Can we temporarily put an association to sleep?
Verified 05 December 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The association you lead has difficulties in continuing its activity (for example, lack of volunteers, sufficient resources, need for internal reorganization), but solutions are possible. You can propose the sleep setting of the association. We tell you how to do it.
Warning
This information does not concern not associations ofAlsace-Moselle.
Step-by-step approach
To be able to put an association to sleep, this situation must be envisaged in the statutes and that the general meeting votes on its implementation.
If the statutes do not provide for the association to be temporarily put on hold, as leaders, you will have to dissolve.
FYI
If you put your association to sleep when the statutes do not provide for it, you engage your responsibility. Indeed, when you create a prejudice to the association, due to a (unintentional) management fault, the association can turn against you and ask you for damages.
If the suspension does not lead to the modification of the statutes, no declaration is to be made to the prefecture.
Please note
if an association is in difficulty, it is advisable to getting closer to a support service for associations (Guid'Assohouses, associations, territorial arrangements) to assess the situation, obtain a diagnosis and advice on possible options (reorganization, pause, dissolution).
It is up to the general assembly to set the conditions for the sleep.
It must determine the duration and the conditions under which this period will end.
It must decide on the reactivation of the combination (resumption of its activity) or its dissolution (if business resumption is not possible).
The general meeting must also designate the person or persons who will be responsible for managing the association during the period of inactivity.
Warning
If this or these persons are not the former directors, this designation must be declared to the registry of associations. This declaration can be made via the online service of change declaration.
If sleep-setting also leads to one of the following modifications, it must also be declared in the prefecture:
- Statutory amendment
- Change of management address
- Opening or closing of an establishment
- Sale of premises.
The declaration can be made online, by mail or on site at the registry of associations.
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On the internet
You can do this using this e-modification online service, using the login and password of the association:
By post
A form must be completed. It differs depending on whether it is a modification of the registered office or articles of association or a change in administration.
The minutes of the general meeting on the decision to suspend must be attached to your file.
The file must be sent by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt to the registry of the associations of the registered office of your association.
On site at the registry of associations
You can make your declaration at the office of the registry of associations of the prefecture.
A form must be completed. It differs depending on whether it is a modification of the registered office or articles of association or a change in administration.
The minutes of the general meeting on the decision to suspend must be attached to your file.
When a sleep is accompanied by significant changes (closure or pause of a premises, change of address, resale or renting, adaptation of the organization), support can be useful to manage:
- relations with landlords or owners,
- current contracts (rental, maintenance, services),
- communication with partners, members, donors, to inform them of sleep,
- the preservation or transfer of material, archives, treasury, assets.
It is possible to contact the network support points Guid'Asso or territorial support services (local authorities, associations' houses, DLA, etc.) to obtain advice on contracts, leasing, administrative management and possible recovery.
Depending on the situation of the association, the general assembly must decide, during the sleep period, the following measures:
- Continuation or non-continuation of a contribution
- Become part of the premises occupied by the association if it has them and in particular if it is a tenant or disposes of them free of charge
- Become material during this period
- Becoming cash
- Whether or not the association keeps its bank account and means of payment (checkbooks, bank card)
- If it is necessary to terminate certain contracts (telephone/internet subscription for example)
- If it is necessary to dismiss employees
- Inform potential partners (financial, donors,...) of this decision.
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