Notification of dissolution of religious community or local community
Religious communities and registered local communities cannot be dissolved informally. Instead, they must be dissolved by liquidation.
When making decisions, the religious community or registered local community must comply with the Finnish Freedom of Religion Act and the community’s bylaws or local rules.
Section 40 of the Finnish Associations Act shall apply to the liquidation proceedings where applicable. It is important to read the section for background information.
See also our website for an unofficial English translation of the Associations Act.
Notification of dissolution to the Register of Religious Communities
File a notification of dissolution with the Register of Religious Communities once the liquidation proceedings have been completed.
The notification is free of charge.
The religious community or local community is considered as dissolved when the PRH has registered the dissolution.
How to file the notification
It is not possible to file the notification online.
File the notification using form Y4a (notification of changes and termination), appendix form 20B and the personal data form. Please note that the forms are only available in Finnish and in Swedish. Save the forms to your computer, fill them in and print out.
Who signs the notification?
The notification (also for a local community) must be signed by:
- the chairperson of the executive committee of the religious community; or
- the liquidator; or
- a person authorised by either of the above-mentioned persons.
If an authorised person signs the notification, enclose a certified copy of a special power of attorney or the original general power of attorney.
Send the notification to us by post
Send the notification to:
Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) – Finnish Tax Administration
Business Information System
P.O. Box 2000
FI-00231 Helsinki
FINLAND