{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "eptl", "section": "3-1.3", "citation": "EPTL § 3-1.3", "heading": "Who may receive testamentary dispositions of property;", "text": ["§ 3-1.3 Who may receive testamentary dispositions of property;", "testamentary dispositions to unincorporated associations", "(a) A testamentary disposition of property may be made to any person having capacity to acquire and hold such property.", "(b) When a will disposes of property to an association which lacks capacity to receive such property by will because it is unincorporated and the association may become incorporated under the law of this state or of the jurisdiction in which it has its principal office, such disposition is valid despite the lack of capacity of the beneficiary if within three years after probate of the will such beneficiary becomes incorporated with capacity to take such disposition, subject to the following:", "(1) This section does not limit the power of the court to give effect to the intention of the testator and to preserve dispositions for the use and benefit of unincorporated associations.", "(2) In the case of a testamentary disposition of property to an unincorporated association in such manner that the estate may lawfully vest in such association, as provided in paragraph (b), at a future time, the estate shall be treated as immediately vested either in the trustee in whom any estate preceding such disposition is vested or, if there is no such precedent trust, in the personal representative of the decedent's estate as trustee, subject to any intermediate estate created by the will. The trust herein created is subject to the direction and control of the surrogate's court as if it had been created by express provision in the will. If the association is incorporated and empowered to receive the disposition, the trustee shall transfer the property disposed of to the corporation so formed, but if the association is not incorporated, the trustee shall transfer the property to such persons as are entitled thereto.", "(3) If a testamentary disposition to an association is made in such manner as to take effect upon the incorporation of such association, as provided in paragraph (b), and no disposition is made of the rents, profits or other income accruing prior to such incorporation, the will shall be construed as directing the trustee described in subparagraph (2) to receive the rents, profits or other income and to hold them for the benefit of the corporation when formed or, if such corporation is not formed within the time prescribed by paragraph (b), for the benefit of the persons entitled to the property upon the failure of such disposition.", "(4) Notwithstanding any other law of this state governing (A) the purposes for which trusts may be created, (B) the rule against perpetuities or (C) the accumulation of income, a trust as provided in subparagraph (2) is valid.", "(5) During the continuance of any trust authorized by subparagraph (2), the unincorporated association to which the disposition is made may enforce such trust, and any such association has capacity as such, despite the fact that it is not incorporated, to exercise such right and to take such proceedings as may be appropriate for the exercise or waiver of such right or, in the manner permitted by law for renunciation by a testamentary beneficiary, to renounce the disposition. In the event of any such renunciation, the trust provided for in subparagraph (2) shall terminate and the property, including accumulations, shall vest in the persons otherwise entitled thereto as if no such disposition had been made.", "(6) This section does not limit the effectiveness of 8-1.1 with respect to a disposition to which that section applies."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/EPT/3-1.3", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "A will may give property to anyone able to hold it, and a gift to an unincorporated association can be saved if the association incorporates in time.\n- **(a)** A testamentary disposition may be made to **any person having capacity to acquire and hold** the property.\n- **(b)** A gift to an **unincorporated association** that could incorporate under New York law or the law of its principal office is valid if it **incorporates with capacity to take within 3 years after probate**. ★\n- **(b)(1)** The court's power to carry out the testator's intent and preserve gifts to unincorporated associations is not limited.\n- **(b)(2)** Meanwhile the property vests in the **trustee of any preceding estate** or, if none, in the **personal representative as trustee**, under surrogate's court control. On incorporation the trustee transfers it to the corporation; otherwise to **those otherwise entitled**. ★\n- **(b)(3)** Undisposed income before incorporation is held for the corporation or, if it is not formed in time, for those entitled on failure.\n- **(b)(4)** The trust is valid despite rules on trust purposes, perpetuities or accumulations.\n- **(b)(5)** The association may **enforce** the trust or **renounce** the gift; on renunciation the trust ends and the property and accumulations pass as if no gift were made.\n- **(b)(6)** This section does not limit **§ 8-1.1**.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/eptl/3-1.3", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}