Editing Service of process (section)

==Agent for acceptance of service==
In some instances, delivery to an '''agent for acceptance of service''' or "[[registered agent]]" can substitute for personal service on the principal party to be served. The registered agent is a person or company authorized in advance to accept service on behalf of the served party. For example, most [[corporation]]s are required by local law to maintain a local agent of record for acceptance of service in each jurisdiction where they actively conduct business with the public. The identity of the agent for service can usually be ascertained by searching company filings with appropriate state corporate records or business registration agencies (often the business entity division of a state's [[secretary of state (U.S. state government)|secretary of state]]. Generally, these business registration records are searchable by the public on the secretary of state's website.

In the UK an agent for acceptance of service is generally known as a [[process agent]] and is a contractual relationship rather than a statutory one.