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Service of Process in Ohio

Mailing Instructions

All documents related to service of process should be mailed to:

Ohio Secretary of State 

Business Services Division 

Attn: Paralegal – Service of Process 

180 Civic Center Dr. 

Columbus, Ohio 43215

How to Serve a Business

Ohio businesses may be served at the statutory agent address on file with the Secretary of State.

Steps to Locate Agent Information

  1. Visit the Business Search.

  2. Enter the business name.

  3. Review the search results.

  4. Click “Show Details” for the correct record.

  5. View the Agent/Registrant Information section for the agent’s name and address.

Please note that the Secretary of State’s office can only provide the agent information listed in this record.

Allowable Reasons for Service Requests (Businesses)

Service of process requests may be made to the Secretary of State if:

  • No agent information is on file.

  • A prior service attempt failed.

  • The agent’s address is invalid.

  • The agent cannot be located.

Request for Service of Process on an Ohio Business

The Secretary of State may accept service for the following Ohio business types:

Under R.C. 1701.01(N), the following are not required to maintain an agent, and requests for service will be rejected:

  • Unregistered General Partnerships

  • Banks

  • Trust Companies

  • Insurance Companies

  • Public Utilities

Request Requirements for Ohio Businesses

For service of process through the Office of the Ohio Secretary of State, you must submit a signed and notarized affidavit that includes:

  • The business’s last known address.

  • The reason the agent cannot be served (e.g., no record, failed attempt, invalid address, or unlocatable agent).

  • A summons identifying the defendant (note: a praecipe for service is not a summons).

A fee of $5 per address is required. Provide one copy per address and one additional copy for our office’s records. The Secretary of State does not notify the court of service and does not serve registered trade names or fictitious names.

Request for Service of Process on a Foreign Business

The Secretary of State can serve the following types of foreign (domiciled outside Ohio) businesses:

Fees and requirements for service of process on an unlicensed foreign corporation are the same as those for an Ohio business.

Additionally, the Secretary of State is the statutory agent for several types of foreign businesses. These businesses can be served without an affidavit or fee and with only a single copy of the summons or complaint:

  • Licensed Foreign Corporations (R.C. 1703.19)

  • Unlicensed Foreign Limited Liability Companies (R.C. 1706.515)

  • Registered Foreign Limited Partnerships, if an agent has not been appointed (R.C. 1782.49)

  • Unregistered Foreign Limited Partnerships (R.C. 1782.54)

  • Unregistered Foreign Limited Liability Partnerships (R.C. 1776.87)

Nonresident Motor Vehicle and Aircraft Operators or Owners

The Secretary of State may accept service for accident cases (R.C. 2703.20 and R.C. 2703.201) if the vehicle owner/operator does not reside in Ohio or is hiding their location, and the accident occurred in Ohio and involved their vehicle. No fee or affidavit is required. A single copy of the summons or complaint should be submitted to the office.

Workers’ Compensation Service of Process

The Secretary of State is the agent for service of process (R.C. 4123.751, R.C. 4123.752, R.C. 4123.753) in workers’ compensation cases when the employer is a nonresident or is hiding their location and the employer is or was an Ohio employer under R.C. 4123.01(B). No fee or affidavit is required. A single copy of the summons or complaint should be submitted to the office.