What is a Registered Agent?

 

Some of the questions we get most often are "What does a registered agent do? Why do I have to have one?" If you're unfamiliar with what a registered agent is, today we're going to walk you through the basics. 

What is a Registered Agent?

A Registered Agent, also known as a resident agent or statutory agent, is a third-party business or individual based in the state that your corporation or LLC is established.

Many states require a registered agent in the state where an entity is established. The Incorporators Ltd. provides Registered Agent services for entities in Delaware.

What does my Registered Agent do for me?

We often get asked this question. The general duties of the Registered Agent are to accept and forward Annual Report Tax Notices and any other official documentation from the Secretary of State to the entity contact; and to accept and forward Service of Process. Under Delaware law, a Registered Agent must be generally available during normal business hours to accept Service of Process.

If your registered agent is doing that for you, then they are meeting their minimum requirement to act as your agent, and charge you a fee. However, a great Registered Agent does much more.

Here are some of the things The Incorporators Ltd. can do for you:

We send a courtesy email reminder to all entities that have an annual report and/or franchise tax due well before the due date.

We offer a tax filing service at our website, which enables clients to easily maintain their entity information for quick, efficient filing. If you use our entity filing service, you will always have copies of your reports and payment history available online.

The Incorporators Ltd. is a Commercial Registered Agent, with contracted direct access to the Delaware Corporate Information System (DCIS).  We are a full-service filing company, making filing, research and retrieval services fast and affordable. 

Sometimes, an entity will find it necessary to make an additional filing after formation. You may have a company name change (Amendment), need to change your stock election, or be ready to wind up business and formally close the entity(Dissolution/Cancellation). In some cases, you may find that you need to revive your charter if it has lapsed due to not meeting statutory obligations for tax payments or maintaining a registered agent(Revival).

DCIS access also permits us to retrieve legal filings, issue State Certificates and provide UCC search, filing and retrieval services in Delaware.

Why do I need a Registered Agent?

Simply put, it's required. Delaware law requires all entities domiciled in Delaware to retain a Registered Agent with a street address in Delaware.

Can I be my own registered agent?

Yes, if you have a street address in the State of Delaware you may act as your own registered agent. However, you may still choose not to for the reasons mentioned above.

I formed my entity with another company. Can I change my Registered Agent?

Yes, you may change your Registered Agent at any time. If you'd like to use The Incorporators Ltd. as your Registered Agent, you can fill out our quick form here.

What do I have to do to maintain my Registered Agent services?

You must keep your Registered Agent informed of any changes to your company’s contact information. This is extremely important, as we may receive Service of Process on your behalf and must be able to accept and forward it to you.

We will also forward Annual Report Tax Notices and any other notices from the State of Delaware to the designated contact. You will also need to pay a fee to your agent for their services.  Commercial Registered Agent fees vary greatly.  The Incorporators Ltd. annual Registered Agent fee is $99.00.  The first year fee is FREE with one of our affordable Incorporation packages. 

If you have any further questions about what a Registered Agent does or how The Incorporators Ltd. can help you form or maintain a business, contact us.

DISCLAIMER: The Incorporators LTD. is a business formation service company only.
All content on this site is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, taxation or financial advice or services.