Section 500.456 - Legal process served on resident agent effective as personal service on company, association, or group; stipulation; filing copy of appointment; fee; duration of appointment; service
THE INSURANCE CODE OF 1956 (EXCERPT)
Act 218 of 1956
500.456 Legal process served on resident agent effective as personal service on company, association, or group; stipulation; filing copy of appointment; fee; duration of appointment; service of process.
Sec. 456.
(1) Every insurance company, association, risk retention group, or purchasing group not organized under the statutes of this state shall file with the commissioner, as a condition precedent to doing business in this state, the name and address of a resident agent upon which any local process affecting the company, association, or group may be served. Service upon the resident agent designated under this section is service on the company, association, or group. This designation shall remain in force as long as any liability remains within this state.
(2) As a condition of doing business in this state, an unauthorized insurer who does not have a resident agent shall file with the commissioner an irrevocable written stipulation agreeing that any legal process affecting the company, association, or group that is served upon the commissioner or his or her designee has the same effect as if personally served upon the company, association, or group. A copy of the appointment shall be filed with the commissioner. Service upon the commissioner is service upon the company, association, or group and the fee for service is $10.00 payable at time of service. This appointment remains in force as long as any liability remains within this state.
(3) Every insurance company not organized under the statutes of this state that provides a surety bond required or permitted under the laws of the United States shall irrevocably appoint the commissioner or his or her designee as the company's agent to receive service of process in any action in United States district court on the surety bond. Service upon the commissioner is service upon the company, and the commissioner may establish a reasonable fee, payable at the time of service, for the acceptance of service. Upon receipt of service of process, the commissioner or his or her designee shall forward the service of process to the resident agent designated under subsection (1). Service of process on the commissioner under this subsection only applies for a bond provided within this state and is in addition to and not in place of any other method of service authorized by law or court rule.
History: 1956, Act 218, Eff. Jan. 1, 1957 ;-- Am. 1981, Act 1, Imd. Eff. Mar. 30, 1981 ;-- Am. 1989, Act 214, Eff. Jan. 1, 1990 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 26, Imd. Eff. Mar. 6, 2002 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 664, Eff. Mar. 31, 2003
Popular Name: Act 218