{ "id": "norm-10891", "citation": "", "section": "norms", "doc_type": null, "title_es": "Reglamento a la Ley de Asociaciones", "title_en": "Regulations to the Associations Law", "summary_es": "Este decreto ejecutivo 17617-J, de 1987, reglamenta la Ley de Asociaciones N.º 218 de 1939. Establece el procedimiento para la constitución, inscripción y funcionamiento de las asociaciones civiles en Costa Rica, centralizando su registro en el Registro Nacional. Detalla requisitos para la denominación social, la composición de los órganos directivos, y la legalización de libros contables. Otorga al Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia amplias facultades de control, fiscalización e intervención, incluyendo la potestad de convocar asambleas, resolver conflictos entre asociados y solicitar la disolución judicial de una asociación. También norma aspectos específicos como la declaratoria de utilidad pública, la calificación de asociaciones de bienestar social por parte del IMAS, y el manejo de fondos de mutualidad. El texto refleja un modelo de supervisión administrativa estatal sobre el ejercicio del derecho de asociación, justificado en la necesidad de evitar desviaciones de su naturaleza pública.", "summary_en": "This 1987 Executive Decree 17617-J regulates Associations Law No. 218 of 1939. It sets forth the procedure for the formation, registration, and operation of civil associations in Costa Rica, centralizing their registration with the National Registry. It details requirements for association names, the composition of governing bodies, and the legalization of accounting books. It grants broad oversight, auditing, and intervention powers to the Ministry of Justice and Grace, including the authority to convene assemblies, resolve disputes among members, and petition for the judicial dissolution of an association. It also regulates specific aspects such as the declaration of public utility, the classification of social welfare associations by IMAS, and the management of mutual funds. The text reflects a model of state administrative supervision over the exercise of the right of association, justified by the need to prevent deviations from its public nature.", "court_or_agency": "", "date": "", "year": "", "topic_ids": [ "_off-topic" ], "primary_topic_id": "_off-topic", "es_concept_hints": [ "desafiliación", "convocar asambleas", "mutualidad", "escritura pública", "declaratoria de utilidad pública", "inscripción", "libros legalizados" ], "concept_anchors": [ { "article": "Art. 19", "law": "Ley 218" }, { "article": "Art. 24", "law": "Ley 218" }, { "article": "Art. 13", "law": "Ley 218" }, { "article": "Art. 14", "law": "Ley 218" }, { "article": "Art. 27", "law": "Ley 218" }, { "law": "Ley 3095" }, { "article": "Art. 140 inciso 3", "law": "Constitución Política" }, { "article": "Art. 140 inciso 18", "law": "Constitución Política" } ], "keywords_es": [ "asociaciones", "registro de asociaciones", "Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia", "personería jurídica", "utilidad pública", "bienestar social", "disolución", "fiscalización", "Ley 218", "estatutos" ], "keywords_en": [ "associations", "associations registry", "Ministry of Justice and Grace", "legal personality", "public utility", "social welfare", "dissolution", "oversight", "Law 218", "bylaws" ], "excerpt_es": "ARTÍCULO 14.-Corresponde al Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia el control administrativo y la fiscalización de las asociaciones y considerar, investigar y resolver las denuncias de las asociaciones o de terceros con interés legítimo. Al efecto, podrá hacer toda clase de investigaciones para resolver conflictos, declarar la suspensión del funcionamiento de una asociación o solicitar la disolución judicial para lo cual los miembros de las asociaciones deberán suministrar toda la información que les sea solicitada. En el caso de Asociaciones de Bienestar Social se tendrá como parte en el procedimiento anterior a la Unidad de Administración de Instituciones y Servicios de Bienestar Social del Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social. (Ley Nº 3095 de 18 de febrero de 1963).", "excerpt_en": "ARTICLE 14.