A registered agent is a business that receives and accepts legal documents on behalf of a company. This can include tax notices, government correspondence, and court documents.
Every business is required to have a registered agent in each state they do business in. This agent will be listed within a business’s articles of incorporation/organization.
Legal Requirements
Almost every state requires corporations, LLCs and formal business entities to have a registered agent. These agents are appointed to receive service of process, official mail and important documents on behalf of businesses.
While this may seem like a redundant middleman role, it’s vital to keep your business running smoothly. Failing to meet these requirements can have serious consequences.
For instance, you might miss important annual filings from the state or a lawsuit filed against your company. A registered agent will receive these documents and send them to you on time.
The agent can be you, your spouse, your attorney or any other individual or entity with a physical address and availability to receive legal notices during normal business hours. However, you should be careful about who you appoint.
How to Become a Registered Agent
If you’re operating a business, whether it’s an LLC or corporation, you will need to appoint a registered agent in most states. A registered agent is responsible for accepting state documents and correspondence on behalf of your company.
You can choose to act as your own registered agent, or you can use a professional service. The decision is up to you, but it’s important that you make the right choice for your business.
A registered agent is required to have a physical address in your state and be available during normal business hours. This can be difficult to accomplish if you’re frequently out of town, have an unpredictable schedule or don’t always live in a fixed location.
Some people opt to list themselves as their own registered agent, while others list an employee, a lawyer or a trusted friend. The choice is up to you, but it’s recommended that you appoint a registered agent service instead of trying to handle this role yourself.
Service of Process
When someone sues you, you need to have the proper paperwork served in order to defend yourself. This is called process service, and it’s important for all businesses to have a registered agent who can accept and deliver legal notices on behalf of the company.
You can list yourself, your lawyer, an employee or a professional registered agent service as the person responsible for receiving and delivering these documents. This can be a lot of work, however, and it’s not always realistic to expect a business to be present at its registered office every day.
That’s why many business owners choose to appoint a registered agent service. These services have experience and can ensure that the communication between your company and the state is streamlined and fast. They receive and log all documentation that comes in, and they forward it to you as soon as possible. It’s an excellent way to maintain compliance with your state and stay on top of business paperwork.
Privacy
Many business owners choose to use registered agents to save time and money on filings and paperwork. However, a registered agent must comply with strict laws.
In the United States, there are several ways that a business can be liable for failing to have a registered agent. If the company is found to be in violation of the law, they can be subject to fines and penalties.
The privacy rights of individuals and organizations have been the focus of much discussion in the past two decades. Often, the concern is with how technology may affect our individual and social lives.
Although many of the debates over privacy have focused on individual concerns, there are now a number of scholars who are concerned with the social dimensions of privacy. They are examining how privacy can be used to protect human freedom and autonomy in liberal democratic societies.
