FRATERNAL SOCIETIES

RCW 24.20
in effect

RCW 24.20.010 Incorporation — Articles.

Any grand lodge, encampment, chapter or any subordinate lodge or body of Free and Accepted Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, or other fraternal society, desiring to incorporate, shall deliver articles of incorporation to the secretary of state for filing in accordance with Article 2 of chapter 23.95 RCW; such articles shall be signed by the presiding officer and the secretary of such lodge, chapter or encampment, and attested by the seal thereof, and shall specify: (1) The name of such lodge or other society, and the place of holding its meetings; (2) The name of the grand body from which it derives its rights and powers as such lodge or society; or if it be a grand lodge, the manner in which its powers as such grand lodge are derived; (3) The names of the presiding officer and the secretary having the custody of the seal of such lodge or society; (4) What officers shall join in the execution of any contract by such lodge or society to give it force and effect in accordance with the usages of such lodges or society. Any grand lodge, encampment, chapter or any subordinate lodge or body of Free and Accepted Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, or other fraternal society, desiring to incorporate, shall deliver articles of incorporation to the secretary of state for filing in accordance with Article 2 of chapter 23.95 RCW; such articles shall be signed by the presiding officer and the secretary of such lodge, chapter or encampment, and attested by the seal thereof, and shall specify: (1) The name of such lodge or other society, and the place of holding its meetings; (2) The name of the grand body from which it derives its rights and powers as such lodge or society; or if it be a grand lodge, the manner in which its powers as such grand lodge are derived; (3) The names of the presiding officer and the secretary having the custody of the seal of such lodge or society; (4) What officers shall join in the execution of any contract by such lodge or society to give it force and effect in accordance with the usages of such lodges or society.

RCW 24.20.020 Filing fee.

The secretary of state shall file such articles of incorporation in the secretary of state's office and issue a certificate of incorporation to any such lodge or other society upon the payment of the filing fee established by the secretary of state under RCW 23.95.260 . The secretary of state shall file such articles of incorporation in the secretary of state's office and issue a certificate of incorporation to any such lodge or other society upon the payment of the filing fee established by the secretary of state under RCW 23.95.260 .

RCW 24.20.025 Fees for services by secretary of state.

See RCW 43.07.120 . See RCW 43.07.120 .

RCW 24.20.030 Powers — Not subject to license fees.

Such lodge or other society shall be a body politic and corporate with all the powers and incidents of a corporation upon its compliance with RCW 24.20.010 and 24.20.020 : PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That such fraternal corporation shall not be subject to any license fee or other corporate tax of commercial corporations. Such lodge or other society shall be a body politic and corporate with all the powers and incidents of a corporation upon its compliance with RCW 24.20.010 and 24.20.020 : PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That such fraternal corporation shall not be subject to any license fee or other corporate tax of commercial corporations.

RCW 24.20.035 Indemnification of agents of any corporation authorized.

See RCW 23B.17.030 . See RCW 23B.17.030 .
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=24.20&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026

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