Registration of associations
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n association operating under the Student Union may act as an informal community or as a registered association. A registered association is entered in the association register maintained by the National Board of Patents and Registration (PRH). The name of a registered association is followed by the abbreviation ry.
What is a registered association? In practice, an association which operates informally is like any group of friends, while a registered association is considered a legal body under the Finnish law, which means that association activities must take the following into account: Members of a registered association are not personally liable for the commitments of the association. If the association is not registered, its members are personally responsible for all operations in case of damage, for example. A registered association can make agreements such as open a bank account, sign a rental agreement, join an umbrella organisation and so on. In unregistered associations, members who have made agreements are personally liable for any agreements or commitments. Only a registered association may acquire property, apply for grants or obtain a permission to collect money. In unregistered associations, association members may apply for grants or own property and they are personally responsible for these activities. In many ways, therefore, the activities of registered associations are more secure than those of unregistered associations. On the other hand, a registered association has more obligations; rule amendments or change of persons who are authorised to sign on behalf of the association should always be reported to PRH, which costs money.
How to register an association? Registration means that an association is entered into PRH’s register of associations. The register of associations is public and contains information on all registered associations in Finland. Anyone can receive information from the register.You can find out whether an association is registered, who is the chairperson of the association or who are authorised to sign on behalf of the association.
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