What a registered agent is and who can be one
Updated . General information, not legal or tax advice.
A registered agent is the person or company that accepts lawsuits, subpoenas and official state notices on a business’s behalf. Every state requires LLCs and corporations to keep one, and it’s usually listed on the public record.
Who can be a registered agent
- An individual who lives in the state, or a business authorized there, with a physical street address. A P.O. box doesn’t qualify.
- Someone reliably available at that address during business hours.
- You, if you meet those rules, or a commercial registered agent service. New York is unusual: the Secretary of State serves as agent for service of process, and a separate registered agent is optional.
Each state page lists the rule under “Registered agent” where the state publishes one.
Why many businesses use a service
A service keeps a home address off public records, makes sure papers aren’t missed while you travel, and covers states where you have no address. Services typically charge a yearly fee; many formation services include the first year.
The agent is usually not the owner
Large agent companies represent hundreds of thousands of businesses. Seeing the same agent on two records doesn’t mean the businesses are related, and the agent tells you nothing about who owns a company. We show agent names only as the registry publishes them and never use them to infer ownership.
Changing your agent
States let you change agents by filing a statement of change, often online and for a small fee. Letting the agent lapse can lead to administrative dissolution in many states.