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WASHINGTON

Title 24 RCW
CORPORATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS (NONPROFIT)

RCW 24.12.010
Corporations sole -- Church and religious societies.
Any person, being the bishop, overseer or presiding elder of any church or religious denomination in this state, may, in conformity with the constitution, canons, rules, regulations or discipline of such church or denomination, become a corporation sole, in the manner prescribed in this chapter, as nearly as may be; and, thereupon, said bishop, overseer or presiding elder, as the case may be, together with his successors in office or position, by his official designation, shall be held and deemed to be a body corporate, with all the rights and powers prescribed in the case of corporations aggregate; and with all the privileges provided by law for religious corporations.
[1915 c 79 § 1; RRS § 3884.]

RCW 24.12.020
Corporate powers.
Every corporation sole shall, for the purpose of the trust, have power to contract in the same manner and to the same extent as a natural person, and may sue and be sued, and may defend in all courts and places, in all matters and proceedings whatever, and shall have authority to borrow money and give promissory notes therefor, and to secure the payment of the same by mortgage or other lien upon property, real and personal; to buy, sell, lease, mortgage and in every way deal in real and personal property in the same manner as a natural person may, and without the order of any court; to receive bequests and devises for its own use or upon trusts, to the same extent as natural persons may; and to appoint attorneys in fact.
[1915 c 79 § 2; RRS § 3885.]

RCW 24.12.030
Filing articles -- Property held in trust.
Articles of incorporation shall be filed in like manner as provided by law for corporations aggregate, and therein shall be set forth the facts authorizing such incorporation, and declare the manner in which any vacancy occurring in the incumbency of such bishop, overseer or presiding elder, as the case may be, is required by the constitution, canons, rules, regulations or discipline of such church or denomination to be filled, which statement shall be verified by affidavit, and for proof of the appointment or election of such bishop, overseer or presiding elder, as the case may be, or any succeeding incumbent of such corporation, it shall be sufficient to file with the secretary of state the original or a copy of his commission, or certificate, or letters of election or appointment, duly attested: PROVIDED, All property held in such official capacity by such bishop, overseer or presiding elder, as the case may be, shall be in trust for the use, purpose, benefit and behoof of his religious denomination, society or church.
[1981 c 302 § 10; 1915 c 79 § 3; RRS § 3886.]
NOTES:
Severability -- 1981 c 302: See note following RCW 19.76.100.
"If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1981 c 302 § 40.]

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