What is the difference between service on a corporation and service on the corporation's agent?

• A. Service on the corporation typically requires serving the registered agent or officer; service on the agent means serving the agent.
• B. Both must be served only by mail.
• C. Service on the corporation always requires the president.
• D. Service on the agent requires no verification.

Answer: (A)

When someone needs to serve a corporation, the goal is to deliver notice to someone who is authorized to accept process on behalf of the company. Typically this is either a corporate officer or the registered agent—the person designated to receive service at the company’s registered address. If you serve the corporation itself by delivering to the registered agent or an officer, that is considered service on the corporation because the recipient is acting for the corporation in this capacity. If you serve the corporation’s agent, you are delivering directly to that designated representative who is authorized to receive on the corporation’s behalf; courts treat this as proper service on the corporation as well. In short, serving the agent or serving a designated officer or registered agent both accomplish notice to the corporation because these individuals act as the corporation’s representatives for service of process.