What is adjournment of meeting?

Definition

Adjournment of a meeting means officially ending or pausing a board meeting. It’s usually declared by the chairperson once the agenda has been completed or when the board decides to continue the meeting at another time.

Adjournment can either close the meeting entirely or set a date to pick it up later — depending on the situation and board needs.

Types of adjournment

• Final Adjournment – The meeting ends completely, and no further discussion will take place under that session.
• Adjourned Meeting (or Continuation) – The board decides to pause and resume the meeting at a later time to finish unresolved items.

Why boards adjourn meetings

Adjournment helps keep board meetings structured, documented, and legally compliant. It also:

• Marks the official close of board business
• Signals when meeting minutes can be finalized
• Creates space to revisit complex or time-sensitive issues later
• Makes sure no informal decisions are made after the meeting ends

Typical adjournment process

1. Chair confirms that the agenda is complete
2. Any final comments or motions are addressed
3. Chair announces the meeting is adjourned
4. Time of adjournment is recorded in the minutes

Some boards require a motion and vote to adjourn — especially if they follow Robert’s Rules of Order.

Quick summary

• Adjournment is the formal way to end or pause a board meeting
• It helps wrap up the meeting clearly and keeps documentation clean
• Some meetings are adjourned and later resumed to finish business
• Board portals simplify and automate the process for governance teams

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