Ohio Code 5323.03 – Designation of filing agent by out-of-state owner
An owner of residential rental property who resides outside the state shall designate, in a manner to be determined by the county auditor of the county in which the property is located, an individual who resides in the state to serve as the owner’s agent for the acceptance of service of process on behalf of the owner in any legal action or proceeding in the state, unless the owner previously designated and continues to maintain a statutory agent for the service of process with the secretary of state as a condition of being authorized to engage in business in this state pursuant to another section of the Revised Code.
Terms Used In Ohio Code 5323.03
- Another: when used to designate the owner of property which is the subject of an offense, includes not only natural persons but also every other owner of property. See Ohio Code 1.02
- in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures; this provision does not affect any law relating to signatures. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Property: means real and personal property. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Residential rental property: means real property that is located in a county that has a population of more than two hundred thousand according to the most recent decennial census and on which is located one or more dwelling units leased or otherwise rented to tenants solely for residential purposes, or a mobile home park or other permanent or semipermanent site at which lots are leased or otherwise rented to tenants for the parking of a manufactured home, mobile home, or recreational vehicle that is used solely for residential purposes. See Ohio Code 5323.01
- Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
- state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59
An owner who designates an agent pursuant to this section shall file in writing with the relevant county auditor the name, address, and telephone number of the agent. An owner who previously designated and continues to maintain a statutory agent for the service of process with the secretary of state as a condition of being authorized to engage in business in this state pursuant to another section of the Revised Code shall file in writing with the county auditor of the county in which the residential rental property is located a certified copy of the document filed with the secretary of state containing that designation.