441.520. Parties to action--designation of registered agent required, when.
Parties to action--designation of registered agent required, when.
441.520. 1. The action to appoint a receiver authorized by section441.510 shall be commenced by the filing of a verified petition by thecounty, municipality, local housing corporation or neighborhoodassociation.
2. There shall be named as defendants:
(1) The last owner of record of the dwelling as of the date of thefiling of the petition; and
(2) The last holder of record of any mortgage, deed of trust, orother lien of record against the building as of the date of the filing ofthe petition.
3. Any owner of the dwelling who is not a party defendant may bepermitted by the court to join as a party defendant.
4. (1) Any owner, whether or not a citizen or resident of thisstate, who in person or through agent, owns, uses, or is possessed of anyreal estate situated in this state thereby subjects himself or itself tothe jurisdiction of the courts of this state as to any cause of actionarising pursuant to the provisions of sections 441.500 to 441.643.Personal service of process shall be made in accordance with the rules ofcivil procedure; provided that, if such service cannot with due diligencebe made, service of process may be made by personally serving process uponthe defendant outside this state, or by service in accordance with therules of civil procedure as in all cases affecting a res within thejurisdiction of the court.
(2) If a landlord of residential property is not a resident of thisstate or is a corporation, the landlord shall designate an agent upon whomservice of process may be made in this state. The agent shall be aresident of this state or a corporation authorized to transact business inthis state. The designation shall be in writing and include the addressand the name of the registered agent and shall be filed in the office ofthe secretary of state. If no designation is made and filed or if processcannot be served in this state upon the designated agent, process may beserved upon the secretary of state, but service upon him or her is noteffective unless the petitioner forthwith mails a copy of the process andpleading by certified mail to the defendant or respondent at the addressstated on the assessor's records for the subject property. An affidavit ofcompliance with this section shall be filed with the clerk of the court.
5. Any action brought pursuant to the provisions of sections 441.500to 441.643 shall be expedited by the court and may be given precedence overother suits.
(L. 1969 p. 537 § 3, A.L. 1971 H.B. 205, A.L. 1995 H.B. 383, A.L. 1998 H.B. 977 & 1608, A.L. 2001 H.B. 133)