Entity and corporate filings
Resident agent
A registered agent that physically resides in the state. Some states use this label instead of registered agent.
Resident agent is another name some states use for the registered agent: the in-state contact that accepts legal and government correspondence. The label varies by jurisdiction, but the role is the same reliable point of receipt.
Knowing which term a state uses matters when you read its statutes and forms. Whatever the wording, the underlying requirement is a real physical address in that state and someone available during business hours to take service of process.
Related terms
Where this comes up
Resident 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.