Use of Safe at Home Designated Address as the Participant’s Legal Address
Upon enrollment in Safe at Home, the state assigns participants a Saint Paul PO Box address they can use for all purposes. Minn. Stat. § 5B.05 (2014). The Secretary of State is the agent for receipt of service of process for Safe at Home participants. Minn. Stat. § 5B.03, subd. 1(3) (2014). Only the participant’s name and designated address, including their Lot Number, are required for service of process on a participant. Minn. R. 8290.0500.
When a Safe at Home participant presents the address designated by the secretary of state to any person, that address must be accepted as the participant's address. Minn. Stat. § 5B.05 (2014). The designated address satisfies the requirement to provide the court notice of a current address. Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 13 advisory committee’s comment (2009 amendment) (“If a party is a participant in the Secretary of State’s address confidentiality services, there is no reason not to permit the use of that address to satisfy the requirement of this rule.”).
For Service of Any Legal Documents by First Class, Including Certified Mail
To ensure delivery, envelopes containing documents to be served by mail, including writs, notices, motions, orders, judgments, demands, summons, subpoenas, or any other legal documents, must be clearly marked “Service of Process” on their exterior and must include the participant’s name and complete designated address, including Lot Number.
If an envelope is not marked “service of process” but is otherwise properly addressed, it will be forwarded to the Safe at Home participant, however, processing may be slower. The signed receipt of certified mail by the Secretary of State constitutes proof of service on the participant and commences the time in which responsive pleadings must be filed. Minn. R. 8290.0500, subp. 2.
For Service of Process in Person
If personal service is required, the documents may be served upon the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. The exterior of the envelope containing the documents must be clearly marked “Service of Process,” and include the participant’s name and complete designated address, including the Lot Number.
No fee will be charged for accepting service.
Because people enroll and are cancelled from Safe at Home every day, anyone planning to serve a Safe at Home participant is highly encouraged to call the Safe at Home office at 651-201-1399 ahead of time to verify that the intended recipient is a current active Safe at Home participant. The caller will need to provide the intended recipient’s name and Safe at Home Lot Number or name and DOB.
The documents can be served between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm at the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State at the following address:
Veterans Service Building
20 12th Street West
Saint Paul, MN 55155
An affidavit of service on the Secretary of State constitutes proof of service on the participant and commences the time in which responsive pleadings must be filed. Minn. R. 8290.0500, subp. 3.