Serving legal papers on a corporation, LLC, partnership, or other business entity in Georgia requires more than just showing up at the company's office. Georgia law specifies exactly who can receive service on behalf of a business entity — and serving the wrong person can invalidate your service entirely. This guide covers the legal requirements for corporate service under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-4.
Service on Georgia Domestic Corporations
Under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-4(e)(1)(A), service on a domestic corporation may be made by delivering copies of the summons and complaint to:
- The corporation's registered agent (the most reliable option)
- The president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, or cashier
- A managing agent of the corporation
- Any other agent authorized by the corporation to receive service
Registered Agent Service: The Gold Standard
For corporate service, the registered agent is almost always the best target. Georgia corporations are required to maintain a registered agent in the state, and the agent's address is publicly available through the Georgia Secretary of State's corporate database.
Before every corporate serve, Reliant Process Solutions verifies the current registered agent name and address with the Georgia Secretary of State to ensure we're serving the correct person at the correct location. This eliminates the risk of serving an outdated registered agent who is no longer associated with the company.
Service on Foreign Corporations
Foreign corporations (corporations incorporated in another state doing business in Georgia) must also maintain a registered agent in Georgia. Service follows the same rules as domestic corporations — registered agent first, then officers and managing agents.
Service on LLCs and Partnerships
Service on a Georgia LLC may be made on:
- The LLC's registered agent
- Any manager (for manager-managed LLCs)
- Any member (for member-managed LLCs)
Service on a partnership may be made on any general partner.
Service on Government Entities
Service on the State of Georgia, a county, or a municipality follows specific rules under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-4(d) and may require service on the Attorney General, county attorney, or city attorney depending on the entity.
What to Provide for Corporate Service
When ordering corporate service through Reliant Process Solutions, provide:
- The exact legal name of the corporation or LLC (as registered with the Georgia Secretary of State)
- The registered agent name and address (we can verify this for you)
- The nature of the documents being served
- The case name and court where the matter is pending
Important: Serving a corporate employee who is not an officer or authorized agent is NOT valid corporate service in Georgia. Always confirm the status of the person you're serving. Our servers verify registered agent status before every corporate serve.
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