(1) EXCEPTION FROM QUALIFICATION TO DO BUSINESS. A foreign corporation may act in this state as trustee, personal representative, guardian, or in any other like fiduciary capacity, whether the appointment is by will, deed, court order, or otherwise, without complying with any laws of this state relating to the qualification of corporations organized under the laws of this state to conduct a trust business or laws relating to the qualification of foreign corporations other than this section, only if the foreign corporation meets all of the following requirements: (a) The foreign corporation is authorized by the laws of the state of its organization to act as a fiduciary in that state. (b) The foreign corporation is organized under the laws of a state that permits all of the following to act in a fiduciary capacity upon conditions and qualifications that the division of banking finds are not unduly restrictive when compared to the laws of this state: 1. A corporation organized under the laws of this state. 2. A national banking association having its principal place of business in this state. 3. A federal savings association or federal savings bank having its principal place of business in this state and authorized to act as a fiduciary in this state. (2) SERVICE OF PROCESS. Any foreign corporation acting in this state in a fiduciary capacity is considered to have appointed the division of banking to be its true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served all legal process in any action or proceeding against it relating to or growing out of any trust, estate or matter in respect of which the foreign corporation has acted or is acting in this state in any such fiduciary capacity. Engagement in this state in any acts in a fiduciary capacity signifies agreement that any process against the foreign corporation which is served under this subsection shall be of the same legal force and validity as though served upon the foreign corporation personally. Service of process under this subsection shall be made by delivering to the division of banking a copy of the process, together with any fee for service of process required by the division. Service of process is sufficient if notice of such service and a copy of the process are, within 10 days after delivery to the division of banking, sent by registered mail by the plaintiff to the defendant at its principal office in such other state or territory and the plaintiff’s affidavit of compliance with this requirement is appended to the summons. The court in which the action is pending may order such continuances as may be necessary to afford the defendant reasonable opportunity to defend the action. The fee paid by the plaintiff to the division at the time of the service may be recovered as taxable costs by the plaintiff if the plaintiff prevails in the action. The division shall keep a record of all processes served upon the division under this subsection and shall record the time of the service. (3) RESTRICTIONS ON IN-STATE PRESENCE. A foreign corporation acting under sub. (1) may not establish or maintain in this state a place of business or branch office for the conduct of business as a fiduciary unless it has been issued a certificate of authority under sub. (4), but may establish and maintain in this state one or more representative offices if those offices do not act in a fiduciary capacity. (4) CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY. (a) Prior to the time that any foreign corporation acts in this state as a testamentary trustee, trustee appointed by any court, trustee under any written agreement, declaration, or instrument of trust, personal representative, or guardian or in any other like fiduciary capacity, the foreign corporation shall do all of the following: 1. Apply to the division of banking for a certificate of authority with reference to the fiduciary capacity in which such foreign corporation proposes to act in this state. 2. Comply with s. 223.02. (b) The division of banking shall issue a certificate of authority to such corporation upon receiving satisfactory evidence that such foreign corporation meets the requirements of sub. (1). The certificate of authority shall recite and certify that such foreign corporation is eligible to act in this state in such fiduciary capacity pursuant to the provisions of this section. The certificate of authority shall remain in full force and effect until such time as such foreign corporation ceases to be eligible to so act under the provisions of this section. (c) Each foreign corporation making application for a certificate of authority shall pay reasonable fees to the division of banking as determined by the division for the services of that division. (d) Any foreign corporation that is eligible to act in this state in a fiduciary capacity prior to May 7, 1996, may continue to act in this state in any such fiduciary capacity without applying for a new certificate of authority under this subsection. (e) Any foreign corporation acting in this state under a certificate of authority shall report changes in its name or address to the division of banking and shall notify the division when the foreign corporation is no longer serving as a corporate fiduciary in this state. (5) RIGHTS AND AUTHORITY OF FOREIGN CORPORATION. Any foreign corporation that is eligible to act in this state in a fiduciary capacity and that is acting and qualified as personal representative or trustee under any foreign will, or any declaration, agreement, or other instrument of trust, shall have the same rights and authority under the will or trust document as to real estate in this state that any natural person acting as a foreign personal representative or trustee may have under the laws of this state, without the foreign corporation being required to do any act qualifying it to do business in this state that is not required of a natural person acting as a foreign personal representative or trustee.
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