legal structure assistance

Does anyone have infromation on where to get good legal help to transition the ownership of land from personal/corporate to community? There are many ways people can give land to various land trusts, but what if the community holding entity does not want to dictate all the activity going on with the land but does want to provide for the long term holding of a community shared resource? Any suggestions would be welcome for the work we are doing in SW WI to transition the 117 acre farm to a community shared resource. email Mark mkh@mwt.net or repost here.

Maybe a non-profit with some simple dictations of the land use in the sales contract.

Thanks, Josh. that may be a workable solution. We are thinking that the not for profit structure would facilitate the buildings and land use issues that local zoning ordinances seem to restrict. So we have considered calling the thing a school to obtain greater leeway from restrictions on use etc.

A school, Genius!

Aloha Mark!

No matter what you do from a title-holding perspective, you will still be bound by local land-use code and 'restrictions.' The very best thing to do is to learn to work with local authority, rather than attempting to side-step them from the start. You will learn they can be very beneficial allies in what you want to do.

If you are looking to sever ties to "grid" or "mainstream" mentality, I think you might find the widest latitude you can create might be to incorporate as a Church entity, which can have a non-profit/not-for-profit foundation in which to hold title to the actual land.

No matter on what you do or do not want the Commmunity to "dictate," you will need some certain guidelines established into incorporation paperwork.

because I don't know the legalese of your area, I'd HIGHLY recommend you invest a couple hundred dollars and have a VERY open, frank consultation with very good Land Use Attorney. They can help guide you to your communities best avenue of holding title.

as to "who to call" ..... contact the Nature Conservancy thru their website www.Nature.org. Also, check over at www.OneCommunityRanch.org and see if they have anything online about legal structure. Jay Saboe is starting an Intentional Community in Utah, and I'm 110% sure the legalities he has researched would apply to most (if not all) similar Communities.

~ Neil ~

Thank You, Warrior Neil! for all the good thoughts and recommendations. A church, hmmm. I wonder if there is a way to get church status for the "Church of What if All They Have Told You Just Aint So?" just my doubting thomas aquarian alter ego self acting up there. Thanks again.

Mark Heffernan wrote:Thank You, Warrior Neil! for all the good thoughts and recommendations. A church, hmmm. I wonder if there is a way to get church status for the "Church of What if All They Have Told You Just Aint So?" just my doubting thomas aquarian alter ego self acting up there. Thanks again.

You're Welcome!

The Universal Life Church can walk any thomas through the process to get ordained, get registered and get legal.
http://www.themonastery.org/?destination=ordination&gclid=CJq05cqlx60CFQduhwodBl3ihQ

Thanks again, Neil. It is so true that we are all children of the same universe. I left one ministry becaue they did not get this basic principle.