-The Ministry of Justice and Grace is responsible for the administrative control and oversight of the associations and for considering, investigating, and resolving complaints from the associations or third parties with a legitimate interest. For this purpose, it may conduct all types of investigations to resolve conflicts, declare the suspension of an association’s operations, or petition for judicial dissolution, for which the members of the associations must provide any information requested. In the case of Social Welfare Associations, the Administration Unit of Social Welfare Institutions and Services of the Joint Institute for Social Aid shall be considered a party in the preceding procedure. (Law No. 3095 of February 18, 1963).", "outcome": { "label_en": "Active norm", "label_es": "Norma vigente", "summary_en": "Establishes the regulations for the formation, operation, and oversight of civil associations under Law No. 218.", "summary_es": "Establece el reglamento para la constitución, funcionamiento y fiscalización de las asociaciones civiles conforme a la Ley N.º 218." }, "pull_quotes": [ { "context": "Considerando 1º", "quote_en": "The right of association is a public freedom enshrined in our Political Constitution and therefore, its effective exercise must be guaranteed by updating the regulations that govern it, thereby achieving an expeditious process for the formation and registration of these organizations.", "quote_es": "El derecho de asociación, es una libertad pública consagrada en nuestra Constitución Política y por tanto, su efectivo ejercicio debe garantizarse con la actualización de la normativa que lo regula, permitiéndose con ello lograr un trámite expedito para la constitución e inscripción de estas organizaciones." }, { "context": "Artículo 14", "quote_en": "The Ministry of Justice and Grace is responsible for the administrative control and oversight of the associations and for considering, investigating, and resolving complaints from the associations or third parties with a legitimate interest.", "quote_es": "Corresponde al Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia el control administrativo y la fiscalización de las asociaciones y considerar, investigar y resolver las denuncias de las asociaciones o de terceros con interés legítimo." } ], "cites": [], "cited_by": [], "references": { "internal": [ { "target_id": "norm-33570", "kind": "concept_anchor", "label": "Ley 218 Art. 19" } ], "external": [ { "ref_id": "pgr-17406", "url": "https://pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/pronunciamiento/pro_ficha.aspx?param1=PRD¶m6=1&nDictamen=17406&strTipM=T", "kind": "pgr_opinion_about_norm", "label": "171", "dictamen_id": "17406" }, { "ref_id": "norm-32764", "url": "https://pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_norma.aspx?param1=NRM&nValor1=1&nValor2=32764&strTipM=FN", "kind": "affects_norm", "label": "218", "norm_id": "32764" }, { "ref_id": "norm-7730", "url": "https://pgrweb.go.cr/scij/Busqueda/Normativa/Normas/nrm_norma.aspx?param1=NRM&nValor1=1&nValor2=7730&strTipM=FN", "kind": "affected_by_norm", "label": "Reglamento a la Ley de Asociaciones", "norm_id": "7730" } ] }, "source_url": "", "tier": 2, "_editorial_citation_count": 0, "regulations_by_article": null, "amendments_by_article": { "all": [ { "norm_id": "7730", "type": "Decreto Ejecutivo", "number": "18670", "date": "28/11/1988", "name": "Reglamento a la Ley de Asociaciones", "ficha_url": "", "affectation": "Derogación", "mode": "Expreso", "in_corpus_id": "norm-7730", "in_corpus_title_en": "Regulations to the Law on Associations", "in_corpus_title_es": "Reglamento a la Ley de Asociaciones", "in_corpus_doc_type": null, "in_corpus_date": "", "in_corpus_year": "" } ] }, "dictamen_by_article": { "1": [ { "doc_id": "pgr-17406", "label": "171", "article": "1" } ], "4": [ { "doc_id": "pgr-17406", "label": "171", "article": "4" } ], "5": [ { "doc_id": "pgr-17406", "label": "171", "article": "5" } ] }, "concordancias_by_article": null, "afectaciones_by_article": { "all": [ { "doc_id": "norm-32764", "label": "218", "article": "all", "in_corpus_id": "norm-32764", "in_corpus_title_en": "Associations Law", "in_corpus_title_es": "Ley de