Source: https://amberpm.wordpress.com/2011/06/06/association-records-whats-available-to-the-members-article-by-association-times/
Timestamp: 2017-05-23 03:15:57
Document Index: 162838660

Matched Legal Cases: ['§8313', '§1365', '§8330', '§8333', '§1365', '§8311', '§1365']

Association Records: What’s Available to the Members – Article by Association Times | Amber Property Management
Posted by AmberPM on June 6, 2011 · 2 Comments Neighborhood Link Your Community Connection Article by Association Times
The Association Bylaws and CC&R’s usually provide wording on member access to Association records. The books, records, and papers of the Association shall at all times, during reasonable business hours, be subject to inspection by any Member. The Declaration, the Articles, and the Bylaws of the Association shall be available for inspection by any Member at the principal office of the Association, where copies may be purchased at reasonable cost. How does the Board of Directors define what are the books, records, and papers of an Association.
To understand what can be made available, verify what is written in the Association’s governing documents. Many times these documents provide only vague generalized wording on what records the Association membership can access. If the Association governing documents are unclear, review the state statues regarding what information an Association must make available to the members of that corporation. If it is unclear what interpretation to take relative to state statutes, seek guidance from an Association attorney on what information to release to members.
Appropriate accounting records including the latest annual financial statements (which may include consolidated or combined statements of the Association, a balance sheet as of the end of the fiscal year, and statement of changes in cash position for that year).
Its most recent annual report, if applicable to that state’s statutes.
Certain limitations can be imposed on a members’ right to inspect and/or obtain copies of Association records. Some examples of those limitations include:
Inspection and copying the records of the Association described above is limited to regular business hours at the Association’s principal office.
The member’s demand is made in good faith and for a proper purpose.
The member describes with reasonable particularity the member’s purpose and the records the member desires to inspect.
A member may not obtain or use a membership list or any part of the membership list for any purpose unrelated to a member’s interest as a member.
Personnel matters or a person’s medical records.
Pending or contemplated matters relating to enforcement of the corporation’s documents or rules.
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2 Responses to “Association Records: What’s Available to the Members – Article by Association Times”
serola says:	June 24, 2011 at 6:59 am	There seems to be a pandemic problem in getting financial records of an association. I am wondering if the recent court ruling of the Chicago Condo ordinance, which states only that a member has only to request the board records, and not provide any “proper purpose”, will provide a welcome solution to this problem?
AmberPM says:	June 24, 2011 at 4:48 pm	Right to Inspect Records
Subject to limitations, members have the right to inspect and copy the association’s books and records. This includes electronic records. However, not all records are subject to inspection. Further, a request for information is not the same as a request for records. Finally, members’ inspection rights cannot be limited by contract or by the association’s articles or bylaws. Corp. Code §8313.
Proper Purpose. A member’s request to inspect records must be for a proper purpose reasonably related to his or her interests as a member of the association. Civil Code §1365.2(e), Corp. Code §8330, Corp. Code §8333. The records belong to the association and any misuse of records by a member may subject the member to legal action for injunctive relief and damages.
Right to Designate Agent. Members may designate another person, agent or attorney to inspect records. The member shall make the designation in writing. Civil Code §1365.2(b)(2), Corp. Code §8311.
Inspection Location. Records must be made available at the association’s onsite business office or, if there is none, at a mutually agreed upon location. If the parties cannot agree on a location or if the member submits a request for copies of specifically identified records, the association may copy the documents and mail them to the member. Civil Code §1365.2(c).
Read more: Right to Inspect http://www.davis-stirling.com/MembersRighttoInspectandCopyRecords/tabid/1574/Default.aspx#ixzz1QDFpiOBj