Registered Agent: What It Is and Why You Need One

Every LLC needs a registered agent to receive legal documents. Here's what you need to know about this requirement and whether to use a professional service.

What Is a Registered Agent?

A registered agent (also called a statutory agent or agent for service of process) is a person or company designated to receive legal and official documents on behalf of your LLC.

Documents a registered agent receives include:

• Service of process: Lawsuits and legal notices
• State correspondence: Annual report notices, tax notices
• Compliance documents: Government filings and requests
• Official mail: State government communications

The registered agent ensures you never miss important legal deadlines or fail to respond to a lawsuit.

Registered Agent Requirements

To serve as a registered agent, you must:

• Have a physical street address in the state of formation (no PO boxes)
• Be available during normal business hours to receive documents in person
• Be at least 18 years old (if an individual)
• Be authorized to do business in the state (if a company)

Can You Be Your Own Registered Agent?

Yes, in most states you can serve as your own registered agent if you:

• Have a physical address in the formation state
• Are available during business hours (typically 9 AM - 5 PM)
• Are willing to have your address on public record

Reasons to be your own agent:

• Saves money (no annual service fee)
• Direct control over document handling
• Simple if you work from a fixed location

Reasons NOT to be your own agent:

• Privacy: Your home address becomes public record
• Availability: You must be present during business hours
• Process servers: Legal documents may be delivered at inconvenient times
• Travel: You can't be away from your address regularly
• State presence: You must have an address in the formation state

Using a Professional Registered Agent Service

Most business owners use a professional registered agent service. Benefits include:

Privacy

The service's address appears on public records instead of your home address. This keeps your personal information private.

Reliability

Professional services are always available during business hours. You won't miss documents due to vacations or appointments.

Organization

Services scan and forward documents, often with email notifications. You can access documents online from anywhere.

Flexibility

If you form in a state where you don't live (like Wyoming or Delaware), you need a registered agent there. A service solves this.

Cost

StartGlobal includes registered agent service with our formation packages. See our pricing page for details.

Changing Your Registered Agent

You can change your registered agent at any time by filing a form with your state (often called "Statement of Change" or "Registered Agent Update"). The process:

1. Choose your new registered agent
2. File the change form with your state
3. Pay the state filing fee
4. Notify your old agent (optional but courteous)

Common reasons to change agents:

• Moving to a professional service from acting as your own
• Finding a better-priced service
• Consolidating multiple LLCs under one agent
• Dissatisfaction with current service

Frequently Asked Questions