The board of directors of Weston Company declared a cash dividend of $1.50 per share on 42,000 shares of common stock on July 15, 2007. The dividend is to be paid on August 15, 2007, to stockholders of record on July 31, 2007. The effects of the journal entry to record the payment of the dividend on August 15, 2007 are to:

a) decrease stockholders' equity and decrease liabilities.

b) increase stockholders' equity and decrease assets.

c) decrease liabilities and decrease assets.

d) increase stockholders' equity and increase liabilities.