The
registered agent so appointed by a foreign corporation authorized
to conduct affairs 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.
Whenever a foreign corporation authorized to conduct affairs
in this state shall fail to appoint or maintain a registered
agent in this state, or whenever any such registered agent cannot
with reasonable diligence be found at the registered office, or
whenever the certificate of authority of a foreign corporation
shall be suspended or revoked, then the secretary of state shall
be an agent of such corporation upon whom any such process,
notice, or demand may be served. 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, duplicate copies of such 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 one of such copies thereof to be
forwarded by certified mail, addressed to the secretary of the
corporation 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.
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 his or her action with reference thereto.
Nothing herein contained shall 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.
[2011 c 336 § 658; 1986 c 240 § 48; 1982 c 35 § 103; 1967 c 235 § 71.]
NOTES:
Intent -- Severability -- Effective dates -- Application -- 1982 c 35: See notes following RCW 43.07.160.