Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in North Carolina

It depends on a lot of things.

1. Who owns the church. In most situations, the pastor is the head employee, a CEO type and not an owner. In that case, the church leadership selects a new leader.

2. If he owns the church, it will depend on if he has a will or if no will what surviving family members there are.

I agree with Attorney Love. If your father owns the church, then the church will pass as per your father's will, if any, to the designated beneficiary, or if there is no will to the intestate heirs. If your father does not own the church then he cannot leave the church to anyone. The shareholders of the church (assuming it is incorporated) or members (if its not incorporated) would own it. If your father is among the shareholders or members then his share would pass via his will or the intestacy laws.

If your father is still living and does not have a will, he needs one! He needs to contact an estate planning attorney and provide for succession planning if he owns the church.