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HA1TOHB353 • 2025

This Amendment makes the service of process fee set in this Act consistent with the amount of service of process fee set in House Bill No.

This Amendment makes the service of process fee set in this Act consistent with the amount of service of process fee set in House Bill No.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Griffith
Last action
2026-04-21
Official status
Passed 4/21/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included details about Sections 2 and 2A that were not directly supported by the official source material. The exact timing and conditions for the enactment of these sections are specified in the bill text but were removed to adhere strictly to the provided information.

Amendment to Align Service of Process Fees

This amendment aligns the service of process fees in House Bill No. 353 with those set by House Bill No. 400, depending on whether HB 400 is enacted.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the fee for serving legal papers to match the amount set in another bill if that bill passes.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People and businesses involved in legal proceedings who need to serve process (legal papers).
  • The Secretary of State, who handles the service of process fees.

Terms To Know

Service of Process Fee
A fee paid to the government for delivering legal papers to someone involved in a lawsuit.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact amount of the service of process fee is not specified here and depends on whether House Bill No. 400 passes.
  • It does not specify what happens if HB 400 is enacted after August 1, 2026.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-21 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Placed With Bill

  2. 2026-04-21 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed In House by Voice Vote

Official Summary Text

This Amendment makes the service of process fee set in this Act consistent with the amount of service of process fee set in House Bill No. 400. If House Bill No. 400 is enacted, the fee set in this Amendment (Section 2A of this Act) will take effect. If House Bill No. 400 is not enacted, the fee set in Section 2 of this Act will take effect. Other than the amount of the service of process fee, Section 2 and Section 2A of this Act are the same.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Griffith

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

HOUSE BILL NO. 353

AMEND House Bill No. 353 by inserting the following after line 84 and before line 85:

“

Section 2A. Amend § 275, Title 8 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 275. Dissolution generally; procedure.

(d) If dissolution is authorized in accordance with this section, a certificate of dissolution shall be executed, acknowledged and filed, and shall become effective, in accordance with § 103 of this title. Such certificate of dissolution shall set forth:

(1) The name of the corporation;

(2) The date dissolution was authorized;

(3) That the dissolution has been authorized by the board of directors and stockholders of the corporation, in accordance with subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or that the dissolution has been authorized by all of the stockholders of the corporation entitled to vote on a dissolution, in accordance with subsection (c) of this section;

(4) The names and addresses of the directors and officers of the corporation;

and

(5) The date of filing of the corporation’s original certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of

State.

State; and

(6) The agreement required by subsection (i) of this section.

(f) If a corporation has included in its certificate of incorporation a provision limiting the duration of its existence to a specified date in accordance with § 102(b)(5) of this title, a certificate of dissolution shall be executed, acknowledged and filed in accordance with § 103 of this title within 90 days before such specified date and shall become effective on such specified date. Such certificate of dissolution shall set forth:

(1) The name of the corporation;

(2) The date specified in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation limiting the duration of its existence;

(3) The names and addresses of the directors and officers of the corporation;

and

(4) The date of filing of the corporation’s original certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of

State.

State; and

(5) The agreement required by subsection (i) of this section.

The failure to timely file a certificate of dissolution pursuant to this subsection with respect to any corporation shall not affect the expiration of such corporation’s existence on the date specified in its certificate of incorporation pursuant to § 102(b)(5) of this title and shall not eliminate the requirement to file a certificate of dissolution as contemplated by this subsection. If a certificate of good standing is issued by the Secretary of State after the date specified in a corporation’s certificate of incorporation pursuant to § 102(b)(5) of this title, such certificate of good standing shall be of no force or effect.

(h) The authority and responsibilities of the registered agent of a dissolved corporation terminate at the time of the effectiveness of the filing of the certificate of dissolution, except with respect to service of process received by the registered agent before the effectiveness of the filing of the certificate of dissolution.

(i) The dissolving corporation shall agree that it may be served with process in this State in any proceeding for enforcement of any obligation of the dissolved corporation, and shall irrevocably appoint, with the appointment effective on and after the effectiveness of the filing of the certificate of dissolution, the Secretary of State as its agent to accept service of process in any such suit or other proceedings and shall specify the address to which a copy of such process shall be sent by the Secretary of State. Process may be served upon the Secretary of State under this subsection by means of electronic transmission but only as prescribed by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State is authorized to issue such rules and regulations with respect to such service as the Secretary of State deems necessary or appropriate. In the event of such service upon the Secretary of State in accordance with this subsection, the Secretary of State shall forthwith notify the dissolved corporation thereof by letter, directed to such dissolved corporation at its address so specified, unless such dissolved corporation shall have designated in writing to the Secretary of State a different address for such purpose, in which case it shall be sent to the last address so designated. Such letter shall be sent by a mail or courier service that includes a record of mailing or deposit with the courier and a record of delivery evidenced by the signature of the recipient. Such letter shall enclose a copy of the process and any other papers served on the Secretary of State pursuant to this subsection. It shall be the duty of the plaintiff in the event of such service to serve process and any other papers in duplicate, to notify the Secretary of State that service is being effected pursuant to this subsection and to pay the Secretary of State a fee as prescribed under § 391(a)(29) of this title for the use of the State, which sum shall be taxed as part of the costs in the proceeding, if the plaintiff shall prevail therein. The Secretary of State shall maintain an alphabetical record of any such service setting forth the name of the plaintiff and the defendant, the title, docket number and nature of the proceeding in which process has been served, the fact that service has been effected pursuant to this subsection, the return date thereof, and the day and hour service was made. The Secretary of State shall not be required to retain such information longer than 5 years from receipt of the service of process.

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 353 by striking Section 4 of this Act and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“Section 4. Sections 1 and 3 of this Act take effect on August 1, 2026.

Section 5. If House Bill No. 400 of the 153

rd

General Assembly is enacted into law, Section 2A of this Act takes effect on August 1, 2026, and Section 2 of this Act does not take effect. If House Bill No. 400 of the 153

rd

General Assembly is not enacted into law, Section 2 of this Act takes effect on August 1, 2026, and Section 2A of this Act does not take effect.”.

SYNOPSIS

This Amendment makes the service of process fee set in this Act consistent with the amount of service of process fee set in House Bill No. 400. If House Bill No. 400 is enacted, the fee set in this Amendment (Section 2A of this Act) will take effect. If House Bill No. 400 is not enacted, the fee set in Section 2 of this Act will take effect. Other than the amount of the service of process fee, Section 2 and Section 2A of this Act are the same.