when do you need permission by the attorney general for a certificate of dissolution

by Mr. Jo Crona Jr. 5 min read

How do I file a certificate of dissolution?

The Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts requires a letter signed by a director or attorney requesting a waiver of objections to dissolution and an executed California Secretary of State, Certificate of Dissolution. Trust. Charitable Trusts do not dissolve in the same way as nonprofit corporations.

Why does the Attorney General need to review a proposed dissolution?

No assets shall be transferred or conveyed by a public benefit or religious corporation as part of the dissolution process until twenty days after it has given adequate written notice to the Attorney General or until the Attorney General has consented in writing to the dissolution or indicated in writing that he or she will take no action with respect to the transfer or conveyance, whichever …

Why is the Secretary of State involved in the dissolution process?

What do I need to do to get approval to dissolve a charity or merge with another charity? All Michigan nonprofits must obtain the Attorney General's approval, or our letter stating that approval is not necessary, before submitting a Certificate of Dissolution to the Corporation Division of the Bureau of Commercial Services, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

Where do I publish a notice of dissolution of a corporation?

Notice Or Attorney General Approval Page 2. Voluntary Dissolution Requires 20 days’ advance notice or waiver of notice by the Attorney General . A charitable corporation may not dispose of its assets upon dissolution without submitting the transaction to the Attorney General or seeking approval of the court. If submitted to the Attorney

How do I dissolve a single member LLC in NY?

To dissolve your New York LLC, you must submit the completed Articles of Dissolution form to the New York Department of State by mail, fax or in person, along with the filing fee. The New York Department of State does not require original signatures on filed documents.Oct 30, 2014

How do I dissolve a nonprofit in NY?

Generally speaking, New York's Not-for-Profit Corporation Law ("N-PCL") provides for voluntary dissolution through either:a vote of the directors and a vote of the members; or.if there are no members, a vote of the directors.

What are the grounds for dissolution of a corporation?

A state may bring an action to dissolve a corporation on one of five grounds: failure to file an annual report or pay taxes, fraud in procuring incorporation, exceeding or abusing authority conferred, failure for thirty days to appoint and maintain a registered agent, and failure to notify the state of a change of ...

How do you dissolve a nonprofit organization?

Steps to Dissolving a NonprofitFile a final form. In this type of dissolution, the IRS mandates that the board of directors of the nonprofit organization complete certain requirements to "dissolve," or shut down, the 501(c)(3). ... Vote for dissolution. ... File Form 990. ... File the paperwork.Sep 22, 2020

When should a nonprofit dissolve?

An organization has to make the difficult and momentous decision to close for two kinds of reasons: (1) involuntary reasons (e.g., an external shutdown is required, usually initiated through the state's attorney general's office or the office of the secretary of state) and (2) voluntary ones (e.g., mission has been ...Aug 18, 2017

What happens when a 501c3 dissolves?

Financial Actions Once the decision has been made to dissolve, the nonprofit must stop transacting business, except to wind down its activities. The assets of a charitable nonprofit can only be used for exempt purposes. 6 This means that assets may not go to staff or board members.Nov 30, 2020

Who issues the certificate of dissolution?

the Commission– Within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the Verified Request for Dissolution including complete and correct supporting documents and in the absence of any withdrawal within said period, the Commission shall approve the request and issue the Certificate of Dissolution.Apr 12, 2021

What happens to assets when a corporation is dissolved?

Liquidation of Assets After a company is dissolved, it must liquidate its assets. ... Thus, you can't liquidate assets that are used as collateral for loans. Assets used as security for loans must be given to the bank or creditor that extended the loan, or you must pay off the loan before selling such assets.

How long does a dissolution of a corporation take place?

Estimated Period of Completion when Dissolving a Corporation Assuming all documentary requirements are filed with the SEC, an application for dissolution where no creditors are affected or by shortening of corporate term, can take around one to two (1-2) months.

What is a dissolution waiver?

Once the Registry of Charitable Trusts has issued a letter of no objections to dissolution (a Dissolution Waiver Letter), your organization may proceed with the distribution of its assets before filing the Certificate of Dissolution with the Registry of Charitable Trusts and the Secretary of State's office.

Who can dissolve a 501c3?

With the resolution in hand, California law provides for voluntary dissolution in one of three ways: by majority approval of your nonprofit's members. by action of your directors followed by a vote or other consent of the members; or. if your nonprofit does not have members, by a vote of the directors.

What is a dissolution clause?

Dissolution Clause: The dissolution clause is a statement that explains what said organization will do with its assets in the event that the organization dissolves. This clause is particularly important given that the assets of a nonprofit are not owned by any person or group.Jan 16, 2022

What is a plan of dissolution?

The Plan should contain at a minimum: A list of asset (s) to be distributed in contemplation of dissolution (including cash, real and personal property), indicating if any of the assets are restricted-use.

How long does a public benefit corporation have to give notice of dissolution?

