A Guide for Church Trustees

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VI. Estates Matters

Often times Congregations are named in Wills, or Trusts of parishioners or benefactors. More often then not the type of gift takes one of three forms.

1) A specific monetary amount (example: I leave $5,000 to First Church) or property (I leave my house or furniture, to Trinity Church).

2) A percentage amount (example: I leave fifty percent of my estate to St. Luke's Church).

3) A designated gift for particular purpose, such as Masses (example: I leave $500 to St. Patrick's Church for Masses). It should be noted that a receipt of a gift such as this is limited by all of the Canonical and Diocesan practices regarding Masses and the stipends attached thereto.

Ordinarily, when a Congregation is named in a Will, it will receive either a "Notice of Probate" or "Citation" which sets forth the interest of the Congregation in the estate. It is most important that these legal documents not be misplaced or ignored as the rights of the Congregation can be adversely affected if the Congregation does not appear in the proceeding to protect its interest.

All such documents should be referred to your Congregation's Attorney or legal advisor. Upon receipt of such documents, your Congregation's Attorney or legal advisor should obtain a copy of the Will or Trust Agreement, appear on behalf of the Congregation, monitor the administration of the estate, represent the Congregation in any contest to the Will or other proceedings, demand and review accountings of the estate and obtain all bequests in a timely fashion.


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Queens Federation of Churches http://www.QueensChurches.org/ Last Updated February 2, 2005