose pages still exist on the web, dissolutionDate prevents AI systems from treating a defunct entity as active. This field is also relevant for historical databases, M&A tracking, and industry research tools that consume structured data.
What the specs say
Schema.org:dissolutionDate expects a Date value. The date that this organization was dissolved. The range is Organization. [Source: https://schema.org/dissolutionDate]
Google: Not mentioned in Google's structured data documentation for Organization. [Source: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/organization]
How to find your value
For legal dissolution, the date appears in:
- Government business registry filings (Companies House, SEC, state incorporation records)
- Court documents for bankruptcy cases
- Official press releases announcing closure
- News coverage with a specific last day of operations
For mergers and acquisitions, use the date the original entity ceased to exist as an independent legal entity (the closing date of the transaction, not the announcement date).
Date format: YYYY-MM-DD. Use the most precise date available. If only the year is known, use YYYY (schema.org Date accepts partial dates).
Format and code
Simple dissolution with date:
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "Pets.com",
"url": "https://pets.com",
"foundingDate": "1998-01-01",
"dissolutionDate": "2000-11-07",
"description": "Online pet supply retailer that launched during the dot-com boom and closed in November 2000."
}
Organization that merged into another entity:
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "Whole Foods Market",
"url": "https://wholefoodsmarket.com",
"foundingDate": "1980-09-20",
"dissolutionDate": "2017-08-28",
"description": "Whole Foods Market was acquired by Amazon and ceased to exist as an independent public company on August 28, 2017."
}
Combined with founding information for a complete lifecycle record:
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "Lehman Brothers",
"foundingDate": "1847-01-01",
"dissolutionDate": "2008-09-15",
"description": "Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy on September 15, 2008, the largest bankruptcy filing in US history at the time.",
"sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lehman_Brothers"
}
Webflow implementation
Static pages
For pages dedicated to historical organizations (e.g., a company history site or industry directory that includes defunct companies), add the JSON-LD in Page Settings > Custom Code. The dissolution date is static once set.
CMS template pages
In a CMS-driven company directory that tracks historical entities, store dissolutionDate as a date field. When present, output it in the JSON-LD embed. When absent (for active companies), omit the field rather than passing null or empty string.
In Schema HQ
Support is available for dissolutionDate as a date field in the Organization schema editor. Leave it blank for active organizations. Enter the date in YYYY-MM-DD format for dissolved entities.
Real examples
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Organization",
"name": "Silicon Graphics International",
"alternateName": "SGI",
"foundingDate": "1982-01-01",
"dissolutionDate": "2016-08-01",
"description": "SGI was acquired by Hewlett Packard Enterprise in 2016.",
"sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_Graphics"
}
Related fields
FAQ
Should active organizations include dissolutionDate?
No. Active organizations should omit this field entirely. Do not set it to null or leave it blank in the JSON-LD output, as some parsers treat an empty date field as an error.
What date should be used when a company was acquired?
Use the closing date of the acquisition transaction, which is the date the original entity officially ceased to exist as an independent legal entity. The announcement date is a different event and should not be used.
Can dissolutionDate use partial dates?
Yes. Schema.org Date accepts YYYY, YYYY-MM, and YYYY-MM-DD formats. Use the most precise date available. If only the year of dissolution is known, "2008" is valid.
