A registered agent is a designated individual or third party physically located in the same state in which a business was established. On behalf of the business, a registered agent receives legal and tax documents, service of process forms when the business entity is a party in a legal action, and paperwork from the state and federal government.
The law requires a registered agent for businesses that do not have a physical location in the state in which the business is registered. It is the duty of the registered agent to ensure that all necessary documents are forwarded to the entity and that the business remains in good standing with the state. If your business doesn’t maintain a registered agent, it is at risk in several ways, including lack of information, lost standing, financial liability, and dissolution.