Section 181.1510. Service on foreign corporation.

 

(1)   Registered agent. Except as provided in subs. (2) and (3) , the registered agent of a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state is the foreign corporation's agent for service of process, notice or demand required or permitted by law to be served on the foreign corporation.

(2)   Foreign corporation authorized to transact business. A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state may be served in the manner provided in sub. (4) if the foreign corporation has no registered agent or its registered agent cannot, with reasonable diligence, be served.

(3)   Foreign corporation formerly authorized to transact business. A foreign corporation formerly authorized to transact business in this state may be served in the manner provided in sub. (4) in any civil, criminal, administrative or investigatory proceeding based on a cause of action arising while it was authorized to transact business in this state, if the foreign corporation has done any of the following:

(a) Withdrawn from transacting business in this state under s. 181.1520 .

(b) Had its certificate of authority revoked under s. 181.1531 .

(4)   Manner of service on foreign corporation.

(a) With respect to a foreign corporation described in sub. (2) or (3) , the foreign corporation may be served by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the foreign corporation at its principal office as shown on the records of the department, except as provided in par. (b) . Service is perfected under this paragraph at the earliest of the following:

1. The date on which the foreign corporation receives the mail.

2. The date shown on the return receipt, if signed on behalf of the foreign corporation.

3. Five days after it is deposited in the U.S. mail, if mailed postpaid and correctly addressed.

(b) Except as provided in s. 181.1531 (2g) (b) , if the address of the foreign corporation's principal office cannot be determined from the records of the department, the foreign corporation may be served by publishing a class 3 notice, under ch. 985 , in the community where the foreign corporation's principal office or registered office, as most recently designated in the records of the department, is located.

(5)   Other methods of service. 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 foreign corporation in any other manner permitted by law.

1997 a. 79 ; 2011 a. 234 .