What Is the Legal Definition of A Registered Agent ?

A registered agent is a person designated to officially receive and send legal papers on behalf of a business entity, such as a limited liability company (LLC) or a corporation. The registered agent is registered with the state in which the LLC or corporation is established. The articles of organization (for an LLC_) or the articles of incorporation (for a corporation) must designate the registered agent, along with an address (not a post office box).

The registered agent is the person who receives official notifications, including notice of lawsuits and state taxes due. If you are running a very small business, you can be your own registered agent. If one or more individuals are running a business together, one person is usually designated as the registered agent.

Legal Definition of Registered Agent

A Registered Agent is the legal representative responsible for accepting Service of Process (Lawsuits) on behalf of the business entity within the dominion of any State were the company transact business. Service of process is the procedure employed to give legal notice to a company (defendant) of a court or administrative body's exercise of its jurisdiction over that company so as to enable that person to respond to the proceeding before the court, body or other tribunal. Usually, notice is furnished by delivering a set of court documents (called "process") to the company to be served. A Registered Agent will also accept on behalf of the company annual reports and other similar compliance type filings from the Secretary of State.