375.261. Service of process--procedure. - Missouri Statutes

Service of process--procedure.

375.261. 1. Service of process as provided herein shall be made bydelivery of two copies of the summons, with copies of the petition theretoattached, to the director, or in his or her absence to the deputy directorof the department, or in the absence of both the director and deputydirector, to the chief clerk of the department, at the office of thedirector of the department of insurance, financial institutions andprofessional registration of this state at Jefferson City, Missouri. Thedirector shall forthwith mail by certified mail, with return receiptrequested, one of the copies of the summons, with petition theretoattached, to the defendant at its last known principal place of business,and shall keep a record of all process so served upon the director, deputydirector or chief clerk, and the date of service, and the return receiptshowing delivery thereof to the defendant shall be filed therewith.

2. The director, upon receiving the return receipt, shall so certifythe fact to the clerk of the court in which the action is pending. Theservice of process shall be deemed sufficient provided notice of service,and a copy of the summons, with a copy of plaintiff's petition theretoattached, are sent certified mail, with return receipt requested, withinten days after service of process upon the director, or his or her deputyor chief clerk, as aforesaid, by plaintiff or plaintiff's attorney to thedefendant at its last known principal place of business, and the returnreceipt therefor issued by the post office and the affidavit of plaintiffor plaintiff's attorney showing compliance with the aforesaid provisionsare filed in the office of the clerk of the court in which the action ispending on or before the date the defendant is required to appear anddefend the cause of action.

(L. 1951 p. 276 § 375.161, A.L. 1967 p. 516, A.L. 2008 S.B. 788)