Asociaciones", "in_corpus_citation": "", "in_corpus_doc_type": null, "in_corpus_date": "", "in_corpus_year": "" } ] }, "resoluciones_by_article": null, "cited_by_votos": [], "cited_norms": [], "cited_norms_inverted": [], "sentencias_relacionadas": [], "temas_y_subtemas": [], "cascade_only": false, "amendment_count": 0, "body_es_text": "en la totalidad del texto\n\n -\n\nTexto Completo Norma 17617\n\n Reglamento a la Ley de Asociaciones (1987)\n\nTexto Completo acta: 11FE5\n\n1\n\n N§ 17617-J\n\n EL PRESIDENTE DE LA REPUBLICA\n\n Y EL MINISTRO DE JUSTICIA Y\n\nGRACIA,\n\n En ejercicio de las facultades conferidas en el art¡culo\n\n140, incisos 3) y\n\n18) de la Constituci¢n Pol¡tica y ley N§ 218 del 8 de agosto de\n\n1939.\n\n Considerando:\n\n 1§.-Que el derecho de asociaci¢n, es una libertad p£blica\n\nconsagrada en\n\n nuestra Constituci¢n Pol¡tica y por tanto, su efectivo\n\nejercicio debe garantizarse\n\n con la actualizaci¢n de la normativa que lo regula,\n\npermiti,ndose con\n\n ello lograr un tr mite expedito para la constituci¢n e\n\ninscripci¢n de estas\n\n organizaciones.\n\n 2§.-Que por el mismo esp¡ritu de las asociaciones, ,stas\n\nmerecen un\n\n tratamiento especial de control y fiscalizaci¢n a efecto\n\nde que no se desvirt£e\n\n la naturaleza y procedencia de esta libertad p£blica.\n\n Por tanto,\n\n DECRETAN:\n\n El siguiente\n\n Reglamento a la Ley de Asociaciones N§ 218\n\n de 8 de Agosto de 1939\n\n ARTÖCULO 1§.-Las organizaciones que se constituyan conforme\n\ncon la ley\n\nN§ 218 del 8 de agosto de 1939 y sus reformas, ser n autorizadas\n\npara su constituci¢n,\n\nreforma de estatutos, inscripci¢n de personer¡a jur¡dica y otros\n\nactos\n\nde inter,s de la asociaci¢n, en el Registro de Asociaciones del\n\nRegistro Nacional.\n\n ARTÖCULO 2§-El nombre de cada asociaci¢n no podr  contener\n\nning£n tipo\n\nde siglas que representen nomenclaturas de ¡ndole comercial, ni\n\npodr  adoptar\n\nuna denominaci¢n id,ntica a la de otra ya registrada o tan\n\nparecida que ambas\n\npuedan f cilmente confundirse. El nombre deber  escribirse\n\ncorrectamente\n\nen espa¤ol; o lenguas abor¡genes nacionales. Entre par,ntesis\n\npodr  escribirse\n\nun nombre de otro idioma, cuando la asociaci¢n tenga relaci¢n con\n\notra similar\n\nextranjera.\n\n ARTÖCULO 3§.-Para formar parte de los ¢rganos esenciales se\n\nrequiere ser\n\nasociado activo.\n\n ARTÖCULO 4§.-El Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia ordenar  la\n\npublicaci¢n del\n\naviso a que se refiere el art¡culo 19 de la Ley de Asociaciones.\n\nDicho aviso ser \n\nredactado en forma breve por el Registro de Asociaciones y\n\npublicado por\n\ncuenta del interesado.\n\n ARTÖCULO 5§.-Las oposiciones a la calificaci¢n o inscripci¢n\n\nde documentos\n\nrelativos a las asociaciones, se presentar n ante el Registro de\n\nAsociaciones\n\nen primera instancia y tendr n apelaci¢n ante el Registrador\n\nGeneral del Registro\n\nP£blico. Los conflictos entre asociados, o de ,stos con alguno\n\nde los\n\n¢rganos de la asociaci¢n se resolver n conforme lo establece el\n\nart¡culo 14\n\nde este Reglamento.\n\n ARTÖCULO 6§.-Corresponde al Registro de Asociaciones\n\ndictaminar sobre\n\nconsultas formuladas por las entidades, sus ¢rganos o los\n\nasociados. Las consultas\n\nde las asociaciones de \"Bienestar Social\" deben ser formuladas\n\nante la\n\nUnidad de Administraci¢n de Instituciones y Servicios de\n\nBienestar Social del\n\nInstituto Mixto de Ayuda Social.\n\n ARTÖCULO 7§.-Corresponde al Registro Nacional llevar el\n\nRegistro de Asociaciones\n\nen donde se inscribir n los estatutos, las modificaciones a\n\n,stos, los\n\nnombramientos de la Junta Directiva y del Fiscal y la\n\nlegalizaci¢n de libros.\n\n ARTÖCULO 8§.-Las asociaciones domiciliadas en el extranjero\n\nque establezcan\n\nsus filiales en Costa Rica deber n ser autorizadas para su\n\nfuncionamiento por\n\nel Registro de Asociaciones.\n\n ARTÖCULO 9§.-Los libros de Actas y de Contabilidad, ser n\n\nlegalizados\n\npor el Registro de Asociaciones. Los asientos de los libros de\n\ncontabilidad ser n\n\nautorizados por un contador inscrito en el respectivo colegio\n\nprofesional. Si\n\ndentro del t,rmino de sesenta d¡as a partir de la legalizaci¢n\n\ny del traslado\n\nde observaciones, los libros no son retirados por los interesados\n\no no se regulariza\n\nsu tramitaci¢n, el Registro de Asociaciones proceder  a\n\ndevolverlos.