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Registered Agent

Registered Agent in Washington: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

Washington requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent under RCW 23.95.405, either a commercial agent listed with the Secretary of State or a noncommercial agent, which may be an individual, an entity, whoever holds a designated position in the company, or a governmental body. RCW 23.95.455 limits the agent’s duties to forwarding process and keeping its information current, with no statutory office-hours requirement. Prior consent in a record is required, and 30 consecutive days without an agent can trigger administrative dissolution.

Registered Agent

Registered Agent in Virginia: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

Virginia requires an LLC registered agent to be either a Virginia resident who is a member, manager or officer of the company, a Virginia State Bar member, or an authorized business entity. Va. Code § 13.1-1015 sets the rules.

Registered Agent

Registered Agent in Vermont: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

Vermont LLC registered agents must hold a Vermont street address and supply an email address to the Secretary of State under 11 V.S.A. § 1655, rewritten by 2025 Act 10.

Registered Agent

Registered Agent in Utah: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

Utah LLCs must keep a registered agent with a Utah street address, and 60 days without one triggers dissolution. Utah Code § 48-3a-111 governs, and it is marked repealed effective 1 October 2026.

Registered Agent

Registered Agent in Texas: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

Texas bars an LLC from acting as its own registered agent under Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code § 5.201. The registered office cannot be solely a mailbox service or answering service.

Registered Agent

Registered Agent in Tennessee: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

Tennessee requires all entities except general partnerships to maintain a registered agent and registered office in the state at all times. The Secretary of State lists being without a registered agent among the grounds for administrative dissolution, alongside failure to file an annual report, an assumed-name conflict and returned payment. That makes a lapse riskier in Tennessee than in states where it only changes how the company is served. The Secretary of State issues service on businesses without agents under the Long Arm statutes.

Registered Agent

Registered Agent in South Dakota: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

South Dakota uses the Model Registered Agents Act at SDCL chapter 59-11, distinguishing commercial agents listed with the state from noncommercial agents, who may be individuals, entities, or whoever holds a designated position in the company. Filings must state an actual street address or rural route box number in the state. Losing an agent is not a ground for administrative dissolution. Instead, an agentless entity is served by mail to its governors by name at the address on its most recent annual report, so a stale report creates real exposure.

Registered Agent

Registered Agent in South Carolina: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

South Carolina requires every LLC to maintain an office and an agent for service of process under S.C. Code 33-44-108. Eligible agents are individual South Carolina residents, a domestic corporation, another limited liability company, or an authorised foreign corporation or company. Because the statute says “another,” an LLC cannot serve as its own agent. Failing to maintain an agent is not a ground for administrative dissolution: instead the Secretary of State becomes the agent for service under 33-44-111, so a company can be sued while still on the register.

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Registered Agent in Washington: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

Registered Agent in Virginia: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

Registered Agent in Vermont: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

Registered Agent in Utah: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

Registered Agent in Texas: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

Registered Agent in Tennessee: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

Registered Agent in South Dakota: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

Registered Agent in South Carolina: What It Is, How It Works, and Why You Need One

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