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Formation Explained

LLC rules, unpacked for first-time owners.

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Glossary term

What a registered agent means for an LLC

The in-state address and contact on file where court papers and official letters for the LLC are delivered.
Formation Explained editorial team

Quick reference

Sometimes written as
Resident agent, statutory agent or agent for service, depending on where you file

What to take from it

Suppose the LLC is sued or the state sends a notice. The paperwork goes to the agent first, which is why many owners hire a service with a staffed address and keep a home address off the public record.

What the states do

An LLC must name one in 46 states. These are the 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".

Where to read more

You will find it in these sections: Starting an LLC in each state, Registered agent rules by state, Out-of-state registration by state.

Sources used on this page

  1. October 2026 confirmation of Alabama registered agent statute at alisondb.legislature.state.al.us
  2. October 2026 confirmation of Alaska registered agent statute at akleg.gov
  3. October 2026 confirmation of Arizona registered agent statute at azleg.gov
  4. October 2026 confirmation of Arkansas registered agent statute at arkleg.state.ar.us
  5. October 2026 confirmation of California registered agent statute at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  6. October 2026 confirmation of Connecticut registered agent statute at cga.ct.gov
  7. October 2026 confirmation of Delaware registered agent statute at delcode.delaware.gov
  8. October 2026 confirmation of Florida registered agent statute at flsenate.gov
  9. October 2026 confirmation of Georgia registered agent statute at sos.ga.gov
  10. October 2026 confirmation of Hawaii registered agent statute at capitol.hawaii.gov
  11. October 2026 confirmation of Idaho registered agent statute at legislature.idaho.gov
  12. October 2026 confirmation of Illinois registered agent statute at ilga.gov
  13. October 2026 confirmation of Indiana registered agent statute at faqs.in.gov
  14. October 2026 confirmation of Iowa registered agent statute at legis.iowa.gov
  15. October 2026 confirmation of Kansas registered agent statute at ksrevisor.gov
  16. October 2026 confirmation of Kentucky registered agent statute at apps.legislature.ky.gov
  17. October 2026 confirmation of Louisiana registered agent statute at legis.la.gov
  18. October 2026 confirmation of Maine registered agent statute at legislature.maine.gov
  19. October 2026 confirmation of Maryland registered agent statute at mgaleg.maryland.gov
  20. October 2026 confirmation of Massachusetts registered agent statute at sec.state.ma.us
  21. October 2026 confirmation of Michigan registered agent statute at legislature.mi.gov
  22. October 2026 confirmation of Minnesota registered agent statute at revisor.mn.gov
  23. October 2026 confirmation of Mississippi registered agent statute at sos.ms.gov
  24. October 2026 confirmation of Missouri registered agent statute at revisor.mo.gov
  25. October 2026 confirmation of Montana registered agent statute at mca.legmt.gov
  26. October 2026 confirmation of Nebraska registered agent statute at nebraskalegislature.gov
  27. October 2026 confirmation of Nevada registered agent statute at leg.state.nv.us
  28. October 2026 confirmation of New Hampshire registered agent statute at gc.nh.gov
  29. October 2026 confirmation of New Jersey registered agent statute at pub.njleg.gov
  30. October 2026 confirmation of New Mexico registered agent statute at nmonesource.com
  31. October 2026 confirmation of New York registered agent statute at nysenate.gov
  32. October 2026 confirmation of North Carolina registered agent statute at sosnc.gov
  33. October 2026 confirmation of North Dakota registered agent statute at ndlegis.gov
  34. October 2026 confirmation of Ohio registered agent statute at codes.ohio.gov
  35. October 2026 confirmation of Oklahoma registered agent statute at sos.ok.gov
  36. October 2026 confirmation of Oregon registered agent statute at oregonlegislature.gov
  37. October 2026 confirmation of Pennsylvania registered agent statute at legis.state.pa.us
  38. October 2026 confirmation of Rhode Island registered agent statute at webserver.rilegislature.gov
  39. October 2026 confirmation of South Carolina registered agent statute at scstatehouse.gov
  40. October 2026 confirmation of South Dakota registered agent statute at sdlegislature.gov
  41. October 2026 confirmation of Tennessee registered agent statute at sos-prod.tnsosgovfiles.com
  42. October 2026 confirmation of Texas registered agent statute at sos.texas.gov
  43. October 2026 confirmation of Utah registered agent statute at le.utah.gov
  44. October 2026 confirmation of Vermont registered agent statute at legislature.vermont.gov
  45. October 2026 confirmation of Virginia registered agent statute at law.lis.virginia.gov
  46. October 2026 confirmation of Washington registered agent statute at app.leg.wa.gov
  47. October 2026 confirmation of West Virginia registered agent statute at code.wvlegislature.gov
  48. October 2026 confirmation of Wisconsin registered agent statute at docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
  49. October 2026 confirmation of Wyoming registered agent statute at wyoleg.gov