What Is a Registered Agent?

All formal business entities (LLCs and corporations) must have a registered agent. A professional registered agent service will accept legal papers and official correspondence on behalf of a company and promptly relay them to the company.

A person or business associated with the company may serve as a registered agent, but that individual will need to remember to change their address if they move or quit working for the company. Professional registered agents offer consistent and reliable service.

Service of Process

Whether you’re sued or need to file a legal document, you’ll want to be sure that it reaches the correct party. The legal term for this is service of process, and it’s an important job that only a registered agent can do.

A registered agent, or statutory agent in some states, is an individual or business that’s designated by a company to receive service of process notices, official government correspondence including tax forms and compliance documents on behalf of the company. They also accept lawsuits and other important legal documents on the company’s behalf.

As a business owner, time is valuable, and sorting through junk mail can be distracting. With a reliable registered agent, you can rest easy knowing that any time-sensitive documents will be received and passed along promptly. Choosing a registered agent services provider that provides national coverage offers consistency and convenience and makes it easier to submit renewal payments.

Notices

A registered agent's job is to accept legal, tax and other official mail for the business entity it represents. This includes notices of lawsuits, subpoenas and government correspondence. The agent is required by law to promptly notify the business entity of such documents.

Many registered agent services also scan and digitize received mail, making it easy for businesses to access their paperwork online. This is a great convenience if you run your business out of a home office or travel frequently for work.

Another function of a registered agent is to keep track of filing deadlines for state-level compliance requirements, such as annual reports and franchise taxes. This is a valuable service that can save businesses money by avoiding fines for noncompliance.

Legal Documents

A registered agent is required to have a physical address in the state where the business is operating. They must be available during normal business hours and regularly check their mail. Failing to do so could lead to your business missing important legal and government correspondence, such as annual state filings or notices of lawsuits or judgments against the company.

Most businesses designate a registered agent during their incorporation or business registration process, although sole proprietorships and general partnerships do not have to. However, these business types should have a reliable registered agent in case they do decide to incorporate or register in the future.

Companies that operate in multiple states or are considering expansion should choose a registered agent service that offers nationwide service. This will simplify the process of renewing your registered agent services in a new state and make it easier to track important documents and compliance deadlines. A commercial registered agent can also help your business reduce paperwork by promptly scanning and forwarding all documents in digital form.

Privacy

Since a registered agent’s address is public record, if you are running a business out of your home or office, you may be getting a lot of junk mail. By using a commercial service, you can shield your personal and business information from the junk mail and focus on growing your company.

You will also be able to expand your business into other states with confidence. A national registered agent like CorpNet will keep your information private across all states where you register to do business.

You might be tempted to name yourself or another employee as the registered agent, but this can create issues with privacy and you can get embarrassed if you are served in front of customers or clients. Using a professional registered agent service can save you time and money, and ensure that important legal documents are received. They will even scan and provide you with digital copies of the documents.