(a) Every society authorized to do business in this State shall appoint in writing the Director and each successor in office to be its true and lawful attorney upon whom all lawful process in any action or proceeding against it shall be served and shall agree in such writing that any lawful process against it which is served on said attorney shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served upon the society and that the authority shall continue in force so long as any liability remains outstanding in this State. Copies of such appointment, certified by said Director, shall be deemed sufficient evidence thereof and shall be admitted in evidence with the same force and effect as the original thereof might be admitted.
     (b) Service shall be made by delivering to and leaving with the Director duplicate copies of such process with payment of the fee prescribed by this Code and the service thereof shall constitute sufficient service upon the society. When legal process against a society is served upon the Director, the Director shall forthwith forward one of the duplicate copies, by certified or registered mail prepaid, to the society. No such service shall require a society to file its answer, pleading or defense in less than 30 days from the date of mailing the copy of the service to a society unless otherwise ordered by the court. Legal process shall not be served upon a society except in the manner herein provided.