Rev. Stat. § 21-19,131. No assets shall be transferred or conveyed by a public benefit or religious corporation as part of the dissolution process until twenty days after it has given adequate written notice to the Attorney General or until the Attorney General has consented in writing to the dissolution or indicated in writing that he or she will take no action with respect to the transfer or conveyance, whichever is earlier.

When all or substantially all of the assets of a public benefit corporation have been transferred or conveyed?

When all or substantially all of the assets of a public benefit corporation have been transferred or conveyed following approval of dissolution, the board shall deliver to the Attorney General a list showing those (other than creditors) to whom the assets were transferred or conveyed.

What is the Public Safety Solicitation Act?

The Attorney General also administers the Public Safety Solicitation Act, MCL 14.301 et seq ., which covers police, firefighter and other safety organizations most of which are not charities, but which solicit from the public. 3.

Is a non profit a charity?

No. All charities are nonprofits, but not all nonprofits are charities. Generally, any organization that has received a tax-exemption from the IRS under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code is a charitable organization obligated to use its assets for charitable purposes.

What is incorporation in trust?

incorporation (if not already on file with the Registry of Charitable Trusts) and the articles of incorporation of any other corporation that is a party to the proposed action;

Who must provide advance notice to a charitable trust in California?

Any California public benefit corporation, or mutual benefit corporation holding assets subject to charitable trust, must provide advance notice to, or request waiver of notice by, the Attorney General for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the corporation’s assets.

Can a public benefit corporation merge with a religious corporation?

Without the prior written consent of the Attorney General, a public benefit corporation may onlymerge with another public benefit corporation or a religious corporation or a foreign nonprofit charitable corporation. When a public benefit corporation merges or converts into a business or mutual benefit corporation, the Attorney General requires that it first distribute all of its assets to another charity with the same or similar purposes. Applications should include:

What is a self-dealing corporation?

corporation setting forth a detailed description of the self-dealing transaction, the extent to which any director has a material financial interest in the self-dealing transaction, and all material facts concerning the self-dealing transaction;

Who can give notice to the Attorney General?

Directors may give notice to, or seek prior approval by, the Attorney General of self-dealing transactions. Notice given to the Attorney General has the effect of shortening the statute of limitations for bringing a civil action to challenge self-dealing. As an alternative, court approval may be sought.

Can a director of a public benefit corporation convert to a proprietary corporation?

Directors are not permitted to convert a public benefit corporation that has any assets to any form of proprietary corporation (e.g. a business, mutual benefit, or cooperative corporation) unless they have received the prior written consent of the Attorney General. The Attorney General requires certification that all charitable assets will be transferred to another charity as a condition to consent. Applications should include:

What is the California Health Care Act?

California law requires that any public benefit corporation that operates or controls a “health facility” (as defined in Health and Safety Code section 1250) provide written notice to the Attorney General and obtain consent prior to any sale or transfer of ownership or control of a material amount of the assets of the corporation. This requirement does not apply to nonprofit health care service plans that are subject to licensing and regulation by the California Department of Managed Care. ( See Van de Kamp v. Gumbiner, (1990) 221 Cal.App.3d 1260.)

Why do nonprofits close in Michigan?

A nonprofit corporation may close because it is no longer able to get necessary funding, the directors or members have irreconcilable differences, or the organization simply decides that it has met its goals and no longer needs to exist. Whatever the underlying reason, if you choose to close down a Michigan nonprofit corporation, you'll need to go through a process called dissolution. Dissolution requires a vote or other formal authorization, the filing of key documents with government agencies, and a group of other tasks collectively known as winding up the corporation.

What happens when a nonprofit organization closes in Michigan?

For a nonprofit that is closing down, a properly-handled dissolution achieves at least two important goals. First, it will put your organization beyond the reach of creditors and other claimants. Second, it will allow you to fulfill your legal obligations regarding the proper distribution of any remaining corporation assets.

Is Michigan a 501c3 state?

it only covers Michigan nonprofit corporations (not all nonprofits are incorporated) it only covers nonprofits that have applied to the IRS and been approved specifically as 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organizations (not all nonprofits are exempt from paying taxes, and not all tax-exempt nonprofits are 501 (c) (3) organizations) ...

What happens after a nonprofit is disbanded?

After you have dissolved your nonprofit, you may give notice of the dissolution to all of the nonprofit's creditors. Giving notice involves both publication in a newspaper and mailings directly to known creditors.

How long do you have to give notice of dissolution of a nonprofit?

If your nonprofit does not have voting members or shareholders, the board must vote to authorize the proposed dissolution. You must give 10 days' advance notice of the vote to all current directors. Approval in this case requires a majority vote of all the directors currently in office.

What is the purpose of the Attorney General's Charities Bureau?

The Attorney General’s Charities Bureau prepared this guidance to assist not-for-profit corporations that have no assets or liabilities at the time of dissolution to fulfill the requirements for dissolution pursuant to Article 10 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law ("N-PCL").

