Service of Process

Service of Process on Business Entities

Service of process should be served directly to the registered agent on record with the Secretary of State in the name of the business entity.

Service of Process for Assumed Business Name Registrations

Service of process should be served directly to, and in the name of, the registrant(s) of an assumed business name registration, except in the case of individual, non-resident registrants. For non-resident individual registrants, service of process should be served to the Registered Agent appointed for the assumed business name registration in the name of the non-resident registrant.

Secretary of State as Agent for Service of Process

If a business entity or non-resident individual DBA registrant has failed to appoint or maintain a registered agent in this State, or whenever the registered agent on record with the Secretary of State cannot with reasonable diligence be found, then the Secretary of State may be served as registered agent of the entity.

Service of Process filed with the Secretary of State must include:

• Cover letter clearly stating the business entity to be served.
• Duplicate copies of the process, notice, or demand.
• Filing fee as listed at https://sos.vermont.gov/corporations/fees/.

Service of Process filings can only be accepted by paper. No forms and no online filing available for service of process.

Governing Statutes

• Business & Cooperative Corporations: 11A V.S.A. § 5.04
• Nonprofit Corporations: 11B V.S.A.  § 5.04
• MBEs: 11C V.S.A. § 120
• LLCs: 11 V.S.A. § 4010
• Assumed Business Names: 11 V.S.A. § 1627