N.Y. Religious Corporations Law Section 162
The certificate of incorporation

If the meeting shall decide that such unincorporated church shall become incorporated, the presiding officer of such meeting and the two inspectors of election shall execute a certificate setting forth the name of the proposed corporation, the number of trustees thereof, the names of the persons elected as trustees, the terms of office for which they were respectively elected and the county and town, city or village in which its principal place of worship is or is intended to be located. On the filing and recording of such certificate, after it shall have been acknowledged or proved as hereinbefore provided, the persons qualified to vote at such meeting and those persons who shall thereafter, from time to time, be qualified voters at the corporate meetings thereof, shall be a corporation by the name stated in such certificate, and the persons therein stated to be elected trustees of such church shall be the trustees thereof for the terms for which they were respectively elected and until their respective successors shall be elected.

Source: Section 162 — The certificate of incorporation, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/RCO/162 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Feb. 28, 2026).

Green check means up to date. Up to date

Verified:
Feb. 28, 2026

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 162. The certificate of incorporation's source at nysenate​.gov

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