Entity and corporate filings
Registered agent
A person or company that accepts service of process and official mail on a business's behalf in each state where the business is registered.
A registered agent is the person or company a state has on record to receive legal notices and official mail on your behalf at a physical in-state address. States generally expect every registered entity to keep one on file, and a lapse can put the entity out of good standing.
For licensed businesses the agent does double duty: it satisfies the formation requirement and gives regulators a reliable point of contact during the life of the license. Companies operating in several states often centralize agent service so renewals and service of process never slip.
Related terms
Where this comes up
Registered agent is one piece of getting and keeping a business licensed. We handle the filings, bonds, and renewals that surround it across every state where you operate.