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The chairperson of the association’s executive committee and other persons entitled to sign for the association

A person who is entitled to sign for the association also has the right to represent it. The person entitled to sign for the association has to be 18 years old or over, that is to say an adult. A person without legal capacity or a person who is bankrupt cannot sign for the association.

In the start-up notification, you can file the chairperson of the association and other persons entitled to sign for the association. Read our instructions on start-up notification.

In addition to the chairperson of the executive committee, two kinds of persons entitled to sign are filed with the Register of Associations: persons authorised by the rules to sign and persons appointed to sign for the association.

Under the Finnish Associations Act, the executive committee represents the association. Read more about the registration of the executive committee.

Chairperson of the executive committee

Under the Finnish Associations Act, the chairperson of the executive committee represents the association on his or her own. The right of representation can be limited in the rules of the association so that the chairperson can only sign the name of the association jointly with one or more other persons entitled to sign.

The chairperson must be resident in Finland. If he or she does not have a permanent place of residence in Finland, the association must apply for an exemption from the PRH. Read more about applying for an exemption.

Persons authorised by the rules to sign for the association

The rules of the association can lay down that, in addition to the chairperson, the name of the association can be signed by:

  • one or more members of the executive committee; or
  • another person on the basis of his or her position, for example the vice chairperson, the treasurer, or the secretary.

The person authorised to sign for the association has the right to represent it on his or her own, unless there are any limitations in the rules. The right to sign can be limited in the rules so that two or more persons can only sign the name of the association jointly.

Below you can see models on ways to sign, of which your association should only choose one.

The association’s name is signed by the chairperson of the executive committee, the vice chairperson, the secretary, or by the treasurer, each on their own.

The association’s name is signed by the chairperson and the vice chairperson of the executive committee jointly or by either of them together with the secretary or the treasurer.

The association’s name is signed by the chairperson and the vice chairperson of the executive committee jointly or by either of them together with the secretary, the treasurer or a person authorised by the executive committee.

The association’s name is signed by the chairperson of the executive committee on their own, or by any two jointly out of the vice chairperson, the secretary, or the treasurer.

The association’s name is signed by the chairperson of the executive committee on their own, or by any two jointly out of the vice chairperson, the secretary, the treasurer, or a person authorised by the executive committee.

Persons appointed to sign for the association

In the rules of the association, there can also be a provision that the executive committee can authorise a person to sign the name of the association on their own, or together with some other person entitled to sign for the association.

Printable version Latest update 19.09.2019