What Is a Registered Agent?

What a registered agent does

When someone sues a company, the court papers have to be handed to someone. The registered agent is that someone. The state also sends annual report reminders, tax notices and other official mail to the agent's address.

The agent's name and address are part of the public record. They show up on the state's business search, which is why many owners use a service instead of their home address.

Who can be a registered agent

In most states the agent can be an adult who lives in the state, the business itself if it has an office there, or a company authorized to act as an agent. The address has to be a physical street address in the state, not just a P.O. box, and someone has to be there during business hours to accept papers.

You can usually be your own registered agent if you meet those rules. The trade-off is privacy and being tied to that address during the day.

Changing your registered agent

Changing agents means filing a form with the state, and most states charge a small fee. Some let the agent resign on their own, which leaves the company without one until it names a new agent. In several states, going without an agent can lead to the company being dissolved.