California Corporations Code  >   Title 3. Unincorporated Associations  >   Part 1. General Provisions  >   Chapter 4. Designation of Agent for Service of Process   >   Corp. Code §18200. Filing Statements with Secretary of Agent; Address; Agent for Service of Process

*New statutes and amendments effective January 1, 2023 are shown in bold, underline italics. [ ] indicates an amendment of deleted text only.

(a) An unincorporated association may file with the Secretary of State, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, a statement containing either of the following:

(1) A statement designating the location and complete address of the unincorporated association’s principal office in California. Only one place may be designated.

(2) A statement (A) designating the location and complete address of the unincorporated association’s principal office in California in accordance with paragraph (1) or, if the unincorporated association does not have an office in this state, designating the complete address of the unincorporated association to which the Secretary of State shall send any notices required to be sent to the association under Sections 18210 and 18215, and (B) designating as agent of the association for service of process any natural person residing in this state or any corporation that has complied with Section 1505 and whose capacity to act as an agent has not terminated.

(b) If a natural person is designated as agent for service of process, the statement shall include the person’s complete business or residence address. If a corporate agent is designated, no address for it shall be included.

(c) Filing is deemed complete on acceptance by the Secretary of State of the statement, a copy of the statement, and the filing fee. The Secretary of State shall return the copy of the statement to the unincorporated association, with notations that indicate the file number and filing date of the original.

(d) At any time, an unincorporated association that has filed a statement under this section may file a new statement superseding the last previously filed statement. If the new statement does not designate an agent for service of process, the filing of the new statement shall be deemed to revoke the designation of an agent previously designated. A statement filed under this section expires five years from December 31 following the date it was filed in the office of the Secretary of State, unless previously superseded by the filing of a new statement.

(e) Delivery by hand of a copy of any process against the unincorporated association (1) to any natural person designated by it as agent, or (2) if the association has designated a corporate agent, to any person named in the last certificate of the corporate agent filed pursuant to Section 1505 at the office of the corporate agent shall constitute valid service on the association.

(f) For filing a statement as provided in this section, the Secretary of State shall charge and collect the fee provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 12191 of the Government Code for filing a designation of agent.

(g) Notwithstanding Section 18055, a statement filed by a partnership under former Section 24003 is subject to this chapter until the statement is revoked or expires. [2022]