Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Questions on Articles of Incorporation

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> On Oct 12, 2026, at 8:15 PM, BG McCormick via Cohousing-L <cohousing-l [at] 
> cohousing.org> wrote:

> One document we have questions on is the "Articles of Incorporation", which
> was needed for the original creation of the community over 25 years ago. It
> is not clear if there is still a purpose for this document or if it should
> be filed away as a historical artifact.

Not all states require that condominiums be incorporated. But if this was part 
of the founding documents, you should certainly keep it. It never hurts to keep 
copies of anything that has been filed with government agencies. This may have 
tax or insurance implications.

It’s possible that the developer or whomever formed a corporation for the 
development phase and then it expired. The local city records offices should 
have this information, probably online or via a phone call. I’m not a lawyer 
but I would still keep the document. 

Incorporation, however, usually requires periodic updates to the office of the 
recorder to confirm continued existence. And it usually requires regualr 
payment of fees so you would have been billed. Or someone was. Check your 
accounts to be sure that someone hasn’t been automatically paying them. 

Sharon
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Sharon Villines
Riderwood Village, Silver Spring MD
Founding member and 25 year resident in Takoma Village, Washington DC