Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 180.0504 (2026)
Service on corporation
✓ current as of July 2026
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180.0504(1)(1) A corporation may be served with any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law by serving its registered agent. The department may serve any written notice required or authorized under this chapter by e-mailing it to the registered agent’s e-mail address on file with the department, and such notice shall be effective as provided in s. 180.0141.
180.0504(2)(2) Except as provided in sub. (3), if a corporation has no registered agent or its registered agent cannot with reasonable diligence be served, the corporation may be served by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by similar delivery service, addressed to the corporation at its principal office, as shown on the records of the department on the date of sending. Service is perfected under this subsection at the earliest of the following:
180.0504(2)(a)(a) The date on which the corporation receives the mail or delivery by the commercial delivery service.
180.0504(2)(c)(c) Five days after it is deposited in the U.S. mail, or with the commercial delivery service, if mailed postpaid and correctly addressed and with sufficient postage or payment.
180.0504(3)(3) If process, notice, or demand in an action cannot be served on a corporation pursuant to sub. (1) or (2), service may be made by handing a copy to the individual in charge of any regular place of business or activity of the corporation if the individual served is not a plaintiff in the action. Except as provided in s. 180.1421 (2m) (b), if the address of the corporation’s principal office cannot be determined from the records of the department, the corporation may be served by publishing a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, in the community where the corporation’s principal office or registered office, as most recently designated in the records of the department, is located. If the address of the corporation’s principal office cannot be determined from the records of the department, the corporation may be served by publishing a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, in the community where the corporation’s principal office or registered office, as most recently designated in the records of the department, is located.
180.0504(3m)(3m) Service of process, notice, or demand on a registered agent must be in a written record.
180.0504(4)(4) Service of process, notice, or demand on a registered agent may be made by other means under law other than this chapter.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8
cases (6 in the last 5 years), 2004–2025 · leading case: Kenosha Hosp. & Med. Ctr. v. Garcia, 2004 WI 105 (Wis. 2004).
Kenosha Hosp. & Med. Ctr. v. Garcia, 2004 WI 105 (Wis. 2004). “11 (5), governing service of a summons for personal jurisdiction, [21] and *352 § 180.0504, governing service on corporations, [22] set forth the appropriate means of service for a notice of motion for judgment in an earnings garnishment action.”
Richards v. First Union Sec., Inc., 2005 WI App 164 (Wis. Ct. App. 2005). “§§ 180.0504(1) and 801.11(5)(a) specify, respectively, that a plaintiff may invoke personal jurisdiction over a foreign corporation by serving the corporation's registered agent or [b]y personally serving the summons upon an officer, director or managing agent of the corporation…”
James v. Aurora Health Care (E.D. Wis. 2025). “He argues that he fully complied with Wis. Stat. §180.0504 (1) and (2) when he served the corporate registered agent on September 28, 2024 via U.”
Wuluvarana v. Does 1-3 (E.D. Wis. 2023). “Under Wis. Stat. §180.0504 (1), “[a] corporation may be served with any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law by serving its registered agent.”
Kia Hutchinson v. Steren Mgmt. Co, Inc. (Wis. Ct. App. 2023). “§ 180.0504 applies and service in this case was proper because service by mail has been sufficient in counsel’s previous cases.”
Kolcu v. Verizon Commc'ns Inc (E.D. Wis. 2024). “See Wis. Stat. § 180.0504 (2). However, the WDFI record that Kolcu submitted indicated that Verizon Communications, Inc.”
Cooper v. Forest Cnty. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino (E.D. Wis. 2024). “§ 180.0504 (1). 4Defendant argues that because it is entitled to tribal sovereign immunity, the case falls outside of the federal district court’s subject matter jurisdiction and party seeks to proceed in forma pauperis (that is, without prepaying the filing fee),…”
Myron, David v. Carter Transp. Inc. (W.D. Wis. 2023). “Plaintiff may serve a corporation by alternative means, either by certified mail or by publication and mailing to the corporation’s officer, if the corporation’s registered agent cannot be served personally with a reasonably diligent effort.”
— Wis. Stat. § 180.0504(1) — 2 cases
Richards v. First Union Sec., Inc., 2005 WI App 164 (Wis. Ct. App. 2005). “§§ 180.0504(1) and 801.11(5)(a) specify, respectively, that a plaintiff may invoke personal jurisdiction over a foreign corporation by serving the corporation's registered agent or [b]y personally serving the summons upon an officer, director or managing agent of the corporation…”
Kenosha Hosp. & Med. Ctr. v. Garcia, 2004 WI 105 (Wis. 2004). “11 (5), governing service of a summons for personal jurisdiction, [21] and *352 § 180.0504, governing service on corporations, [22] set forth the appropriate means of service for a notice of motion for judgment in an earnings garnishment action.”
— Wis. Stat. § 180.0504(2) — 1 case
Kia Hutchinson v. Steren Mgmt. Co, Inc. (Wis. Ct. App. 2023). “§ 180.0504 applies and service in this case was proper because service by mail has been sufficient in counsel’s previous cases.”
— Wis. Stat. § 180.0504(4) — 1 case
Kenosha Hosp. & Med. Ctr. v. Garcia, 2004 WI 105 (Wis. 2004). “11 (5), governing service of a summons for personal jurisdiction, [21] and *352 § 180.0504, governing service on corporations, [22] set forth the appropriate means of service for a notice of motion for judgment in an earnings garnishment action.”
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