What Is a Registered Agent?

A registered agent is the person or company that a business names to receive legal papers and official government notices on its behalf. Nearly every state requires LLCs and corporations to keep a registered agent with a physical address in the state for as long as the business is registered there.

What a registered agent does

The registered agent's main job is to accept service of process: the formal delivery of documents that start or relate to a lawsuit, such as a summons and complaint. Having a known, reliable address for these documents means a business can't avoid being sued simply by being hard to find, and it gives the business a predictable way to learn about legal action against it.

Registered agents also commonly receive:

• Official notices from the state, such as annual report reminders and notices about the company's status
• Tax notices from some state agencies
• Subpoenas and other legal correspondence

A good registered agent promptly forwards everything it receives to the right person at the business. Missing a lawsuit or a state notice can have serious consequences, including a default judgment or losing good standing with the state.

Other names for a registered agent

Depending on the state, you may see the role called a statutory agent, resident agent, agent for service of process, or registered office. The details differ slightly, but the purpose is the same.

Requirements for a registered agent

Specific rules vary by state, but these requirements are common:

• A physical street address in the state. A PO box or mail forwarding address generally doesn't qualify, because someone must be able to hand documents to the agent in person.
• Availability during normal business hours. Someone must be at that address during regular business hours to accept deliveries.
• Eligibility. The agent is usually either an individual who lives in the state or a business entity authorized to do business in the state. A business generally cannot act as its own registered agent.
• Consent. Many states require the agent to agree to serve, and some ask for that consent in writing or as part of the filing.

Can you be your own registered agent?

Generally, yes. An owner, member, manager, or employee can serve as the registered agent if they meet the state's requirements, including having a physical address in the state and being available there during business hours. Many small businesses start this way.

Things to consider before doing it yourself:

• Privacy. The registered agent's name and address are usually part of the public record. If you use your home address, it will likely be visible in the state's online database.
• Availability. If you travel, work at job sites, or keep irregular hours, you might miss a delivery.
• Discretion. Being served with a lawsuit at your place of business, in front of customers or employees, can be awkward.
• Multiple states. If your LLC is registered in several states, you need an agent with a physical address in each one.

Using a commercial registered agent service

Many businesses hire a professional registered agent service. These companies maintain offices in one or more states, accept documents during business hours, and forward them to you, often by scanning and emailing them. Some also send reminders about state filing deadlines.

A commercial agent can make sense if you want to keep your home address off the public record, don't have a consistent in-state address, or operate in several states. Services and prices vary, so compare what's included. Whichever you choose, make sure the contact information the agent has for you stays up to date.

Where the registered agent shows up

You name your registered agent when you form an LLC in its home state or register it as a foreign LLC in another state. The agent's name and address then appear in the state's public business record. When you look up an LLC, the registered agent is usually one of the listed details.

A registered agent listing does not identify the owner. The agent accepts legal papers; an organizer signs formation paperwork; a member owns the LLC; and a manager manages it. One person can fill several roles, but do not infer ownership from the agent or organizer field. Texas's formation form lists the organizer separately from initial managers or members.

To research ownership, read formation filings and later reports with their dates and role labels. California's Statement of Information names managers, or members when no managers have been appointed. A manager need not be an owner. See how to find who owns an LLC for a fuller workflow.

Federal beneficial ownership reports are not another public registry. As checked on October 10, 2026, FinCEN's current notice says U.S. companies are exempt under its final rule and only certain foreign companies registered in the United States must report. Those companies do not report U.S. person beneficial owners or U.S. person company applicants. FinCEN's access guidance restricts access to authorized recipients.

Changing your registered agent

You can usually change your registered agent or the agent's address by filing a form with the state, often called a statement of change or change of registered agent. Some states let you make the change on an annual report. A registered agent that wants to stop serving can typically resign by filing with the state, and the business then has a limited time to appoint a new one. Filing requirements and fees vary by state; check with your state's filing office, which you can find on our states page.

What happens if you don't keep a registered agent

If a business fails to maintain a registered agent, or the agent on file can no longer be reached, the consequences can include:

• Losing good standing with the state, which can affect your ability to get a certificate of good standing
• Administrative dissolution or revocation of the company's registration
• Lawsuits proceeding without your knowledge. Many states allow service through the Secretary of State or another method when the registered agent can't be found, and the business may not learn about the case in time to respond.

If you're unsure what your state requires, check the filing office's guidance or consider talking to an attorney.