Can illegal immigrant become a co-op board president?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Can illegal immigrant become a co-op board president?
I live in a co-op where the president is an undocumented immigrant. He said that no one asked him about his status. He also dismissed the management we had and with the treasurer put all money under co-op name but with him and the treasurer as the beneficiaries. I tried to find by-law of our co-op but no one who lives here has
one. I have to wait until the board print one out. Is these all legal?
Asked on June 10, 2019 under Real Estate Law, New York
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 4 years ago | Contributor
Unless barred by the co-op bylaws, it is legal. Illegal immigrants can own property in or invest in the United States--their immigration status does not affect that. Therefore, they can be co-op owners and, if owners, can be board president.
That said, making himself and the treasurer beneficiaries fo the co-op's money likely illegal on several grounds: a violation of fiduciary duty, a violation of co-op law, possibly a form of theft.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.