The following information is presented on-line for informational use only and
without warranty as to its accuracy, timeliness, or completeness. It does not
replace any official versions of this information. (Michigan Department of Attorney
General Web Site - www.michigan.gov/ag)
DEPARTMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL
CHARITABLE TRUST
RULES AND REGULATIONS
(MCL 14.256, 14.257, and 14.260; 1979 AC, R 14.11 et seq)
R 14.11 Enforcement of rules
Rule 1. These rules shall be enforced by the attorney general and his representatives
to protect the interests of the people of this state in the administration,
operation and disposition of the assets of all charitable trusts in this state.
R 14.12 Registration statements
Rule 2. A trustee subject to Act No. 101 of the Public Acts of 1961, as
amended, within 2 months after receiving possession or control of property for
charitable purposes, shall file with the attorney general a registration statement
on a form which shall be supplied by the attorney general on request. Such trustee
shall also file with the attorney general a copy of the instrument providing
for its title, powers or duties and an inventory of the assets of the charitable
trust.
R 14.13. Annual reports
Rule 3. (1) A trustee of a charitable trust subject to Act No. 101 of the
Public Acts of 1961, as amended, which solicits money from the public, within
6 months after the close of its fiscal year, shall file with the attorney general
a copy of its certified audit report for such year, containing a balance sheet,
a statement of receipts and disbursements, and a list of assets including securities
held. In lieu of a certified audit report, such a trustee may file its sworn
statement setting forth such information in accordance with the form prescribed
by the attorney general.
(2) A trustee, except a trustee of a charitable trust which solicits money from
the public, subject to Act No. 101 of the Public Acts of 1961, as amended, shall
file with the attorney general annual periodic written reports, in accordance
with the form prescribed by the attorney general. A copy of the account filed
in any court having jurisdiction of the charitable trust, if the account is
substantially the same as such form, may be filed as an annual periodic report.
(3) The first annual periodic report of a charitable trust shall cover the first
calendar or fiscal year ending after the trust became subject to such act. The
first annual periodic report shall be due on or before the expiration of 6 months
after the close of the first calendar year or fiscal year after the trust became
subject to the act. Thereafter, subsequent annual periodic reports shall be
due on or before the expiration of 6 months after the close of the charitable
trust calendar or fiscal year.
(4) A charitable trust required to file annual periodic written reports with
the attorney general may file in lieu thereof an audit certified as being true
and correct and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
by a certified public accountant and containing substantially the information
required on the annual periodic report form of the attorney general.
(5) A statement indicating whether or not a creator of the trust or a contributor
to the trust or a trustee, in his individual capacity, or a person related either
by consanguinity or by affinity to such creator, contributor or trustee, has
entered into any transaction involving the purchase, sale, transfer or loan
of any of the trust's assets, shall accompany the annual periodic report.
(6) Complete details regarding all transactions in which a trustee, employees
of a trustee, or persons related to a trustee, or related to employees of a
trustee, either by consanguinity or by affinity, have personally benefited from
operating and management of the trust or received any part of the income or
corpus of the trust, other than the normal and reasonable trustee fee, shall
be disclosed in a statement accompanying the report.
R 14.14 Suspension of annual reports
Rule 4. A trustee of a charitable trust may be granted a suspension
from the requirement of filing annual periodic reports on written application
supported by good and sufficient reasons. If a suspension is granted, reports
may be required on the happening of specified events or contingencies or at
stipulated future report dates. Ordinarily a suspension will not be granted
when reports on the operation of the charitable trust are required to be made
to a court or to other governmental agencies.
R 14.15 Investigations
Rule 5. Either the attorney general or an assistant attorney general designated
by the attorney general may hear information under oath and receive books, memoranda,
papers, documents of title and evidence of assets, liabilities, receipts or
disbursements produced pursuant to an order of the attorney general, issued
by the attorney general as provided by the act.
R 14.16 Inspection of records
Rule 6. The charitable trust register, copies of instruments and the reports
filed with the attorney general shall be available for inspection during regular
business hours at the charitable trust division of the office of the attorney
general in Lansing, Michigan, subject to the following requirements.
(a) An individual desiring to inspect the register, copies of instruments and
the reports filed with the attorney general shall submit a request in writing
setting forth his name, address and indicating his interest in the charitable
trust records desired to be reviewed. If such request is approved by the attorney
general, the authorized review of the register, copies of instruments and reports
filed with the attorney general shall be made in the presence of the attorney
general or his representative.
(b) If the charitable trust is to be used for both private and charitable purposes,
only those portions of the documents pertaining to charitable purposes, and
only if such charitable purposes have matured and come into being, shall be
available for public inspection.
R 14.17. Repeal
Rule 7. Sections 1 to 5 of the rules relating to charitable trusts, being R
14.1 to R 14.5 of the Michigan Administrative Code, and appearing on pages 2757
to 2759 of the 1963 Annual Supplement to the Code, are repealed.