\n\n ARTÖCULO 10.-En el caso de extrav¡o de alguno de los libros\n\nen uso deber \n\nseguirse el siguiente tr mite de reposici¢n:\n\n a) Solicitud expresa del Presidente de la Asociaci¢n, con firma\n\nautenticada\n\n por un abogado;\n\n b) Certificaci¢n de personer¡a vigente a la fecha;\n\n c) Publicaci¢n de aviso por tres veces consecutivas en el\n\nDiario Oficial\n\n \"La Gaceta\", a fin de escuchar las objeciones. El costo de\n\nlas publicaciones\n\n correr  a cargo de los interesados, as¡ como su redacci¢n;\n\n d) Transcurridos ocho d¡as h biles despu,s de la £ltima\n\npublicaci¢n en \"La\n\n Gaceta\", se presentar n los recortes de los avisos, con sus\n\nrespectivas\n\n fechas;\n\n e) Presentaci¢n de certificaci¢n de contador p£blico autorizado\n\nen que se\n\n haga constar que los requisitos contables est n al d¡a; y\n\n f) Presentaci¢n de los libros de actas en uso, el nuevo a\n\nlegalizar y los\n\n correspondientes timbres.\n\n ARTÖCULO 11.-Es potestad del Presidente de la Rep£blica y\n\ndel Ministro\n\nde Justicia y Gracia el conocer de la Declaratoria de Utilidad\n\nP£blica cuando\n\nas¡ lo solicite la asociaci¢n. Tal solicitud deber  aportar los\n\nsiguientes requisitos:\n\n a) Tener por lo menos tres a¤os de constituida y estar\n\nprestando servicios\n\n relevantes a la comunidad;\n\n b) Desarrollar actividades £tiles a los intereses p£blicos.\n\n ARTÖCULO 12.-Las asociaciones que sean declaradas de\n\nutilidad p£blica\n\ngozar n de las franquicias y concesiones de orden administrativo\n\ny econ¢mico\n\nque el Poder Ejecutivo otorga de acuerdo con la ley. Deber n\n\npresentar un\n\ninforme anual de su gesti¢n referida al aprovechamiento en favor\n\nde la comunidad\n\nde este beneficio que les fue otorgado. La declaratoria ser \n\nrevocable\n\nen cualquier momento.\n\n ARTÖCULO 13.-La Unidad de Administraci¢n de Instituciones\n\nde Servicios\n\nde Bienestar Social del Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social, otorgar \n\nel car cter\n\nde \"Bienestar Social\" a las asociaciones que se constituyan con\n\nese fin, previo\n\nestudio t,cnico de la naturaleza.\n\n ARTÖCULO 14.-Corresponde al Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia\n\nel control\n\nadministrativo y la fiscalizaci¢n de las asociaciones y\n\nconsiderar, investigar y\n\nresolver las denuncias de las asociaciones o de terceros con\n\ninter,s leg¡timo.\n\nAl efecto, podr  hacer toda clase de investigaciones para\n\nresolver conflictos,\n\ndeclarar la suspensi¢n del funcionamiento de una asociaci¢n o\n\nsolicitar la disoluci¢n\n\njudicial para lo cual los miembros de las asociaciones deber n\n\nsuministrar\n\ntoda la informaci¢n que les sea solicitada. En el caso de\n\nAsociaciones\n\nde Bienestar Social se tendr  como parte en el procedimiento\n\nanterior\n\na la Unidad de Administraci¢n de Instituciones y Servicios de\n\nBienestar Social\n\ndel Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social. (Ley N§ 3095 de 18 de\n\nfebrero de 1963).\n\n ARTÖCULO 15.-Corresponde al Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia\n\nintervenir,\n\ncon facultades arbitrales en los conflictos entre las\n\nasociaciones y sus asociados,\n\nde oficio, o a petici¢n de parte.\n\n ARTÖCULO 16.-Corresponde al Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia\n\nconvocar\n\na asambleas en las asociaciones:\n\n a) a pedido del 10% de los asociados activos, cuando estime que\n\nla solicitud\n\n es pertinente y si los peticionarios lo han requerido\n\ninfructuosamente a\n\n los ¢rganos de la asociaci¢n, transcurridos 30 d¡as despu,s\n\nde formulada\n\n la solicitud; y\n\n b) en cualquier caso, cuando constate irregularidades graves\n\ny estime imprescindible\n\n la medida, en resguardo del derecho constitucional de\n\nasociaci¢n.\n\n ARTÖCULO 17.-El Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia puede\n\nasistir a las sesiones\n\nde asamblea general cuando lo estime pertinente. Todo pedido de\n\nasistencia\n\nde un representante de las instancias competentes, deber \n\nsolicitarse\n\ncon 10 d¡as de anticipaci¢n a la fecha de la Asamblea General en\n\nforma escrita.