Legal Definitions - Registered agent

A registered agent is a designated individual or entity responsible for receiving legal documents, such as lawsuits and subpoenas, and official government correspondence on behalf of a business or organization. All corporations, LLCs, and other registered business entities are typically required to maintain a registered agent in each state where they operate.

A Registered Agent is an individual or entity officially designated by a business (such as a corporation, limited liability company, or other legal entity) to receive legal documents, government correspondence, and "service of process" on its behalf. Service of process refers to the formal delivery of legal papers, like a summons or subpoena, notifying a party of a lawsuit or other legal action.

The registered agent must have a physical street address (not a post office box) in the state where the business is registered or qualified to do business, and must be available during normal business hours. This requirement ensures that there is always a reliable, official point of contact for the business to receive important legal notices and official communications from state agencies.

• Example 1: A Small Business Expanding to a New State

  Scenario: "Coastal Coffee Roasters LLC" is a successful coffee company based in California. They decide to open a new roasting facility and several cafes in Oregon. To legally operate and register their LLC in Oregon, they must appoint a registered agent with a physical address in Oregon.

  Explanation: Coastal Coffee Roasters LLC hires a professional registered agent service located in Portland, Oregon. This service provides a physical address where any legal documents, such as a lawsuit filed against the company in Oregon, or official tax notices from the Oregon Department of Revenue, will be delivered. The registered agent service then promptly forwards these documents to Coastal Coffee Roasters LLC, ensuring the company is aware of and can respond to all legal and governmental communications in Oregon, even though their main office is in California.

• Example 2: An Online-Only Corporation

  Scenario: "Pixel Perfect Designs Inc." is a graphic design company incorporated in Delaware. All of its employees work remotely from various states, and the company has no physical office in Delaware.

  Explanation: Despite its virtual nature, Pixel Perfect Designs Inc. is legally required to have a registered agent with a physical street address in Delaware, its state of incorporation. They contract with a corporate registered agent service in Wilmington, Delaware. If a client were to sue Pixel Perfect Designs Inc. in Delaware, or if the Delaware Secretary of State needed to send official compliance notices, these documents would be served upon the designated registered agent in Wilmington. This ensures that the company has a reliable, official point of contact for legal and governmental matters in its state of incorporation, fulfilling its legal obligations.

• Example 3: An Individual Forming a Single-Member LLC

  Scenario: David, a freelance software developer living in Florida, decides to form a single-member LLC, "David's Code Solutions LLC," to separate his personal assets from his business liabilities.

  Explanation: When David registers "David's Code Solutions LLC" with the Florida Department of State, he must designate a registered agent. Since he lives and works in Florida, he can choose to act as his own registered agent, using his home address as the registered agent's physical address. This means that if his LLC were ever sued, or if the state needed to send official compliance notices, these documents would be delivered directly to him at his designated registered agent address. This fulfills the legal requirement for his LLC to have a reliable point of contact for service of process within Florida.