Current through Public Act 149 of the 2024 Legislative Session
Section 554.961 - Service of process; irrevocable consent appointing department(1) An applicant for registration under this act, other than a domestic corporation, shall file with the department, on a form prescribed by the department, an irrevocable consent appointing the department to be its attorney to receive service of lawful process in a noncriminal action or proceeding against it or its successor, executor, or administrator that arises under this act or a rule promulgated or order issued under this act after the consent has been filed. After the filing of the consent, process received by the department has the same force and validity as if served personally on the person filing consent.(2) Service under subsection (1) may be made by leaving a copy of the process in the office of the department but it is not effective unless all of the following requirements are met:(a) The plaintiff, who may be the department in an action or proceeding instituted by it, immediately sends notice of the service and a copy of the process by certified mail to the defendant or respondent at its last address on file with the department.(b) The plaintiff's affidavit of compliance with subdivision (a) is filed in the action, on or before the return day of the process, if any, or within such further time as the court may allow.(3) When a person, including a nonresident of this state, engages in conduct prohibited or made actionable by this act or a rule promulgated or order issued under this act, whether or not a consent to service of process has been filed and personal jurisdiction can otherwise be obtained in this state, that conduct shall be considered equivalent to the appointment of the department to be the attorney to receive service of a lawful process in a civil action or proceeding against the person or a successor, executor, or administrator arising out of that conduct and which is brought under this act or a rule promulgated or order issued under this act, with the same force and validity as if served on the person personally.(4) Service under subsection (3) may be made by leaving a copy of the process in the office of the department, but it is not effective unless all of the following requirements are met:(a) The plaintiff, which may be the department in an action or proceeding instituted by it, immediately sends notice of the service and a copy of the process by certified mail to the defendant or respondent at its last known address or takes other steps that are reasonably calculated to give actual notice.(b) The plaintiff's affidavit of compliance with this section is filed in the case on or before the return day of the process, if any, or within such further time as the court allows.Added by 2014, Act 448,s 30, eff. 4/2/2015.