\n\nLa petici¢n ser  fundamentada y los socios sufragar n los gastos\n\nen\n\nque se incurra. En el caso de las Asociaciones de Bienestar\n\nSocial, dicha asistencia\n\ncorresponder  a los funcionarios de la Unidad de Administraci¢n\n\nde\n\nInstituciones y Servicios de Bienestar Social del Instituto Mixto\n\nde Ayuda Social.\n\n ARTÖCULO 18.-El Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia asistir  a\n\nlas sesiones de\n\nJunta Directiva cuando lo considere conveniente. En caso de\n\nAsociaciones de\n\nBienestar Social podr n asistir funcionarios de la Unidad de\n\nAdministraci¢n de\n\nInstituciones y Servicios de Bienestar Social del Instituto Mixto\n\nde Ayuda Social.\n\n ARTÖCULO 19.-Las asociaciones que establezcan un fondo de\n\nmutualidad\n\nen favor de los asociados, deber n cubrirse con p¢liza de\n\nfidelidad no menor\n\nde ½ 50.000,00.\n\n ARTÖCULO 20.-Toda desafiliaci¢n decretada por la Junta\n\nDirectiva podr \n\nser recurrida ante la Asamblea General. Toda desafiliaci¢n\n\ndeber  ser comunicada\n\npor escrito, consign ndose la fecha y n£mero de acuerdo en que\n\nse\n\ntom¢ tal decisi¢n.\n\n ARTÖCULO 21.-Los cargos directivos ser n nombrados por la\n\nAsamblea\n\nGeneral para el per¡odo que indiquen los estatutos. Para efectos\n\nde terceros,\n\nla Junta Directiva mantendr  todas sus potestades, hasta tanto\n\nla nueva Junta\n\nDirectiva tome legalmente posesi¢n de su cargo.\n\n ARTÖCULO 22.-Para realizar cualquier movimiento de las\n\nasociaciones\n\nque deba inscribirse en el Registro, es requisito tener los\n\nlibros legalizados y\n\nla personer¡a jur¡dica vigente, salvo en cuanto esto £ltimo que\n\nsea una renovaci¢n\n\npor vencimiento.\n\n ARTÖCULO 23.-El presidente tendr  las facultades que\n\nestablece el art¡culo\n\n24 de la Ley de Asociaciones y podr  acogerse a lo dispuesto en\n\nel art¡culo\n\n1251 y siguientes del C¢digo Civil. Cuando el poder sea\n\nconjunto, Presidente\n\ny Vicepresidente, otro miembro de la Junta Directiva sustituir \n\nal Vicepresidente\n\nen su cargo, durante las ausencias temporales del Presidente.\n\n ARTÖCULO 24.-El ejercicio administrativo y fiscal de cada\n\nasociaci¢n durar \n\nun a¤o. Al t,rmino de ,ste, se presentar  un informe de\n\nactividades ante\n\nel Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia. En los casos de las\n\nAsociaciones de Bienestar\n\nSocial, se presentar  una copia de estos informes a la Unidad de\n\nAdministraci¢n\n\nde Instituciones y Servicios de Bienestar Social del Instituto\n\nMixto de\n\nAyuda Social.\n\n ARTÖCULO 25.-En caso de disoluci¢n de Asociaciones de\n\nBienestar Social,\n\nla Unidad de Instituciones y Servicios de Bienestar Social del\n\nInstituto Mixto\n\nde Ayuda Social, solicitar  a la Unidad Nacional de Estudios\n\nJur¡dicos realizar\n\nlas gestiones correspondientes. Dicha solicitud se har  por\n\nescrito, acompa¤ada\n\nde los documentos necesarios cuando concurran las causales\n\nse¤aladas en los\n\nart¡culo 13, 14 y 27 de la Ley de Asociaciones y sus reformas.\n\n ARTÖCULO 26.-Una asociaci¢n de bienestar social se disuelve\n\nadministrativamente\n\ncuando:\n\n a) El n£mero de asociados elegibles sea inferior al necesario\n\npara integrar\n\n el ¢rgano directivo;\n\n b) Se haya conseguido el fin temporal o transitorio para el\n\ncual fue fundada\n\n o haya imposibilidad legal o material para la consecuci¢n\n\nde dicho fin;\n\n c) Sobrevenga la privaci¢n de su capacidad jur¡dica como\n\nconsecuencia de\n\n su declaratoria de insolvencia o concurso, de variaci¢n en\n\nel objeto perseguido,\n\n del cambio de naturaleza en su personer¡a jur¡dica o por no\n\n haberse renovado el ¢rgano directivo en el a¤o siguiente al\n\nt,rmino se¤alado\n\n en los estatutos para el ejercicio del mismo;\n\n d) Lo soliciten dos tercios o m s de los asociados.\n\n En presencia de las causales anteriores, la Unidad Nacional\n\nde Estudios\n\nJur¡dicos del Ministerio de Justicia y Gracia, proceder  a\n\nefectuar un estudio\n\nque respalde la solicitud de disoluci¢n de la asociaci¢n.