2023 Tennessee Code › Title 48 - CORPORATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS (§§ 48-1-101 — 48-250-115) › LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES (§§ 48-201-101 — 48-250-115) › Chapter 249 - TENNESSEE REVISED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ACT (§§ 48-249-101 — 48-249-1133) › Part 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 48-249-101 — 48-249-116) › Section 48-249-113 - Procedure for service on domestic or foreign LLC by service on secretary of state

(a)
Service on secretary of state.
When the secretary of state is an agent for a domestic or foreign LLC, as provided in §
48-249-112(b)
, service on the secretary of state of any process, notice or demand shall be made by delivering the original and one (1) copy of such process, notice or demand to the office of the secretary of state, duly certified by the appropriate official, together with the proper fee. A statement that identifies which of the grounds, as listed in §
48-249-112(b)
, for service on the secretary of state is applicable shall be included. The office of the secretary of state shall endorse the time of receipt upon the original and copy, and shall immediately send the copy, along with a written notice that service of the original also was made, by registered or certified mail, with return receipt requested, addressed to the domestic or foreign LLC at its registered office or principal office (or designated alternative mailing address) as shown in the records on file in the secretary of state's office, or as shown in the official registry of the state or country in which the foreign LLC is formed. The secretary of state may require the person seeking to serve the process, notice or demand, or the person's attorney, if any, to furnish the latter address.
(b)
Refusal of service ineffective.
The refusal or failure of the domestic or foreign LLC to accept delivery of the registered or certified mail provided for in subsection (a), or the refusal or failure to sign the return receipt, shall not affect the validity of the service. Any domestic or foreign LLC refusing or failing to accept delivery of such registered or certified mail shall be charged with knowledge of the contents of any process, notice or demand contained in the registered or certified mail.
(c)
Receipt received by secretary of state.
When the registered or certified mail return receipt is received by the office of the secretary of state, or when a domestic or foreign LLC refuses or fails to accept delivery of the registered or certified mail, and it is returned to the office of the secretary of state, the office of the secretary of state shall forward the receipt or such refused or undelivered mail to the clerk of the court in which the proceeding is pending, or other appropriate official or person, together with the original process, notice or demand, a copy of the notice the secretary of state sent to the defendant LLC and the secretary of state's affidavit setting forth the secretary of state's compliance with this section. Service made under this section shall have the same legal force and validity as if the service had been made personally in this state.
(d)
Subsequent pleadings.
Subsequent pleadings or papers permitted or required to be served on a domestic or foreign LLC may be served on the secretary of state as agent for the domestic or foreign LLC in the same manner, at the same cost and with the same effect, as process, notice or demand is served on the secretary of state as agent for the domestic or foreign LLC under this section.
(e)
Minimum time for appearance.
No appearance shall be required in the proceeding by the domestic or foreign LLC on which service is completed under this section, nor shall any judgment be taken against such domestic LLC in less than one (1) month after the date service is completed under this section.
(f)
Record retained.
The secretary of state shall keep a record of all processes, notices, demands and subsequent pleadings or papers served upon the secretary of state under this section, which record shall include the time of each service and the secretary of state's action with reference to the service.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 783,s 13, eff. 7/1/2014.
Acts 2005, ch. 286, § 1.