Registered Agent

An agent for service of process (also known as the registered agent) is the person or company designated to accept service of process on the corporation's behalf. In a lawsuit, the defendant must be "served" with the court papers, which gives the defendant notice, before the lawsuit can have legal effect. Once the court papers have been delivered to the registered agent, the corporation is deemed to be on notice.

The registered agent's name and address are public information. Therefore, if you prefer an extra layer of privacy or do not have an address in the state of formation, LegalZoom can serve as your registered agent for $149 per year. LegalZoom, through its affiliates, can serve as a registered agent in all 50 states.