REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

Iowa Code tit. XII, ch. 501A, subch. IV

in effect

Iowa Code § 501A.401 Registered office and registered agent.

501A.401. Registered office and registered agent. A cooperative must continuously maintain in this state each of the following: 1. A registered office that may be the same as any of its places of business. 2. A registered agent who may be any of the following: a. An individual who is a resident of this state and whose business office is identical with the registered office. b. A cooperative, domestic corporation, domestic limited liability company, or not-for-profit domestic corporation whose business office is identical with the registered office. c. A foreign cooperative, foreign corporation, foreign limited liability company, or not-for-profit foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state whose business office is identical with the registered office. 2005 Acts, ch 135, §20

Iowa Code § 501A.402 Change of registered office or registered agent.

501A.402. Change of registered office or registered agent. 1. A cooperative may change its registered office or registered agent by delivering to the secretary for filing a statement of change that sets forth the following: a. The name of the domestic cooperative or foreign cooperative. b. If the current registered office is to be changed, the street address of the new registered office. c. If the current registered agent is to be changed, the name of the new registered agent and the new agent’s written consent, either on the statement or attached to the statement, to the appointment. d. That after the change or changes are made, the street address of its registered office and the business office of its registered agent will be identical. 2. A statement of change shall forthwith be filed in the office of the secretary by a cooperative whenever its registered agent dies, resigns, or ceases to satisfy the requirements of section 501A.401. 3. If a registered agent changes the registered agent’s business address to another place, the registered agent may change the business address and the address of the registered agent by filing a statement as required in subsection 1 for each cooperative, or a single statement for all cooperatives named in the notice, except that the statement need be signed only by the registered agent and need not be responsive to subsection 1, paragraph “c”, and must recite that a copy of the statement has been mailed to each cooperative named in the notice. 4. The change of address of a registered office or the change of registered agent becomes effective upon the filing of such statement by the secretary. 2005 Acts, ch 135, §21

Iowa Code § 501A.403 Resignation of registered agent — discontinuance of registered office — statement.

501A.403. Resignation of registered agent — discontinuance of registered office — statement. 1. A registered agent may resign the agent’s agency appointment by signing and delivering to the secretary for filing an original statement of resignation. The statement may include a statement that the registered office is also discontinued. The registered agent shall send a copy of the statement of resignation to the registered office, if not discontinued, and to the cooperative at its principal office. The agent shall certify to the secretary that the copy has been sent to the cooperative, including the date the copy was sent. 2. A statement of resignation takes effect on the earlier of the following: a. 12:01 a.m. on the thirty-first day after the day on which it is filed with the secretary of state. b. The designation of a new registered agent for the cooperative. 2005 Acts, ch 135, §22; 2020 Acts, ch 1058, §8

Iowa Code § 501A.404 Service on domestic cooperatives.

501A.404. Service on domestic cooperatives. 1. A domestic cooperative’s registered agent is the cooperative’s agent for service of process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served on the cooperative. 2. If a cooperative has no registered agent, or the agent cannot with reasonable diligence be served, the cooperative may be served by registered mail or certified mail, return receipt requested, and addressed to the cooperative at its principal office. Service is perfected under this subsection at the earliest of any of the following: a. The date the cooperative receives the mail. b. The date shown on the return receipt for the registered mail or certified mail, return receipt requested, if signed on behalf of the cooperative. c. Five days after its deposit in the United States mail, as evidenced by the postmark, if mailed postpaid and correctly addressed. 3. This section does not prescribe the only means, or necessarily the required means, of serving a domestic cooperative or foreign cooperative. 2005 Acts, ch 135, §23

Iowa Code § 501A.405 Service on foreign cooperative.

501A.405. Service on foreign cooperative. 1. The registered agent of a foreign cooperative authorized to transact business in this state is the foreign cooperative’s agent for service of process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served on the foreign cooperative. 2. A foreign cooperative may be served by certified mail or restricted certified mail addressed to the foreign cooperative at its principal office shown in its application for a certificate of authority if the foreign cooperative meets any of the following conditions: a. Has no registered agent or its registered agent cannot with reasonable diligence be served. b. Has withdrawn from transacting business in this state. c. Has had its certificate of authority revoked. 3. Service is perfected under subsection 2 at the earliest of any of the following: a. The date the foreign cooperative receives the mail. b. The date shown on the return receipt for the restricted certified mail, if signed on behalf of the foreign cooperative. c. Five days after its deposit in the United States mail, as evidenced by the postmark, if mailed postpaid and correctly addressed. 4. A foreign cooperative may also be served in any other manner permitted by law. 2005 Acts, ch 135, §24

Source: Iowa Legislature (legis.iowa.gov)URL: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/iowaCode/sections?codeChapter=501A&year=2026Fetched: 10/20/2026