Who Should Be The Registered Agent For An Llc?

What Is a Registered Amanuensis?

A registered agent is an individual or business entity that accepts taxation and legal documents on behalf of your concern. A registered agent is likewise known equally a resident agent or statutory agent .

Virtually states require you to accept an LLC registered amanuensis when you form an LLC. The agent can be a professional service, yourself, or a colleague given they meet the state'southward criteria.

Registered amanuensis servicesoffering a number of benefits. To explore your options, cheque out our Best Registered Amanuensis Services review.

To acquire the guidelines in your state, choose your state from the dropdown below.

What is an LLC Registered Amanuensis?
Tin I Exist My Own Registered Agent?
Should I Utilize a Registered Agent Service?
What is the Best Registered Agent Service?
How Practice I Change My LLC Registered Agent?
Frequently Asked Questions

Last Updated: 2022-05-19

Registered Amanuensis Definition

A registered agent is an private or entity that has been appointed by an LLC or Corporation to receive service of process, government correspondence, and compliance documents on behalf of the concern.

Well-nigh states require y'all to designate a registered agent for your LLC, partnership, or corporation when forming your business. Later on choosing your business construction, y'all will exist expected to add a registered amanuensis office when you file your Articles of System with the Secretary of Land or other official government bureau.

Service of Process Definition

Service of process is the action of informing an private or entity that there's a awaiting lawsuit confronting him or her, or in this case, confronting one's company. Registered agents have service of process.

What is the Purpose of a Registered Amanuensis?

Besides receiving official mail on behalf of your business concern, the main purpose of a registered agent is to help your business maintain effective corporate compliance past informing you of legal notices or sending annual report filing reminders. Essentially, a registered amanuensis is a gatekeeper for business organization entities, so y'all can have appropriate activeness and resolve potential bug in a timely fashion.

Whether y'all run a small business or large corporation, you tin can look your designated registered agent to receive the following on your LLC's behalf after business concern formation:

Revenue enhancement forms
Legal documents
Official government correspondence (ie. annual report)
Summons (Service of Process) - Observe of a lawsuit

Can I be my own Registered Amanuensis?

Yes, you tin be your own registered agent for your business (east.g., Single-Member LLC). You could also choose to designate an officer or member of your business, or fifty-fifty a friend you trust, every bit long as the person beingness elected meets the following registered amanuensis requirements:

is eighteen years or older
has a physical accost in the state where the business is formed
is available (in person) during normal business organization hours

Another pick would exist to hire a professional person registered agent service.

Should I use a Registered Agent Service?

Designating someone else to serve equally a registered agent for your LLC or corporation has its benefits. In this department, we cover the major advantages of using an affordable, national, 3rd-political party registered agent service officeholder—like ZenBusiness or Incfile—such as:

Compliance with the Police force
Peace of Mind
Flexibility
Privacy

Visit our Should I Use a Registered Agent Service guide for help with making the correct choice for your business.

What is a Registered Agent Service?

Registered agent services are business entities that accept tax and legal documents on behalf of LLCs and corporations for a fee.

Compliance with the Law

Registered agents help businesses stay up-to-date on state requirements past sending regular reminders, and sometimes filings things like annual written report filings and other official regime notifications.

Registered amanuensis services volition also keep copies of your corporate documents. In case of theft, natural disaster, or other unexpected losses, you will have a backup of all your important business concern and legal documents.

Peace of Mind

Registered agents give you peace of mind so you can focus your time, free energy, and attention on running your pocket-sized concern. Hither's what a professional, third-party registered amanuensis service can practise to ease your stress:

Make growing your business the number one priority. Of import tax and legal documents for your LLC volition be automatically received and stored for safekeeping.
Help maintain your work-life balance. Business organization and personal mail service are kept separate, preventing your work from overtaking your home life.
Offering personal guidance. Yous have additional back up if your business runs into a trouble or if any questions arise.

Flexibility

If you choose to human action equally your ain registered agent, you volition need to be available to receive official regime correspondence and service of process notices during standard business hours at the physical address yous provide.

Designated registered agents give you the flexibility to focus on your business instead of keeping track of deadlines and being available during business organisation hours.

With a registered amanuensis service, you tin:

Maintain flexible business organization hours. A registered agent must be available from eight-five every weekday. By designating a third-party registered agent service, yous can choose your ain work hours.
Course an LLC in another state. Registered agents must accept legal residence in the state where the business organization is formed. Hiring a national registered amanuensis service volition allow y'all grade an LLC in any of the 50 states.
Grade an LLC in multiple states. If you set upward your business to have a concrete location in multiple states, you will need to take an appointed registered agent for each state.

Privacy

We all value our privacy. Your registered amanuensis service'due south concrete accost volition exist listed on the public record— not your personal or company location. This is especially important to consider if your business concern operates out of your home. An LLC registered agent service will maintain your privacy by:

Preventing you from being served with a lawsuit in person. You don't want to receive a summons in front of your family unit, employees, or worse, your customers.
Having their physical address public instead of yours. Equally a result, you're less likely to receive unsolicited mail.

What is the Best Registered Agent Service?

Hiring a professional person, third-party registered amanuensis service has several advantages, but yous may be asking yourself,"How do I choose a registered agent?" In improver to having a legitimate office in the country of your LLC, we encourage you to find and choose a national registered agent service with the following features:

Compliance management: reminders for filing an annual report and other important deadlines for business entities.
Document direction: local scanning of all official legal documents so you can access them from your online business concern business relationship.
Availability: a reliable customer service squad who tin can respond whatever questions by phone or online that y'all may take regarding your business.
Thorough coverage: the ability to provide registered agent services in all fifty states.

