Corporate Resource Guide » registered agent

What should I do if I change my corporate or registered address?

Shane Martindale — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 01:00:18 +0000

Almost all Corporate Filing Offices (usually the secretary of state’s office) have a standard form you can fill out to notify them of a change of address for your registered agent. You can call them and they will mail the form or you can probably get one online. If you change your address, it is » Continue...

Are there advantages to using a business entity or corporation as my registered agent?

Robert Montgomery — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:00:39 +0000

There are many companies which offer services as a registered agent. Most charge a fee between $100 and $200 per year for the service. If you operate your business in several different states and do not have a street addresses in each state, then you should consider using a corporate registered agent.

If you have a street address but most of the time no one is at home or at the address, then you may want to consider using a corporate registered agent so that you make certain you get important legal documents or notices.

Can I act as my own registered agent and if so, what are the duties and requirements?

Robert Montgomery — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:00:31 +0000

Every state requires each entity to have a registered agent. A registered agent is simply a person of legal age or a business entity that has a street address (not just P.O. Box) within the state, who can accept the service of legal process on behalf of your corporation. The registered agent is also the person or business to which the Corporate Filing Office (usually the secretary of state’s office) may send important business documents.

You or any shareholder, officer, or director of your corporation (or other individual you know) can act as a registered agent for your company so long as you or they have a street address in the state. It is wise to make certain the address you list is one where someone will be present most of the time and where you can receive service or mail. This is important because you want to make certain you receive important legal documents or important notices from the secretary of state concerning you business so that you will be able to take appropriate action. If you fail to receive these documents, you could place your business in difficult circumstances such as a default in a legal action.

Can my corporation do business in several different states?

Robert Montgomery — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 08:16:45 +0000

A corporation can do business in states other than the one
it is registered in. However, most states have laws which say that if
a corporation has substantial business contacts with the state it
wants to do business in, then it must register as a foreign
corporation (meaning from another state) doing business in that
state.

A typical state law will read something like this: “A foreign
corporation may not transact business in this state until it obtains a
certificate of authority from the secretary of state.” The concept of
“transacting business’ involves regular, repeated, and continuing
business contacts within the state. In a further attempt to clarify
what “transacting business” really means, many state laws suggest
that the following types of conduct do not qualify as transacting
business:

Maintaining, settling, or defending legal proceedings
Holding meetings of the board of directors or shareholders
Selling through independent contractors
Creating or acquiring indebtedness, mortgages, or security
interests
Securing, enforcing, or collecting debts
Conducting isolated transactions completed within a 30 day
period

If you are doing substantial business in another state of a nature you
think might qualify as “transacting business” then you should check
with the Corporate Filing Office to obtain an application for
authority. The process usually involves, filing the application with the
Corporate Filing Office, appointing a registered agent and paying
the filing fee. Failure to file as a foreign corporation in the different states can subject your
corporation to penalties.

If I need to hire a registered agent, where can I find one?

Robert Montgomery — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 08:06:38 +0000

If you have an office with a street address in the state
where you are incorporated, you may want to act as your own
registered agent. This will save you some money. However, if you
need a different registered agent, most Corporate Filing Office
websites have a listing of people or businesses that act as registered
agents for that particular state. Also, the link will give you a list of
national companies that offer registered agent services. These
services generally charge from $100 to $200 per year for the service.

For more information on registered agent companies visit:
http://www.registered-agent-listings.com

Note: Most Secretary of State Websites will have a list of registered agents
for that state.