Plain definition

What does registered agent mean?

The company's legal mailbox in the state: a person or business that receives court papers and state letters for it.

By the LLC Answered editorial team Answers updated November 13, 2026

Quick facts

Short reply

Same as: Statutory agent in some states, resident agent in others, agent for service of process in a few
Relevant terms: Service of process then Registered office then Statutory agent, resident agent and other names

What to do about it

The agent must be reachable at the listed address during business hours, because that is where legal papers will be delivered.

The state picture

Must every LLC name one? Yes in 46 states. The 4 exceptions:

Minnesota: A Minnesota LLC must keep a registered office in Minnesota; naming an agent there is optional.
New York: The Secretary of State is the agent for service of process for every New York LLC; naming a registered agent is optional.
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania requires a registered office (a Pennsylvania street address or a Commercial Registered Office Provider), not an agent.
West Virginia: The statute says an LLC "may" keep an agent; the Articles ask for one "if any".

Keep going

What backs this page

On record: Alabama registered agent statute, alisondb.legislature.state.al.us, current as of October 2026
On record: Alaska registered agent statute, akleg.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Arizona registered agent statute, azleg.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Arkansas registered agent statute, arkleg.state.ar.us, current as of October 2026
On record: California registered agent statute, leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Connecticut registered agent statute, cga.ct.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Delaware registered agent statute, delcode.delaware.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Florida registered agent statute, flsenate.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Georgia registered agent statute, sos.ga.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Hawaii registered agent statute, capitol.hawaii.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Idaho registered agent statute, legislature.idaho.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Illinois registered agent statute, ilga.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Indiana registered agent statute, faqs.in.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Iowa registered agent statute, legis.iowa.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Kansas registered agent statute, ksrevisor.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Kentucky registered agent statute, apps.legislature.ky.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Louisiana registered agent statute, legis.la.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Maine registered agent statute, legislature.maine.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Maryland registered agent statute, mgaleg.maryland.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Massachusetts registered agent statute, sec.state.ma.us, current as of October 2026
On record: Michigan registered agent statute, legislature.mi.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Minnesota registered agent statute, revisor.mn.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Mississippi registered agent statute, sos.ms.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Missouri registered agent statute, revisor.mo.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Montana registered agent statute, mca.legmt.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Nebraska registered agent statute, nebraskalegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Nevada registered agent statute, leg.state.nv.us, current as of October 2026
On record: New Hampshire registered agent statute, gc.nh.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: New Jersey registered agent statute, pub.njleg.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: New Mexico registered agent statute, nmonesource.com, current as of October 2026
On record: New York registered agent statute, nysenate.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: North Carolina registered agent statute, sosnc.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: North Dakota registered agent statute, ndlegis.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Ohio registered agent statute, codes.ohio.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Oklahoma registered agent statute, sos.ok.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Oregon registered agent statute, oregonlegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Pennsylvania registered agent statute, legis.state.pa.us, current as of October 2026
On record: Rhode Island registered agent statute, webserver.rilegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: South Carolina registered agent statute, scstatehouse.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: South Dakota registered agent statute, sdlegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Tennessee registered agent statute, sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com, current as of October 2026
On record: Texas registered agent statute, sos.texas.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Utah registered agent statute, le.utah.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Vermont registered agent statute, legislature.vermont.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Virginia registered agent statute, law.lis.virginia.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Washington registered agent statute, app.leg.wa.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: West Virginia registered agent statute, code.wvlegislature.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Wisconsin registered agent statute, docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, current as of October 2026
On record: Wyoming registered agent statute, wyoleg.gov, current as of October 2026