How to Find a Registered Agent for a Business

Businesses are regulated by the laws of the individual states. Each state has its own rules regarding the process of business organization, but one requirement that is uniformly present throughout is the need to have a registered agent in that state to receive "service of process," which is the legal term for the a complaint, summons or other legal document used to start a lawsuit. Whether you are starting a business and need to find a person to act as a registered agent or are suing a business and need the address of its registered agent, you can find the information on the state's corporation division website.

Instructions

Registered Agent for Your Business

1. Navigate to the corporations division of the state where the company will be registered (see the Resources section). Every state has a corporations division, bureau or department. Corporations divisions regulate and maintain records for business entities that are registered in the state, whether they are corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships or limited liability partnerships. This division is usually a part of the state's office of the secretary of state, the state department or the department of revenue.

2. Locate the list of registered agents in the section of the website that provides business resource information. Many states, such as Delaware, California and Pennsylvania (see the Resources section), keep a list of registered agents who, while not endorsed by the state, provide their contact information for the benefit of people seeking to organize a business. The registered agents also are called private service companies and commercial registered offices. If you are having difficulty finding the list of registered agents, you can locate it by using the website's search utility.

3. Record the contact information of multiple registered agents in your area. Some states require you to have a registered agent in the county in which your business is principally located. Inquire about the cost of registered agent services and choose the company that you can afford.

Registered Agent of Another Business

1. Navigate to the corporations division of the state where the company is registered. If you do not know the state in which the company is registered, contact the business and request the information.

2. Click on the link for the business entity search. This also may be called a "general information name search" or "business search." Provide the name of the business in the search field and receive a list of business names.

3. Click the link associated with the business that you're looking for, which is usually a name or a records number. Once you click the link, the name and address for the registered agent will be provided.

Tips & Warnings

• If you cannot find a list of registered agents on your state's corporation division website, the U.S. Small Business Administration recommends that you ask other business owners or your banking representative for the contact information of a registered agent.

References

• Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission: Frequently Asked Questions: Registered Agents
• Findlaw Dictionary: Process
• Pennsylvania Department of State: What is a Commercial Registered Office Provider?
• California Secretary of State: Private Service Companies
• State of Delaware: Division of Corporations: List of Delaware Registered Agents

Resources

• Business.gov: State and Local Resources
• Cornell University Law School: Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 4
• Pennsylvania Department of State: Search for a Business Entity
• California Secretary of State: Business Search
• State of Delaware: Division of Corporations: Entity Search
• U.S. Small Business Association: Newsline