\n\n Los documentos correspondientes se acompa¤ar n de una nota\n\nde solicitud\n\nde disoluci¢n de parte de la Unidad de Administraci¢n de\n\nInstituciones y Servicios\n\nde Bienestar Social del Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social.\n\n ARTÖCULO 27.-Rige a partir de su publicaci¢n.\n\n\u001a", "body_en_text": "in the entirety of the text\n\n -\n\nComplete Text of Regulation 17617\n\n Regulation to the Law of Associations (1987)\n\nComplete Text of Record: 11FE5\n\n1\n\n No. 17617-J\n\n THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC\n\n AND THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND\n\nGRACE,\n\n In exercise of the powers conferred in article 140, subsections 3) and\n18) of the Political Constitution and Law No. 218 of August 8, 1939.\n\n Considering:\n\n 1.—That the right of association is a public freedom enshrined in\n our Political Constitution and therefore, its effective exercise must be guaranteed\n by updating the regulations governing it, thereby enabling\n an expeditious process for the constitution and registration of these\n organizations.\n\n 2.—That by the very spirit of associations, they deserve\n a special treatment of control and oversight so that the nature\n and origin of this public freedom are not distorted.\n\n Therefore,\n\n DECREE:\n\n The following\n\n Regulation to the Law of Associations No. 218\n of August 8, 1939\n\n ARTICLE 1.—Organizations constituted in accordance with Law\nNo. 218 of August 8, 1939, and its amendments, shall be authorized for their constitution,\namendment of bylaws, registration of legal status (personería jurídica), and other acts\nof interest to the association, in the Registry of Associations of the\nNational Registry.\n\n ARTICLE 2.—The name of each association may not contain any type\nof acronyms representing commercial nomenclatures, nor may it adopt\na name identical to that of another already registered or so similar that both\ncould be easily confused. The name must be written correctly\nin Spanish; or national indigenous languages. A name in another language\nmay be written in parentheses when the association has a relationship with a similar\nforeign one.\n\n ARTICLE 3.—To be part of the essential bodies, being an active\nmember (asociado activo) is required.\n\n ARTICLE 4.—The Ministry of Justice and Grace shall order the publication of\nthe notice referred to in article 19 of the Law of Associations.\nSaid notice shall be\ndrafted briefly by the Registry of Associations and published at\nthe expense of the interested party.\n\n ARTICLE 5.—Objections to the qualification or registration of\ndocuments relating to associations shall be filed before the Registry of Associations\nin first instance and shall be appealable before the General Registrar of the Public\nRegistry. Conflicts between members, or between them and any of the\nbodies of the association, shall be resolved as established in article 14\nof this Regulation.\n\n ARTICLE 6.—It is the responsibility of the Registry of Associations to rule on\nqueries made by the entities, their bodies, or the members. Queries\nfrom \"Social Welfare\" associations must be made before the\nUnit for the Administration of Institutions and Services of\nSocial Welfare of the Joint Institute for Social Assistance (Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social).\n\n ARTICLE 7.—It is the responsibility of the National Registry to keep the Registry\nof Associations where the bylaws, amendments to\nthese, the appointments of the Board of Directors and the Auditor (Fiscal), and the\nlegalization of books shall be registered.\n\n ARTICLE 8.—Associations domiciled abroad that establish\ntheir branches in Costa Rica must be authorized for their operation by\nthe Registry of Associations.\n\n ARTICLE 9.—The Minute Books and Accounting Books shall be legalized\nby the Registry of Associations. The entries in the accounting books shall be\nauthorized by an accountant registered with the respective professional association. If\nwithin a period of sixty days from the legalization and the communication\nof observations, the books are not collected by the interested parties or their processing is not\nregularized, the Registry of Associations shall proceed to\nreturn them.\n\n ARTICLE 10.—In the event of the loss of any of the books in use, the following\nreplacement procedure must be followed:\n\n a) Express application from the President of the Association, with a signature authenticated\n by an attorney;\n b) Certification of current legal status (personería jurídica) as of the date;\n c) Publication of a notice three consecutive times in the Official Gazette\n \"La Gaceta\", in order to hear objections. The cost of the publications\n shall be borne by the interested parties, as well as their drafting;\n d) After eight business days following the last publication in \"La\n Gaceta\", the clippings of the notices shall be submitted, with their respective\n dates;\n e) Submission of a certification from an authorized public accountant stating\n that the accounting requirements are up to date; and\n f) Submission of the minute books in use, the new one to be legalized, and the\n corresponding fiscal stamps.\n\n ARTICLE 11.—It is the authority of the President of the Republic and the Minister\nof Justice and Grace to hear the Declaration of Public Utility (Declaratoria de Utilidad Pública) when\nthe association so requests. Such a request must provide the following requirements:\n\n a) Having been constituted for at least three years and providing\n relevant services to the community;\n b) Developing activities useful to public interests.\n\n ARTICLE 12.—Associations that are declared of public utility\nshall enjoy the administrative and economic franchises and concessions\nthat the Executive Branch grants in accordance with the law. They must submit an\nannual report of their management regarding the use, in favor of the community,\nof this benefit that was granted to them. The declaration shall be revocable\nat any time.\n\n ARTICLE 13.—The Unit for the Administration of Institutions and Services\nof Social Welfare of the Joint Institute for Social Assistance (Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social) shall grant the\nstatus of \"Social Welfare\" to associations constituted for that purpose, after a prior\ntechnical study of their nature.\n\n ARTICLE 14.—It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice and Grace to exercise\nadministrative control and oversight of associations and to consider, investigate, and\nresolve complaints from associations or from third parties with a legitimate interest.\nTo this end, it may carry out all kinds of investigations to resolve conflicts,\ndeclare the suspension of an association's operations, or request its judicial\ndissolution, for which the members of the associations must provide\nall information requested of them. In the case of Social Welfare\nAssociations, the Unit for the Administration of Institutions and Services of\nSocial Welfare of the Joint Institute for Social Assistance (Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social) shall be a party to the preceding\nprocedure. (Law No. 3095 of February 18, 1963).\n\n ARTICLE 15.—It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice and Grace to intervene,\nwith arbitral powers, in conflicts between associations and their members,\non its own initiative or at the request of a party.\n\n ARTICLE 16.—It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice and Grace to convene\nassemblies in the associations:\n\n a) at the request of 10% of the active members (asociados activos), when it deems the request\n is pertinent and if the petitioners have unsuccessfully requested it from\n the bodies of the association, after 30 days have elapsed since the request\n was made; and\n b) in any case, when it verifies serious irregularities and deems the measure\n essential, in safeguarding the constitutional right of\n association.\n\n ARTICLE 17.—The Ministry of Justice and Grace may attend the sessions\nof the general assembly when it deems it pertinent. Any request for the attendance\nof a representative of the competent authorities must be requested\n10 days in advance of the General Assembly date in writing.