Article 3. Agent For Service Of Process of California Insurance Code >> Division 1. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 3.

The commissioner shall require every foreign insurer, as a condition precedent to receiving and holding a certificate of authority, to file and maintain in the commissioner's office a writing designating an agent for service of process. The agent designated may be any person residing in this state, including, but not limited to, any corporate officer of the insurer. The writing shall state the name of the agent and his or her place of business in this state with sufficient particularity so that he or she can readily be found by peace officers or process servers. Appointment of an agent reasonably available for service of papers, notice, proof of loss, summons or other process during business hours shall be continuously maintained by every admitted insurer subject to this article while it holds a valid and unrevoked certificate of authority.

An agent designated by a foreign insurer as provided in this article may file with the insurance commissioner a written statement of resignation as such agent which shall be signed and execution thereof shall be duly acknowledged by the agent. Thereupon, the authority of the agent to act in such capacity shall cease and the commissioner shall forthwith give written notice of such resignation by mail to the insurer addressed to its principal office as shown by his records. If an agent who has been appointed by a foreign corporation as provided in this article dies or resigns or removes his residence from the State of California, the insurer shall forthwith file with the commissioner an appointment of a new agent on a form provided by the commissioner for such purpose and pay the filing fee therefor, and such filing shall be deemed to revoke any prior designation of agent.

No fee shall be charged, except as included in the application for certificate of authority fee provided by Article 3 (commencing with Section 699) of Chapter 1 of this part, for filing the initial appointment under this article by an applicant for admission. Thereafter the commissioner shall require the payment of twenty-nine dollars ($29) in lawful money of the United States in advance as a fee for filing appointment of agent or stipulation or both by every admitted foreign or alien insurer, under this article.

Any notice provided by law or by a policy, and any proof of loss, summons or other process may be served on such agent in any action or other legal proceeding against the insurer, and such service gives jurisdiction over the person of such insurer.

The person appointed and designated pursuant to Section 1600 shall be deemed in law a general agent, and shall for service of process be the principal agent of the insurer in this state.

Every foreign insurer, as a further condition precedent to admission and in consideration thereof, shall file with the commissioner an agreement or stipulation, executed by the proper authorities of such insurer, in form and substance as follows: "The (giving name of insurer) does hereby stipulate and agree, in consideration of the permission granted by the State of California to it to transact insurance business in this State, that if at any time it leaves this State, ceases to transact business in this State or is without an agent for service of process in this State, then in any case where such agent could be served, service may be made upon the Insurance Commissioner, and such service upon the commissioner shall have the same force and effect as if made upon the insurer." When a foreign insurer, prior to the date this code takes effect, has filed with the commissioner an agreement for service upon him pursuant to the provisions of section 616 of the Political Code as then in effect, such filing is a compliance with this section while such agreement remains in effect.

Service may be made upon the commissioner under the circumstances described in the agreement or stipulation provided for by this article and in the manner provided in Article 1 (commencing with Section 12919) of Chapter 2 of Division 3.