§ 7-6-14. Service of process on corporation. (a) The registered agent appointed by a corporation shall be an agent of the corporation upon whom any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served upon the corporation may be served.

(b) Whenever a corporation fails to appoint or maintain a registered agent in this state, or whenever its registered agent cannot with reasonable diligence be found at the registered office, the secretary of state shall be an agent of the corporation upon whom any process, notice, or demand may be served. Service on the secretary of state of any process, notice, or demand is made by delivering to and leaving with the secretary of state or with any clerk having charge of the corporation department of the secretary of state's office, duplicate copies of the process, notice, or demand. In the event any process, notice, or demand is served on the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall immediately forward one of the copies by registered mail, addressed to the corporation at its registered office. Any service upon the secretary of state is returnable in not less than thirty (30) days.

(c) 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 in the record the time of service and his or her action with reference to it.

(d) Nothing contained in these provisions limits or affects 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 subsequently permitted by law.

History of Section. (P.L. 1984, ch. 380, § 1; P.L. 1984, ch. 444, § 1.)