\nThe petition must be justified, and the members shall bear the expenses\nincurred. In the case of Social Welfare Associations, said attendance\nshall correspond to the officials of the Unit for the Administration\nof Institutions and Services of Social Welfare of the Joint Institute for Social Assistance (Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social).\n\n ARTICLE 18.—The Ministry of Justice and Grace shall attend the\nBoard of Directors sessions when it deems it convenient. In the case of Social Welfare\nAssociations, officials from the Unit for the Administration of\nInstitutions and Services of Social Welfare of the Joint Institute for Social Assistance (Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social)\nmay attend.\n\n ARTICLE 19.—Associations that establish a mutual fund\nin favor of their members must cover it with a fidelity bond of no less\nthan ₡ 50,000.00.\n\n ARTICLE 20.—Any disenrollment decreed by the Board of Directors may\nbe appealed before the General Assembly. Any disenrollment must be communicated\nin writing, stating the date and number of the agreement by which\nsuch a decision was made.\n\n ARTICLE 21.—Directorial positions shall be appointed by the General\nAssembly for the period indicated in the bylaws. For purposes of third parties,\nthe Board of Directors shall retain all its powers until the new Board\nof Directors legally takes possession of its office.\n\n ARTICLE 22.—To carry out any transaction of the associations\nthat must be registered in the Registry, having the books legalized and\nthe current legal status (personería jurídica) is a requirement, except regarding the latter when it is a renewal\ndue to expiration.\n\n ARTICLE 23.—The president shall have the powers established in article\n24 of the Law of Associations and may avail himself of the provisions of article\n1251 and following of the Civil Code. When the power is joint, President\nand Vice President, another member of the Board of Directors shall substitute the Vice President\nin his duties during the temporary absences of the President.\n\n ARTICLE 24.—The administrative and fiscal year of each\nassociation shall last one year. At the end of this year, an activities report shall be submitted to\nthe Ministry of Justice and Grace. In the cases of Social Welfare\nAssociations, a copy of these reports shall be submitted to the Unit for the Administration\nof Institutions and Services of Social Welfare of the Joint Institute\nof Social Assistance (Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social).\n\n ARTICLE 25.—In the event of the dissolution of Social Welfare Associations,\nthe Unit for Institutions and Services of Social Welfare of the Joint Institute\nof Social Assistance (Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social) shall request the National Unit of Legal Studies to carry out\nthe corresponding procedures. Said request shall be made in writing, accompanied\nby the necessary documents when the grounds indicated in\narticles 13, 14, and 27 of the Law of Associations and its amendments are present.\n\n ARTICLE 26.—A social welfare association is administratively dissolved\nwhen:\n\n a) The number of eligible members is less than that necessary to form\n the governing body;\n b) The temporary or transitory purpose for which it was founded has been achieved,\n or there is a legal or material impossibility of achieving that purpose;\n c) Deprivation of its legal capacity supervenes as a consequence\n of its declaration of insolvency or bankruptcy, a change in the pursued objective,\n a change in the nature of its legal status (personería jurídica), or because the\n governing body was not renewed in the year following the term indicated\n in the bylaws for its mandate;\n d) It is requested by two-thirds or more of the members.\n\n In the presence of the above grounds, the National Unit of Legal\nStudies of the Ministry of Justice and Grace shall proceed to carry out a study\nsupporting the request for dissolution of the association.\n\n The corresponding documents shall be accompanied by a note requesting\ndissolution from the Unit for the Administration of Institutions and Services\nof Social Welfare of the Joint Institute for Social Assistance (Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social).\n\n ARTICLE 27.—It becomes effective upon its publication." }