How Can I Find A Company's Registered Agent Name In Texas

When you form a corporation or an LLC, yous'll be asked to proper name a registered agent. But what's a registered agent and what do y'all demand to know to choose one?

If you're forming a corporation or a express liability company, you'll need to select a registered amanuensis for your business and provide the agent's proper noun and address on the germination documents you file with the state.

Here'southward what yous need to know before you cull 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, information technology must exist mailed.

To make it easier to determine who should receive a lawsuit confronting a corporation or LLC, all states crave business entities to keep the name and address of a registered agent on file.

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

Depending on the state you're in, the registered amanuensis may likewise be called a "statutory agent." The agent's business organisation address may be chosen a "registered office," and the legal documents the amanuensis accepts may be referred to as "process."

In improver 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 accept a registered agent in each state where they are registered to do business.

Who Tin can Deed as Registered Amanuensis?

Registered agent requirements vary slightly from country to land, but at that place are a few general rules:

The agent must have a concrete street address within the state – a P.O. box won't practise.
The agent must be available at that accost during normal business organisation hours.
In most states, the amanuensis tin be an private who is at least 18 years onetime, or it can be a company that provides registered agent services.
A corporation or LLC cannot act as its own amanuensis, but in most states, one of its employees or owners can be the agent.

Should You Be Your Company'south Registered Agent?

Naming an employee or owner to act as registered agent for your business can salve coin on registered agent fees and tin can give you the comfort of knowing that legal documents will get directly to you.

However, acting every bit your own agent has numerous downsides, including:

You can be personally served with a lawsuit at your place of business concern, in front end of employees and customers.
Your name and address will be part of your business's public records on file with the land. This tin be a particular concern if you have a home-based business or want to keep your information private.
Registered agents commonly receive other documents, notices, solicitations and junk mail service addressed to the business. If you don't want to sift through this mail on an ongoing footing, you might prefer an outside agent.
If your business changes locations or if your amanuensis leaves the visitor, you will demand to update your registered agent information with the state. In the midst of a motility or reorganization, small business owners seldom retrieve to practice this.
If you travel frequently or spend a meaning corporeality of time outside the office during the workday, you're won't exist available during normal business hours.
You tin merely act as amanuensis in the state where you're physically located. Many businesses with a multi-state presence discover information technology easier to hire a company that tin provide registered agent services nationwide.

Tips for Selecting an Outside Registered Agent

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

The amanuensis is also responsible for getting the documents into your hands promptly. If your amanuensis neglects to do this, y'all can lose a lawsuit through default or you can be subject to court sanctions for ignoring a subpoena.

For this reason, it'south important to choose an agent that is reputable and has a runway record for providing registered amanuensis services.

Don't name your second cousin just because he'south agreed to do it for gratuitous. Many states' business filing departments maintain a list of companies that provide registered agent services in that state.

If you lot are registering to do business organization in multiple states, consider hiring an agent that will exist able to act as your agent in all those states.

Your registered amanuensis plays an important role: ensuring that lawsuits, courtroom documents and notices are brought to your attending promptly, then you tin can act on them and avoid default judgments, fines and penalties.