23B.15.100 - Service on foreign corporation. - Washington Statutes

Service on foreign corporation.

(1) The registered agent appointed by a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state shall be an agent of such corporation upon whom any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served upon the corporation may be served.

     (2) The secretary of state shall be an agent of a foreign corporation upon whom any process, notice, or demand may be served, if:

     (a) The corporation is authorized to transact business in this state, and it fails to appoint or maintain a registered agent in this state, or its registered agent cannot with reasonable diligence be found at the registered office;

     (b) The corporation's authority to transact business in this state has been revoked under RCW 23B.15.310; or

     (c) The corporation has been authorized to transact business in this state and has withdrawn under RCW 23B.15.200.

     (3) Service on the secretary of state of any such process, notice, or demand shall be made by delivering to and leaving with the secretary of state, or with any duly authorized clerk of the corporation department of the secretary of state's office, the process, notice, or demand. In the event any such process, notice, or demand is served on the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall immediately cause a copy thereof to be forwarded by certified mail, addressed to the secretary of the corporation at its principal office as shown on the records of the secretary of state. Any service so had on the secretary of state shall be returnable in not less than thirty days.

     (4) The secretary of state shall keep a record of all processes, notices, and demands served upon the secretary of state under this section, and shall record therein the time of such service and the secretary of state's action with reference thereto.

     (5) This section does not limit or affect the right to serve any process, notice, or demand, required or permitted by law to be served upon a corporation in any other manner now or hereafter permitted by law.

[1989 c 165 § 178.]