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Plain CharterLLC questions, short answers.

Plain meaning

What is a registered agent?

Whoever the LLC names to accept lawsuits and state notices on its behalf, reachable at an in-state address during business hours.

By the Plain Charter editorial team ·

At a glance

Same thing as
Statutory agent, resident agent or agent for service of process, depending on the state

In practice

Pick someone who will be there: the role exists so legal papers always reach the company.

How the states handle it

46 states require every LLC to name one. The others handle it differently:

  • 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".

Related answers

You will see it in these answers: LLC requirements by state, Registered agent rules by state, Foreign LLC rules by state.

Official sources and prices

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