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HomeCorporations CodeCh. 4§ 31420 Service Of Process Rules

§ 31420 Service Of Process Rules

Corporations Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 31420 Service Of Process Rules

Key Takeaways

  • •If someone breaks the rules in this law, even if they don’t live here, they can still be taken to court in this state.
  • •If the person can’t be found or served normally, the court can send papers to a special person (the commissioner) instead.
  • •The person suing must also mail a copy of the court papers to the person being sued, so they know about it.
  • •The person suing has to prove they followed these steps by filing a sworn statement with the court.

Example

A company from another state sells fake car parts online to people in this state, breaking the rules. The company doesn’t have an office here, and no one can find the owner to serve court papers.

The court can send the papers to the commissioner’s office instead of the company owner. Then, the person suing must mail a copy of the papers to the company’s last known address. If they do this and file proof with the court, the lawsuit can move forward even if the company owner never comes to this state.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 31420 Service Of Process Rules

When any person, including any nonresident of this state, engages in conduct prohibited or made actionable by this law or any rule or order hereunder, whether or not he has filed a consent to service of process under Section 31155, and personal jurisdiction over him cannot otherwise be obtained in this state, that conduct shall be considered equivalent to his appointment of the commissioner or his successor in office to be his attorney to receive service of any lawful process in any noncriminal suit, action, or proceeding against him or his successor, executor, or administrator which grows out of that conduct and which is brought under this law or any rule or order hereunder, with the same force and validity as if served on him personally. Service may be made by leaving a copy of the process in the office of the commissioner, but it is not effective unless (a) the plaintiff, who may be the commissioner in a suit, action, or proceeding instituted by him, forthwith sends notice of the service and a copy of the process by registered or certified mail to the defendant or respondent at his last known address or takes other steps which are reasonably calculated to give actual notice, and (b) the plaintiff’s affidavit of compliance with this section is filed in the case on or before the return day of the process, if any, or within such further time as the court allows. (Added by Stats. 1970, Ch. 1400.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

conduct prohibitedpersonal jurisdictioncommissionerservice of processaffidavit of compliance

Related Statutes

  • § 18220 Service On Unincorporated Associations
  • § 25132 Qualification Effectiveness Period
  • § 25240 Broker-Dealer Service Consent
  • § 25243 Broker-Dealer Misrepresentation Prohibition
  • § 25244 Surrender Revoked Certificates

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 31420.
View Official Source