(1) Each licensed nonresident public adjuster or all-lines adjuster appointed as an independent adjuster shall appoint the Chief Financial Officer and his or her successors in office as his or her attorney to receive service of legal process issued against such adjuster in this state, upon causes of action arising within this state out of transactions under his license and appointment. Service upon the Chief Financial Officer as attorney constitutes effective legal service upon the nonresident independent or public adjuster.

(2) The appointment of the Chief Financial Officer for service of process is irrevocable as long as there could be any cause of action against the nonresident public adjuster or all-lines adjuster appointed as an independent adjuster arising out of his or her insurance transactions in this state.

(3) Duplicate copies of legal process against the nonresident public adjuster or all-lines adjuster appointed as an independent adjuster shall be served upon the Chief Financial Officer by a person competent to serve a summons.

(4) Upon receiving the service, the Chief Financial Officer shall send one of the copies of the process, by registered mail with return receipt requested, to the defendant nonresident public adjuster or all-lines adjuster appointed as an independent adjuster at his or her last address of record with the department.

(5) The Chief Financial Officer shall keep a record of the day and hour of service upon him or her of all legal process received under this section.

History.—s. 59, ch. 98-199; s. 991, ch. 2003-261; s. 71, ch. 2004-390; s. 43, ch. 2012-209.