Filing or Locating an Agent for Service

The Secretary of State is designated as the agent for service of process on some foreign corporations,  all foreign insurance companies and for out of state motorists involved in suits resulting from automobile accidents on Louisiana highways. The Legal Services Section of the Secretary of State’s office receives legal process in such cases from state and federal courts and forwards it to the person designated to receive same. A service fee of $50 per service made payable to the Secretary of State must be attached.

Mineral Lease

Secretary of State is served by the lessor when the address that the lessee furnished is returned as undeliverable and the forwarding address is unknown (all subsequent papers are served on the Secretary of State). A service fee of $50 per service made payable to the Secretary of State must be attached.

Political Subdivisions

Political subdivisions, board, commissions, etc. of the state are to file their agent for service of process with the Secretary of State and pay a filing fee of $10. Make check payable to the Secretary of State.

To obtain the name and address for an agent for service please contact our Legal Services Section at 225.925.4704 or send us a message.

Business Opportunity Sellers & Agents

Business opportunity means the sale or lease for an initial required consideration exceeding three hundred dollars of any goods or services which are transferred to a purchaser for the purpose of enabling the purchaser to start a business, and in which the seller or agent:

• represents that the seller or an entity to which it will refer the purchaser, will provide or assist the purchaser in finding business locations on premises neither owned nor leased by the purchaser or seller for the use or operation of vending machines, racks, display cases, currency-operated amusement machines, or other similar devices;
• represents that the seller, or any entity to which it will refer the purchaser, will purchase any or all products to be sold, made, produced, fabricated, assembled, grown, bred, or modified by the purchaser using in whole or in part the supplies, services, or goods sold to the purchaser by the seller;
• guarantees that the purchaser is to derive income from the business opportunity which exceeds the price paid for the business opportunity, or that the seller is to refund all or part of the price paid for the business opportunity, or repurchase any of the products, equipment, supplies, or goods supplied by the seller, if the purchaser is unsatisfied with the business opportunity; or
• represents that for a fee exceeding three hundred dollars the seller will provide a sales plan or marketing program which will enable the purchaser to derive income from the business opportunity which exceeds the price paid for the business opportunity.  This provision shall not apply to the sale or lease of a sales plan or marketing program made in conjunction with the licensing of a registered trademark or service mark.

Business opportunity does not include the sale of an ongoing business when the owner of that business sells and intends to sell only that one business, and does not include the sale, not for profit, of sales demonstration equipment, materials, or samples for a total price of five hundred dollars or less.

See Louisiana R.S. 51:1821 form more information on Business opportunity sellers and agents.

Any business opportunity seller or agent must appoint the Secretary of State as his agent for service of process, prior to engaging in business in this state. The Business Opportunity Consent form appoints the Secretary of State as its agent for service of process. The $15 filing fee made payable to the Secretary of State must be attached.