33-1-605. Service of process -- foreign or alien insurer -- appointment of registered agent. (1) A foreign or alien insurer that transacts any business in this state must have a registered agent upon whom any legal process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served upon a company must be served. The agent must be a person who either resides or maintains a business address in this state.

(2) The written appointment of an agent must be provided to the commissioner in a form prescribed by the commissioner, and must, at minimum, include a consent to service of process and the official name and address of the agent and the insurer represented.

(3) The commissioner shall keep a record of the foreign and alien insurers transacting business in Montana and the name and address of their registered agents. This record must be made public in a readily accessible form prescribed by the commissioner.

(4) Service by certified mail to a registered agent listed for an insurer constitutes service of legal process upon that insurer.

(5) An insurer may revoke the appointment of an agent by filing with the commissioner a written appointment of another agent and a statement that the appointment of the former agent is revoked. The authority of the agent whose appointment has been revoked terminates 30 days after the notice is received by the commissioner.

(6) When a foreign or alien insurer ceases to do business in this state, the agent last designated by or acting for the insurer is deemed to continue as agent for it unless a new agent is appointed. Service by certified mail upon any such agent constitutes service of legal process upon the insurer.

(7) Each insurer shall include a fee of $10 with any initial appointment, change of agent appointment, or change of address. The fee is waived for an insurer filing an agent appointment with an original application for a certificate of authority or an annual renewal.

(8) This section does not limit or affect the right to serve any process, notice, or demand upon an insurer in any other manner permitted by law.

(9) When legal process is served pursuant to this section, the insurer must appear, answer, or plead within 30 days, exclusive of the date of mailing, after the date of the certified mailing or be subject to the laws of this state regarding default judgment.

(10) For the purposes of this section:

(a) "certified mail" means a method of sending by common carrier with tracking capability; and

(b) "legal process" means a summons and complaint.