Church Law

Christian Attorneys representing Tennessee Churches

At Ingraham & Pautienus, our attorneys practice what they believe. We represent religious institutions and nonprofit organizations from formation to dissolution.

Churches hold a unique position within the nonprofit world. There is no formal filing requires for a church to be recognized as a nonprofit tax exempt entity by the Internal Revenue Service, and churches are not required to annually file Form 990. With that said, there are circumstances when it may be in the best interest of a church to formally request tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, there are various state issues that specifically affect churches in relation to church law, from reporting requirements in abuse issues, to governance and membership issues, to property tax exemption disputes. Our firm assists and represents churches in responding to and avoiding these issues.

Like any nonprofit organization, a dispute can detract from a church's primary mission, affect needed financial resources, and destroying the church's witness for Christ.Our firm can assist or represent a church in mediation, arbitration, and litigation related to:

• Disputes between church members
• Allegations of fraud and mismanagement
• Contract disputes involving third parties
• Dispute or Issue involving the federal and/or state government

At Ingraham & Pautienus, our lawyers have represent churches from formation to dissolution. Our faith in Jesus Christ plays an integral role in our legal practice. To learn more about church law, contact us for a free initial consultation. We represent people throughout Middle Tennessee, including churches in Brentwood, Franklin, and Murfreesboro.