Northwest Registered Amanuensis

Northwest is the best registered agent service based on overall quality and transparent pricing. Northwest offers a seamless user experience and best-in-industry customer service and privacy protection.

When you choose Northwest as your registered amanuensis service, y'all'll get an online account to access essential documents, mail forwarding, and business organisation address services.

Northwest's virtual mailbox service will scan your mail and forward it to you electronically. This means that you can keep track of your mail no matter where y'all are in the world.

LLC Germination + Registered Agent Service for 1yr

(Registered Amanuensis: $125 afterward 1st Year)

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Larn About Registered Agents in Your Land

How Do I Change the Registered Agent for My LLC?

To change your registered amanuensis, simply file the right paperwork with the Secretary of Country; in that location may be a nominal filing fee depending on the state in which you carry business.

When irresolute the registered agent, make certain to submit your new registered agent'south signed consent grade if applicable. This step may vary by state.

For more data on how to change the registered amanuensis for your LLC, yous tin visit our land-specific registered amanuensis guides.

How much does it cost to change my registered agent?

Changing the registered agent for your company can cost from $0 to $l per state depending on the number of states you're registered to practise business with your LLC.

Registered Amanuensis LLC FAQ

Do I need a registered agent?

Yes. Every U.S. state requires all corporations, express liability companies (LLCs), and partnerships to have a registered agent. A registered amanuensis may be chosen different names in different states, such as a resident agent, a statutory agent, or an agent for service of process.

What does a registered agent do?

Registered agents go along your business compliant by maintaining up-to-engagement paperwork. They besides are in accuse of accepting official correspondence on behalf of your business, such as paperwork from the country and federal authorities, tax forms, and legal notices.

Learn more well-nigh what registered agents practice.

Tin the owner of an LLC exist the registered agent?

Yes, the registered agent of an LLC can be its possessor, as long equally the conditions of age and residency are met according to land guidelines. Some small-scale business organisation owners cull to do this instead of hiring a third party or appointing someone else to the role.

This position does come with extra responsibilities and potential inconveniences, however, so many business owners make up one's mind it's better for them to choose another person or a professional service to act every bit their registered agent. You should weigh the pros and cons of each option and decide which is best for you and your business concern.

Who can exist a registered amanuensis?

Registered amanuensis requirements can vary a bit from state to country, but they generally let for both individuals and concern entities to serve as a company's registered amanuensis.

Individuals must be at least xviii years former and concern entities must be registered to operate in the state. Both must have a physical function location and be present during regular business concern hours.

Although you tin be your own registered amanuensis, nosotros recommend y'all consider hiring an experienced and reliable registered amanuensis service to handle this portion of your business organisation needs.

How much does a registered amanuensis cost?

The price of a registered agent varies, merely it tin can be anywhere from free (if y'all deed every bit your company's registered agent) to a few hundred dollars a twelvemonth for some third-party services.

Hiring a registered agent service could save yous time and money in the long run.

Is a registered agent the same as the owner?

No, a registered agent is not considered an owner, its responsibleness is to keep certain paperwork up to date and accepts official correspondence on behalf of the company. However, the individual owner of a business organization may also deed as the visitor's registered amanuensis.

Why do I need a registered agent?

Well-nigh states require yous to designate a registered agent if you lot own a business. Nevertheless, even if it isn't required, we strongly recommend appointing a registered agent to accept service of process, proceeds peace of mind, and maintain your privacy.

Are registered agents liable?

A registered agent could potentially be liable for amercement in the event they fail to run across their legal responsibilities equally a registered agent, such every bit not informing a company it was being sued.

Tin I alter my registered agent?

Aye. You can change your registered agent past filing the necessary paperwork with the advisable state agency. Unlike states take dissimilar processes and forms so read our free guides for details almost your state.

What is a statutory amanuensis?

A statutory agent is another proper noun for a registered amanuensis, a service of process amanuensis, or a resident agent.

What is a resident amanuensis?

A resident agent is some other name for a registered amanuensis, a service of process agent, or a statutory agent.

What is a service of procedure agent?

A service of process agent is another proper noun for a registered agent, a resident agent, or a statutory agent.

What is a commercial registered agent?

A commercial registered amanuensis is a person or entity that has registered with the land by filing a commercial registered agent listing statement with the Secretarial assistant of State in accordance with the Model Registered Amanuensis Human action (MoRAA) or similar state constabulary.

What does "service of process" mean?

Service of process means receiving legal documents, such as a summons. A summons is an order to announced earlier a guess due to a pending lawsuit.

What is the difference between a commercial registered agent and a noncommercial registered agent?

Most states crave LLC owners to provide their LLC's registered agent's proper noun and accost when forming your LLC. In some states, you lot volition exist asked whether you lot are electing a commercial or noncommercial registered amanuensis. Some states refer to professional person registered agents as commercial agents, which requires these agents to exist specially listed with their state, and individual agents as noncommercial.

Are registered agents and virtual offices the same?

No, registered agents and virtual offices are non the same types of service. Registered agent services receive of import legal services on behalf of your business where virtual offices, business addresses, and mailboxes offer everything from temporary physical office space to an address you tin can use for normal postal service of your concern.

Are there any gratuitous registered agent services?

No, there are no costless registered agent services, however, in that location are services that offer upward to a gratuitous year of registered agent service when y'all form your business with them.

Y'all tin can serve every bit your own registered agent for gratis. However, this comes with the expectation that you will be bachelor to receive service of procedure at all normal business hours.

Can my hubby or wife be my registered agent?

Yes, your husband or wife tin be your registered agent, as long equally they authorize to be a registered agent in your state, and are available to receive service of process at all normal business hours.