Registered agent services
Why choose GetGoLegal as your registered agent?
Focus on your business while we focus on keeping you compliant. We’ll promptly alert you of all legal notices and other official mail.
Alerts & reminders
Receive an alert as soon as official mail arrives, along with reminders when annual report deadlines are nearing.
Reliability & flexibility
Enjoy the flexibility to work from anywhere and set your own hours, with the assurance that your registered agent is available to receive physical notices.
Peace of mind
Rest easy knowing our address is listed as the registered agent on the public record instead of yours. Additionally, we'll handle any service of process documents on your behalf.
What are the features of our registered agent services?
- Critical legal notices delivered to our address instead of your home or workplace
- Alerts when we see important and time-sensitive mail
- Availability during normal business hours to receive official mail, meeting legal requirements
- Our address is listed as the registered agent on public records instead of yours, providing extra privacy
- Secure cloud storage so critical business documents are accessible anytime, from anywhere
- Junk mail filtering to save you time and effort
What is a registered agent in the U.S.?
By law, a registered agent is a service or a person over the age of 18 who is available during regular business hours at a physical address to receive critical mail and legal notices on the company’s behalf, like service of process. Registered agents must be officially designated with the Secretary of State’s office.
Do I need a registered agent for my LLC, corporation, or nonprofit?
An active, registered business entity is required to have a registered agent, also known as a statutory agent. The statutory agent’s role is to receive and forward legal notices and official mail from the state, as well as serve as the point of contact for service of process. Every state where your business operates requires a registered agent.
A registered agent provides the courts and your state with a physical address where they can send notices, filings, and other important documents. It’s essential that your registered agent is available at this address during regular business hours. For instance, if you’re unaware of a lawsuit filed against you, failing to receive the proper notice could result in losing the opportunity to defend yourself in court.
What’s required to be a registered agent?
To meet legal requirements, registered agents must be either an authorized service provider, like GetGoLegal, or be an individual who:
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- Is a resident of the state
- Is at least 18 years old
- Has a physical address in the same state as your business, and can commit to being present at your workplace address during regular business hours—Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Can receive documents delivered by hand or by mail at that address
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Using a registered agent service vs. being your own registered agent
Serving as your own registered agent might not be the best option for you and your business.
Using a service
Increased privacy
Your registered agent’s address is listed on public records instead of yours, and they handle any service of process, providing an extra layer of privacy.
More freedom
You can focus more on growing your business, with the added flexibility of working from anywhere and setting your own hours, without being tied to a single location all day.
Deadline notifications
Your registered agent service will alert you when critical notices arrive and help you stay on top of important deadlines to ensure compliance.
Being your own
Less privacy
If your home or business address is listed publicly as the registered agent, you risk being served in front of family or coworkers if you’re ever involved in a lawsuit.
Less freedom
You must be present at your registered address from Monday to Friday, for eight hours each day, to personally receive legal notices and official state mail.
More deadlines to track
You are entirely responsible for tracking critical notices and important filing deadlines yourself, or you risk facing penalties or even potential closure.
Frequently asked questions
Registered agents are required for businesses in most states.
Beyond the legal obligation, registered agents offer significant value for busy entrepreneurs. They are available during business hours to receive legal notices and official state mail, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your business.
Many legal documents and letters come with strict deadlines. Missing deadlines to file documents or pay fees can result in penalties. With GetGoLegal’s registered agent service, you’ll receive alerts when notices arrive and reminders for upcoming tax and annual report deadlines.
Registered agent services also protect your privacy, as their address, not yours, will appear on public records. A registered agent can receive service of process documents on your behalf, sparing you from being served in front of your family at home or your employees and customers at work.
In most states, having a registered agent (also known as statutory representation) is a legal requirement. A registered agent ensures that you don’t miss important legal notices, official state mail, or service of process documents, helping you avoid penalties and potential legal judgments against your business.
To appoint a registered agent on your own, you would need to:
– Download and fill out the appropriate formation paperwork for your entity and state
– Include the registered agent’s name in the documents
– Submit the paperwork and pay the required fee to the Secretary of State’s office (some states may require in-person or mail submission)
If you choose GetGoLegal’s registered agent service, we’ll handle everything for you. Simply answer a few questions about your business, and we’ll use your responses to complete the paperwork, submit it to your state, and cover any associated fees.
You risk losing good standing with your state, which could lead to fees and penalties. If you’re unavailable to receive service of process, you might not be aware of a lawsuit filed against you and could miss the opportunity to respond on time.
A registered agent is an individual or authorized business entity available during regular business hours to receive legal notices, official state mail, or service of process on your behalf. They must have a physical address in the same state where your business is formed or registered to do business.
Yes, depending on your state, you’ll need to pay a fee and submit paperwork. If you choose us as your new registered agent, we’ll cover the fees and handle the paperwork at no additional cost to you. We’ll also update the registered agent information with your Secretary of State.
You may receive items such as legal mail (including service of process), official state correspondence, annual report notices, or junk mail (which we’ll shred for you). For legal service of process and other time-sensitive mail, we’ll upload the documents to your secure cloud storage account, notify you via email, and send reminder emails if the notice isn’t opened. Additionally, we’ll mail a postcard to the address we have on file. For all other mail, we’ll upload the documents to your account and send you an email notification.
Yes, we offer an optional legal advice subscription service that provides unlimited 30-minute calls with vetted attorneys in our network on new legal matters, for a subscription fee.
Although different states use different terms, all three refer to the same thing and offer registered agent services.
All LLCs are required to have a registered agent. The registered agent’s role for an LLC, corporation, or any other business entity is the same: to receive legal notices, official state mail, compliance documents, and service of process on your behalf.
Your registered agent must be available at the address registered with your state during regular business hours to receive official state correspondence and service of process notices. If they’re not, the consequences could be severe. For instance, if you’re unaware of a lawsuit filed against you and it goes to court, you could receive a default judgment without an opportunity to defend yourself.
You are required to have a registered agent for each business you own and in every state where your business operates.
Limited liability partnerships are required to have a registered agent, similar to limited liability companies.
Selecting a professional registered agent service with experience and expertise can relieve you of important tasks and provide peace of mind. Registered agents manage your business’s most sensitive correspondence, so it’s essential to trust that your privacy will be protected, your critical mail will be secure, and you’ll be promptly informed of any legal notices.