New York Religious Corporations Law Section 413 - Dissolution.

413. Dissolution. (a) Whenever two-thirds of the voting members of the society, present at a meeting called for that purpose, decide to dissolve the corporation, they may, by its duly elected officers or trustees or such agents as may be elected at such meeting, make a petition to the supreme court for an order of dissolution.

(b) Such petition shall state:

(1) The particular reasons or causes why dissolution is sought.

(2) The location, extent and estimated value of the property of the society.

(3) The particular object or purposes to which it is proposed to devote any surplus of the proceeds of such property, such purposes to be consistent with the general purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

(4) The due compliance with the provisions of this section as to the authorization of the filing of the certificate of amendment.

(c) Copy of the petition shall be mailed to all members of the corporation and shall be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the society is located.

(d) A copy of the petition shall also be mailed, by registered mail, to the Unitarian Universalist Association. The dissolution shall not require the consent of the Unitarian Universalist Association, but the Unitarian Universalist Association shall have a right to be heard in the proceedings.

(e) Proof of the notices required by subdivisions (c) and (d) hereof shall be filed with the supreme court and no hearing on the petition shall be held by the supreme court until four weeks have elapsed after the giving of all such notices.

(f) Upon consideration of the petition presented to the court, and after any hearing which the court may in its discretion deem to be necessary or appropriate to determine any facts pertinent to the relief requested in the petition, the court may order the dissolution of the society, and for that purpose and upon such terms and conditions deemed appropriate order and direct a sale and conveyance of any and all property belonging to such society. After providing for the ascertaining and payment of the debts of the society and the necessary costs and expenses of such sale and proceedings for dissolution, the court may direct any surplus of the proceeds of such sale remaining after paying such debts, costs and expenses, to be devoted and applied to any such religious, benevolent, educational or charitable objects or purposes consistent with the general purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association as the petitioners may suggest and the court may approve.


Last modified: February 3, 2019