Overview of Industry

We understand religious leaders’ passion is to serve their communities and grow their ministries. VF&N is committed to helping congregations remain focused on their mission by managing their church, or other religious institutions’, legal risk and preventing common pitfalls.

Religious Institutions as a Corporation

If your religious institution is considering or reviewing its corporation status, you may want to retain an experienced attorney to aid you in the process. VF&N attorneys have the experience to navigate the nuances of designing a document that is both in accordance with Virginia Corporation laws and sensitive to the original mission of faith. We can assist in:

• Creation, maintenance, and compliance of bylaws, governing documents, and other books of order
• Articles of incorporation
• Contracts, insurance policies, and employment matters

Real Estate: Construction, Expansion, Purchase or Sale, Loans and Leasing

After years of collecting for the building fund, your church is finally ready to make the leap of faith to purchase land or a new building. Bringing in a skilled attorney at this point can save thousands of dollars caused by permit delays, poorly negotiated loan terms, or post-closing encumbrances. We can assist with:

• Purchase agreements
• Negotiating terms of a loan with lenders
• Filing for land use and zoning permits
• Compiling due diligence and lender requirements reports
• Outreach and coordination with experts like architects and surveyors
• Reviewing construction contracts and delay provisions
• Facilitating BOD/ member approval and opinion letters
• Land use tax assessments

If you are years into a large purchase or expansion project, your focus has shifted from building to thriving. Often land and space is a church’s largest asset and potential revenue earner. If you are considering selling land or leasing your space, you should round out your real estate team with a trusted real estate attorney to support the following transactions:

• Review of or drafting of leases that protect the institution
• Unrelated business income and tax implications
• Sale Agreements
• Loan term review and audits