The clerical personage who takes title to real estate for a corporation sole is called what?

• A. Sole titleholder
• B. Trustee
• C. Agent
• D. Beneficiary

Answer: (A)

In a corporation sole, the church’s real estate is held in the name of the office itself rather than in the personal name of any individual. The person who assumes the office—such as a bishop or other head of the church—is the sole titleholder, because the property belongs to the office and is carried on by the office across successions. This setup ensures continuity of ownership of church property through the office, not through any one person.

This isn’t a trustee arrangement, where title would be held by a person or entity for the benefit of others under a trust. It isn’t an agency situation, where someone acts on behalf of another but does not hold title. And it isn’t a beneficiary scenario, where a person benefits from property but does not hold the title. The title is held by the office itself, making the holder the sole titleholder.