Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Iowa Code Title XII. Business Entities [Chs. 486-504C] § 490.504. Service on corporation

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

1. A corporation's registered agent is the corporation's agent for service of process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served on the corporation.

2. If a corporation has no registered agent, or the agent cannot with reasonable diligence be served, the corporation may be served by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the secretary at the corporation's principal office. Service is perfected under this subsection at the earliest of the following:

a. The date the corporation receives the mail.

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

c. Five days after its deposit in the United States mail, as evidenced by the postmark, if mailed postpaid and correctly addressed.

3. a. The secretary of state shall be an agent of the corporation upon whom process, notice, or demand may be served, if any of the following applies:

(1) The process, notice, or demand cannot be served on a corporation pursuant to subsection 1 or 2.

(2) The process, notice, or demand is to be served on a registered foreign corporation that has withdrawn its registration pursuant to section 490.1507 or 490.1509, or the registration of which has been terminated pursuant to section 490.1511.

b. Service of any process, notice, or demand on the secretary of state as agent for a corporation may be made by delivering to the secretary of state duplicate copies of the process, notice, or demand. If process, notice, or demand is served on the secretary of state, the secretary of state shall forward one of the copies by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the corporation at the last address shown in the records of the secretary of state. Service is effected under this subsection at the earliest of the following:

(1) The date the corporation receives the process, notice, or demand.

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

(3) Five days after the process, notice, or demand is deposited with the United States mail by the secretary of state.

4. This section does not prescribe the only means, or necessarily the required means, of serving a corporation.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Iowa Code Title XII. Business Entities [Chs. 486-504C] § 490.504. Service on corporation - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ia/title-xii-business-entities-chs-486-504c/ia-code-sect-490-504/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard