Resources for legal issues

Web Resources

Intentional Communities Agreements - A Plain English Guide
A list of areas in communal life where shared, written agreements are often helpful -- including some of the major questions that every group must answer.

Legal Options for Intentional Communities   
From the Intentional Communities Directory Website by Albert Bates, Allen Butcher, and Diana Christian.

Overview of legal forms for cohousing groups  
This paper details the differences between Coop, Condo and what an LLC is. Covers ownership, tax issues, incorporation. A good first overview to understand the issues of legal ownership.

Condo Vs. Coop
A comparison of condominium vs. cooperative ownership, written by a lawyer.

LLC FAQ
A reference point for information about Limited Liability Corporations

Dealing with Securities issues 
An overview by Don Lindemann of how presales of units are, or are not considered securities and what that means

Creating Land Trusts
This site gives lots of details and links to land trust info

Sample Legal Documents <Now on their own page>

Books

Community, Inc. Legal Incorporation for Intentional Community Allen Butcher. Monograph, 20 pp. $4plus $1 P/H. An introduction to each currently used legal option for communities: partnerships, for-profit corporations, cooperative corporations, various non-profit corporations, community development corporations, community land trusts. P.O. Box 1666m Denver CO 80201. 

Growing Community Newsletter Issues: # 3 Partnerships, Corporations and Non-profit, # 4 Land Trusts, #5 Homeowners and Condominium Associations. Individual issues cost $5, and can be gotten from: Growing Community 1118 Round Butte Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80524.

Options for Incorporation of Intentional Communities by Albert Bates and Allen Butcher
pp. 98 in Directory of Intentional Communities: A Guide To Cooperative Living

Nolo Press Self Help books
The partnership book by Denis Clifford and Ralph Warner, How to form a nonprofit corporation by Anthony Mancusco, How to form your own corporation by Anthony Mancusco

The Community Land Trust Legal Manual
Organizational structure, model documents. $100 from Institute For Community Economics (ICE) 57 School St., Springfield, MA 01105.

Organizations

National Association of Housing Cooperatives
1614 King Street Alexandria, VA 22314
phone: 703-549-5201
fax: 703-549-5204

School of Living Land Trust
Offers training conferences, financing for Community land trust development and other services. Route 1, Box 185a, Cochranville, PA 19330 (215)-593-2346.