33-1-603. Serving process -- time to plead. (1) Duplicate copies of legal process against an insurer for whom the commissioner is attorney, pursuant to 33-1-601, shall be served upon the commissioner or upon his deputy or other person in charge of his office during his absence. At the time of service, the plaintiff shall pay to the commissioner $10, taxable as costs in the action. Upon receiving such service, the commissioner shall promptly forward a copy thereof by certified or registered mail to the person last so designated by the insurer to receive the same.
     (2) Where process is served upon the commissioner as an insurer's attorney, the insurer shall have 30 days within which to appear, answer, or plead after date of mailing of the copy thereof by the commissioner, exclusive of date of mailing, as provided by subsection (1).
     (3) Process served upon the commissioner and copy thereof forwarded as in this section provided shall constitute service thereof upon the insurer.

     History: En. Sec. 64, Ch. 286, L. 1959; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 321, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 40-2819.