§ 17:44B-34 — Appointment of commissioner as attorney for foreign society

34. a. Every foreign and alien society authorized to do business in this State shall appoint in writing the commissioner and each successor in office to be its true and lawful attorney upon whom all lawful process in any action or proceeding against it shall be served, and shall agree in writing that any lawful process against it which is served shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served upon the society, and that the authority shall continue in force as long as any liability remains outstanding in this State. Copies of the appointment, certified by the commissioner, shall be deemed sufficient evidence of its existence and shall be admitted in evidence with the same force and effect as the original written appointment would be admitted. b. Service shall only be made upon the commissioner, or if absent, upon the person in charge of the commissioner's office. It shall be made in duplicate and shall constitute sufficient service upon the society. When legal process against a society is served upon the commissioner, the commissioner shall forward one of the duplicate copies by registered mail, prepaid, directed to the secretary or corresponding officer. No service shall require a society to file its answer, pleading or defense in less than 30 days from the date of mailing the copy of the service to a society. L.1997,c.322,s.34.