What Churches Need to Know About Copier Agreements
Copier leases, financing, and purchases each carry different consequences when a church closes or merges. Here’s what to weigh before signing.
Yearly Archives: 2026
How to Close a Church in California: Legal Steps for Dissolving a Religious Nonprofit
Closing a California church involves more than locking the doors — a formal vote, winding up affairs, distributing assets to another nonprofit, and filing with the state. Here’s what the process actually requires.
FinCEN Real Estate Reporting Rule
The current legal status of FinCEN’s real estate reporting rule, what it required, and why a church’s nonprofit status wouldn’t have exempted it if the rule is reinstated.
Parsonage Property Tax Exemption
In California, a parsonage is not automatically exempt from property taxes—churches must first obtain an Organizational Clearance Certificate and then file annual county affidavits to prove the home is used exclusively as clergy housing.
The Risks of Renting Out Your Church Parsonage in California
Renting out your church parsonage can risk your property tax exemption and trigger UBIT. Here’s when that happens — and how to protect your exemption.
Fund Your Trust, or It’s Just an Empty Basket
A trust is like a basket woven for the people left behind. But a gorgeous, empty basket protects no one. Here’s why so many well-meaning church members have a trust that isn’t actually funded, and what to do about it.
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