Resident Agent Services

When forming a corporation or other legal entity, state statutes require you designate a registered agent and, sometimes, a registered office. This designation allows the state to have a known contact with the company so the state can communicate important annual filings, changes in entity requirements and for service of process. This ensures the company is legitimate and qualified to do business within the state.

A Registered Agent acts as the representative for receiving Service of Process served upon a company within the jurisdiction of any state where the company conducts business. Service of Process is broadly defined to include any legal proceeding, legal notice or official government communication presented to the company while it is within the jurisdiction of a state. A Registered Agent also receives and forwards official correspondence from the Secretary of State such as annual report notifications and other compliance filings.

Failure to designate and maintain a registered agent may cause a company to fall out of "good standing" within the state. This will subject its license to do business within a state to forfeiture, with monetary penalties assessed to reinstate the company to "good standing" again. The failure to designate a registered agent may also foreclose or hinder a company's ability to legally enter into contracts and gain access to the state courts. It may also subject the company to monetary, civil, and possibly criminal sanctions when applying for reinstatement.

Registered Office is defined as the official address of a company to which official documents are sent and legal notices received. It is normal for the registered agent to provide the registered office address. A company may maintain other business and correspondence addresses as well.