What is a Registered Agent?
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Registered Agent
An Alabama Registered Agent provides various services, such as accepting formal documents and correspondence from the Alabama Secretary of State (AL SOS). Your LLC must have an Alabama Registered Agent at all times. You appoint one when you first start your business. You can also replace your existing agent after formation, provided there is no period during which your business is without a Registered Agent.
Registered Agent Requirements
- Every LLC, whether foreign or domestic, must have a Registered Agent with a registered office within the State of Alabama at all times.
- The Registered Agent can be a domestic or foreign (licensed to transact business in the state) artificial legal entity (corporation, LLC, LP, or LLP), or a natural person.
- If the Registered Agent is a company, they must be authorized to conduct business in Alabama.
- If the Registered Agent is a person, they must live in Alabama.
- The Registered Agent must be available in person to sign for any correspondence during regular business hours.
- The Registered Office must be located in the state of Alabama at a street address (a P.O. Box is not acceptable)
The address for your Alabama Registered Agent does not need to be the same as your business address. Important: A virtual mailbox is not a replacement for a Registered Agent. They perform two separate functions and per state law, you are required to have a Registered Agent.
What an Alabama Registered Agents Do
A Registered Agent’s primary function is to accept official correspondence and documentation, including but not limited to:
This includes:
- Correspondence from the AL SOS
- Service of process notices (e.g., if your LLC is sued or required to appear in court)
- State and federal government correspondence and notices
- Tax forms and requests to complete permits, company filings and reports
Having a Registered Agent also allows you to prove to the state that your business exists.
Bizee Provides Free Alabama Registered Agent Service for the First Year
Bizee provides complete Alabama Registered Agent service for any LLC formed in the state. Even better, if you form your LLC through Bizee, your Registered Agent is completely free for the first year and only $119 a year after that. Bizee is authorized to conduct business in Alabama and able to legally act as your Registered Agent. Here’s what our Alabama Registered Agent services include
- A digital dashboard where you can access, store and retrieve any information we’ve received for your business
- An always-available Florida Registered Agent who can receive correspondence, documents, and legal proceedings on your LLC's behalf
- Email notification whenever we receive documents for your business
- Automatic forwarding of all legal correspondence, documentation and information directly to you
Appointing a Registered Agent for Your LLC
When you're forming an LLC in Alabama, you must appoint a Registered Agent at that time. You can change the agent at any time after that. Here’s how.
Assign a Registered Agent When You Form Your LLC
Your business needs to have a Registered Agent as soon as it’s formed. You can do this two ways:
File Your Certificate of Formation with the AL SOS
When you create your business, you must include your Registered Agent's information in your Certificate of Formation.
Get a Free Registered Agent When You Create Your LLC with Bizee
If you form your business through us, you’ll get our Registered Agent Service free for one year. We’ll use the information you provide to complete and file your Certificate of Formation for you.
Assign a New Registered Agent After Formation
You can also change your FL Registered Agent after you’ve formed your LLC. There are a couple of ways to achieve this.
Choose a New Registered Agent Service and File a Form with the AL SOS
Once you’ve chosen a new Registered Agent, complete the Change of Registered Agent of Registered Office by Entity form available on the AL SOS website. Once you’ve filled it out, mail it to the Secretary of State with a filing fee of $25 so they can update your records.
Sign up for Bizee’s Registered Agent Service and We’ll File the Change on Your Behalf
When you use our Registered Agent service, we take care of all the form filling and filing for you. We’ll collect the pertinent information about your business, complete the form and send it to the AL SOS on your behalf. We’ll notify you when we officially become your Registered Agent.
Alabama Registered Agent Search
In some situations, you might want to know the name of the Registered Agent that represents another LLC in Alabama. If you do, you can search the business database of the Alabama Secretary of State. If the Registered Agent isn’t available in the database, you can request it through the Alabama Secretary of State.
What Happens If You Don’t Have a Registered Agent?
If you don’t assign or provide details of a Registered Agent to the Alabama Secretary of State, there may be several possible consequences, such as:
- Getting sued or served and not knowing about it. You could lose to a default judgment in your absence if your LLC is sued and you don’t respond.
- Losing your status as an LLC in Alabama. A Registered Agent “proves” to the state that your business exists. Without it, your business could be vulnerable to being dissolved.
- Falling out of good standing with the Secretary of State. The state is allowed to revoke your right to do business if you don’t respond to certain correspondence (such as the request for your annual report).
Acting as Your Own Registered Agent
If you have a physical address in Alabama, you can be the Registered Agent for your LLC. We don’t recommend this approach as there can be some negative consequences:
- The Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Alabama. If you’re forming an LLC outside the state, you’ll need to use an in-state Registered Agent
- Someone must always be available during business hours at the Alabama address to sign for important documents.
- The Registered Agent’s name and address are part of the public record and available through the Secretary of State's website. If you prefer your name and address not be published, you should choose a Registered Agent service.
- If you change your business address or move out of state, you need to file additional documentation with the Secretary of State for the new address. This won't be necessary if you use a Registered Agent service, making a move or address change much simpler.
Other Useful Resources
FAQs About Alabama Registered Agent Service
Do I Need to Appoint an Alabama Registered Agent?
Yes. All LLCs in the state are required to have a Registered Agent. This is mandated by the Alabama Secretary of State. You'll find more details above.
When Do I Need to Assign an Alabama Registered Agent?
You must assign a Registered Agent when you form your Alabama business with the Secretary of State. You can change your agent afterward by filing the correct form. If you form your business through Bizee, we’ll file all the necessary forms on your behalf. You'll find more information above.
Can I Be My Own Alabama Registered Agent?
Yes, but we don’t recommend it for the reasons listed above.
Does the Registered Agent for My Alabama-Based LLC Need to Have an Address in Alabama?
Yes. And if you use a company as your Registered Agent, that company must be legally able to conduct business in your state. You'll find more information above.
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