Vermont § 5611 - Service of process

§ 5611. Service of process

• (a) A consent to service of process complying with this section required by this chapter
  must be signed and filed in the form required by a rule or order under this chapter.
  A consent appointing the Commissioner the person’s agent for service of process in
  a noncriminal action or proceeding against the person, or the person’s successor or
  personal representative under this chapter, or a rule adopted or order issued under
  this chapter after the consent is filed, has the same force and validity as if the
  service were made personally on the person filing the consent. A person that has filed
  a consent complying with this subsection in connection with a previous application
  for registration or notice filing need not file an additional consent. (b) If a person, including a nonresident of this State, engages in an act, practice, or
  course of business prohibited or made actionable by this chapter or a rule adopted
  or order issued under this chapter and the person has not filed a consent to service
  of process under subsection (a) of this section, the act, practice, or course of business
  constitutes the appointment of the Commissioner as the person’s agent for service
  of process in a noncriminal action or proceeding against the person or the person’s
  successor or personal representative. (c) Service under subsection (a) or (b) of this section may be made by providing a copy
  of the process to the office of the Commissioner, but it is not effective unless: (1) the plaintiff, which may be the Commissioner, promptly sends notice of the service
  and a copy of the process, return receipt requested, to the defendant or respondent
  at the address set forth in the consent to service of process or, if a consent to
  service of process has not been filed, at the last known address or takes other reasonable
  steps to give notice; and (2) the plaintiff files an affidavit of compliance with this subsection in the action
  or proceeding on or before the return day of the process, if any, or within the time
  that the court or the Commissioner in a proceeding before the Commissioner allows. (d) Service pursuant to subsection (c) of this section may be used in a proceeding before
  the Commissioner or by the Commissioner in a civil action in which the Commissioner
  is the moving party. (e) If process is served under subsection (c) of this section, the court or the Commissioner
  in a proceeding before the Commissioner shall order continuances as are necessary
  or appropriate to afford the defendant or respondent reasonable opportunity to defend. (Added 2005, No. 11, § 1, eff. July 1, 2006.)