How does a board of directors adopt a plan of dissolution?

A quorum must be present and at least a majority of the directors present must vote for dissolution. Alternatively, the Board may adopt the Plan by unanimous written consent if not prohibited by the certificate of incorporation or by-laws. If there are fewer than three directors, the affirmative vote of all remaining directors is required to adopt the Plan. If only one director remains, that person should be identified as the "sole remaining director."

Do corporations have to file with the Charity Bureau?

Once the corporation files its final annual and financial report with the Charities Bureau (as requested by the Petition to the Attorney General), the corporation will no longer be required to file with the Charities Bureau and its registration will be closed.

How to dissolve an LLC?

To make sure that your company is properly closed, you must complete several steps: 1 All owners of your LLC must agree to the dissolution. 2 Outstanding fees, reports, and taxes must be filed before the State will dissolve your company. Depending on your state, you may also need to be issued a Tax Clearance. 3 You should alert creditors that you plan to end your company and settle any remaining debts. 4 Remaining assets should be allocated to company owners. You will distribute these assets based on each person's ownership percentage. 5 Alert authorities at the local, state, and federal level that your company is ending. You will need to cancel your business licenses and tax identification numbers.

Can you file articles of dissolution on your own?

Filing articles of dissolution will allow you to permanently end your company. While you can file these articles on your own, you may want help from a professional to make sure that they get filed correctly. Once you file your articles of dissolution, several events will occur.

How do religious corporations get approval?

Religious corporations have two options or obtaining court approval for their activities. By applying directly with the Attorney General, the corporation should be able to decide which option. Hiring an attorney can help religious corporations meet these legal requirements.

Can a religious organization form a corporation?

In many circumstances, it can be beneficial for organizations of a religious nature to form a corporation. For example, when a religious organization incorporates, they will have access to the same legal benefits afforded to corporate entities, including limited liability.

Benefits of Formal Dissolution

  • Your nonprofit corporation is registered with the State of Michigan. Through the dissolution process, you will officially cancel that registration, and, by extension, officially end the corporation's existence. For a nonprofit that is closing down, a properly-handled dissolution achieves at least two important goals. First, it will put your organization beyond the reach of cre…
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Authorizing Dissolution

  • The procedure for authorizing dissolution will vary depending on whether, in addition to a board of directors, your nonprofit corporation also has members or shareholderswith the right to vote. You probably already know if your nonprofit has such members or shareholders. However, if you're unsure, you should check your articles of incorporation, bylaws, or similar organizational docum…
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Attorney General's Approval

  • After your members, shareholders, and/or board has approved the dissolution, you'll need to file a certificate of dissolution with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs ("LARA"). However, before you can file the certificate, you must first obtain approval for your dissolution from the Attorney General ("AG"). To get the AG's approval, you need to submit the following to t…
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Certain Matters Are Unchanged by Dissolution

  • Among other things, dissolution alone does not: 1. subject your directors to standards of conduct different from those that applied before dissolution 2. transfer title to your corporation's assets 3. change quorum or voting requirements for the board, shareholders, or members and does not alter provisions regarding election, appointment, resignation, or removal of, or filling vacancies a…
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"Winding Up"

  • Following approval of dissolution, your nonprofit continues to exist only for the purpose of taking care of certain final matters that, collectively, are known as "winding up" the company. It may be appropriate to designate one or more officers and/or directors to handle these matters. Under the NCA, the main winding up tasks are: 1. collecting the nonprofit's assets 2. selling or otherwise tr…
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Notice to Creditors and Other Claimants

  • After you have dissolved your nonprofit, you may give notice of the dissolution to all of the nonprofit's creditors. Giving notice involves both publication in a newspaper and mailings directly to known creditors. For newspaper publication, the notice must state that all persons who are creditors of your nonprofit must file their claims in writing with your organization at a place and …
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Certificate of Dissolution

  • After your members, shareholders, and/or board has approved the dissolution, and you have received approval from the AG (which means you have paid off debts and properly distributed any remaining assets), you must file a certificate of dissolution with LARA. For dissolutions based on member, shareholder, or board vote, you should use LARA Form BCS/CD-531. For dissolutions b…
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Federal Tax Note

  • For federal tax purposes, you'll need to file IRS Form 990 or IRS Form 990-EZ. You must include a completed Schedule N (Liquidation, Termination, Dissolution, or Significant Disposition of Assets) and copies of your articles of dissolution, resolution to dissolve, and, if applicable, any written dissolution plans. When completing either Form 990 or Form 990-EZ, you'll need to check the "Te…
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Additional Information

  • You can find additional information, such as forms, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and filing fees, on the LARA website and the AG website. Final Note: Dissolving and winding up your nonprofit corporation is only one piece of the process of closing your organization. For further, general guidance on many of the other steps involved, check Nolo's 20-point checklist for closin…
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