N.Y. Religious Corporations Law § 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.