A Good Idea To Have My Wife By My Llcs Registered Agent?

When yous form a corporation or an LLC, you'll be asked to proper noun a registered amanuensis. Only what's a registered amanuensis and what do you need to know to choose ane?

If yous're forming a corporation or a express liability company, yous'll need to select a registered agent for your business and provide the agent's name and accost on the formation documents you file with the country.

Here'southward what you need to know before you choose an agent.

woman opens documents

What Is a Registered Agent?

When someone sues a business, they must notify the business of the lawsuit.

In some states, a copy of the lawsuit must be delivered in person to a representative of the business. In other states, it must be mailed.

To brand information technology easier to determine who should receive a lawsuit against a corporation or LLC, all states require business entities to keep the name and address of a registered amanuensis on file.

The registered agent is a person or entity that has agreed to exist bachelor during business hours to take lawsuits and other documents on behalf of a business organisation.

Depending on the land you're in, the registered agent may also exist called a "statutory amanuensis." The agent'south business address may be chosen a "registered office," and the legal documents the agent accepts may be referred to as "process."

In addition to lawsuits, registered agents may receive subpoenas, tax notices and other official correspondence. They are responsible for passing these documents along to the appropriate person at the corporation or LLC.

Corporations and LLCs must have a registered agent in each state where they are registered to do business.

Who Tin Human action as Registered Amanuensis?

Registered amanuensis requirements vary slightly from country to state, just there are a few full general rules:

The agent must take a physical street address inside the state – a P.O. box won't practise.
The amanuensis must exist available at that address during normal business hours.
In about states, the amanuensis can be an individual who is at least eighteen years one-time, or it can be a visitor that provides registered agent services.
A corporation or LLC cannot human action equally its own agent, but in most states, one of its employees or owners tin can exist the amanuensis.

Should You Be Your Company'southward Registered Agent?

Naming an employee or owner to act as registered amanuensis for your business organization can salve money on registered agent fees and can requite you the comfort of knowing that legal documents will go straight to you.

Nevertheless, interim as your own agent has numerous downsides, including:

You can be personally served with a lawsuit at your place of business, in forepart of employees and customers.
Your proper name and address will exist part of your business'south public records on file with the land. This can be a detail business if you have a dwelling house-based business organization or want to proceed your information private.
Registered agents commonly receive other documents, notices, solicitations and junk mail addressed to the business. If you don't want to sift through this mail on an ongoing ground, you might prefer an exterior agent.
If your business changes locations or if your agent leaves the company, you will need to update your registered agent data with the country. In the midst of a move or reorganization, modest business owners seldom remember to exercise this.
If you travel ofttimes or spend a significant amount of time outside the function during the workday, you're won't be available during normal business hours.
You can only act as agent in the country where you're physically located. Many businesses with a multi-state presence notice information technology easier to hire a visitor that can provide registered agent services nationwide.

Tips for Selecting an Exterior Registered Agent

Your registered agent's responsibilities don't end with accepting lawsuits and other documents on your behalf.

The amanuensis is too responsible for getting the documents into your easily promptly. If your amanuensis neglects to exercise this, you can lose a lawsuit through default or you can be subject to court sanctions for ignoring a amendment.

For this reason, it's important to cull an agent that is reputable and has a track tape for providing registered amanuensis services.

Don't proper noun your 2nd cousin just because he's agreed to do it for costless. Many states' business filing departments maintain a list of companies that provide registered amanuensis services in that state.

If you are registering to do business in multiple states, consider hiring an amanuensis that volition be able to act equally your amanuensis in all those states.

Your registered agent plays an important role: ensuring that lawsuits, court documents and notices are brought to your attention promptly, then you can deed on them and avert default judgments, fines and penalties.