Cal. Civ. Code § 535.185
Tenant to be furnished address of person managing property and address to receive notices and service of process — post office box address, procedure — violation, effect
Operative Text
1. The landlord of residential property or any person authorized to enter into a rental agreement on such landlord's behalf shall disclose to the tenant in writing at or before the commencement of the tenancy the name and address of: (1) The person authorized to manage the premises; and (2) An owner of the premises or a person authorized to act for and on behalf of the owner for the purpose of service of process and for the purpose of receiving and receipting for notices and demands. If such owner or authorized person has an address which is a post office box, service of process and any notice or demand may be made by mailing a copy of the summons, petition, notice or demand by first-class mail, postage prepaid, together with two copies of such summons, petition, notice or demand pursuant to section 506.150. 2. The information required to be furnished by this section shall be kept current and this section extends to and is enforceable against any successor landlord, owner, or manager. 3. A person who fails to comply with subsection 1 of this section becomes an agent of each person who is a landlord for the purpose of: (1) Service of process and receiving and receipting for notices and demands; and (2) Performing the obligations of the landlord pursuant to chapter 441 or this chapter, or any other obligations under the rental agreement and expending or making himself available for the purposes of collecting all rent due from the premises.
Missouri Revised Statutes § 535.185 requires that residential landlords, or anyone authorized to sign leases on their behalf, provide tenants with written notice — at or before the start of a tenancy — of the name and address of the property manager and of an owner or designated agent who can receive legal notices and service of process. This contact information must be kept up to date and applies to any successor landlord, owner, or manager who later takes over the property. If a landlord or authorized person fails to provide this disclosure, that person automatically becomes the landlord's legal agent for receiving court documents, notices, and demands, and for carrying out the landlord's obligations under Missouri landlord-tenant law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.185, compliant residential property operators provide tenants with a written disclosure — delivered at or before lease signing — that identifies both the authorized property manager and an owner or designated agent with a physical or post office box address suitable for service of process and legal notices. Operators generally update this information whenever management or ownership changes, and ensure that any successor landlord or manager is also aware of and bound by the same disclosure obligation. Failing to furnish this information carries a significant consequence: the non-disclosing party becomes the landlord's statutory agent for legal service, notices, and performance of landlord obligations under Missouri law.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.185 gives tenants the right to receive written identification of the property manager and a legally reachable owner or agent before or at the start of their tenancy, so they know where to direct notices, demands, and legal documents. If a landlord or authorized person does not provide this disclosure, Missouri law automatically treats that person as the landlord's agent — meaning tenants may have a basis for serving legal process or delivering notices to that individual directly. Tenants who believe this disclosure was not made may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand how this provision could affect any notices they need to send or any legal proceedings they may be involved in.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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