Rhode Island Registered Agent Services
The Rhode Island Secretary of State requires every LLC to have a Registered Agent. Once you have assigned a Rhode Island Registered Agent, they can receive official correspondence and documents on behalf of your business. Registered Agents can be individuals or other specialized Registered Agent service businesses.
Your LLC must have a Registered Agent at all times. You can appoint a Registered Agent when you first start your business. You can also replace your existing Registered Agent at a later date, provided there is a smooth transition between the old and new Registered Agent service.
Rules for Rhode Island Registered Agents
There are certain rules that you must follow when you’re appointing a Rhode Island Registered Agent service for your business. They are:
- If the Registered Agent is a person, they must reside in Rhode Island.
- If the Registered Agent is a business, they must be able to conduct business in Rhode Island.
- The Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Rhode Island, not a P.O. Box.
- The Registered Agent must be available in person during normal business hours to sign for any correspondence.
Note that the Registered Agent address does not need to be the same as your Rhode Island LLC business address.
Services Provided by a Rhode Island Registered Agent
Your Rhode Island Registered Agent carries out several valuable services for your business. They accept official communications and documents from the Secretary of State on your behalf. This may include:
- Correspondence from the Rhode Island Secretary of State, like a notice to file reports and other forms
- Service of process documents (for example, if your Rhode Island LLC has legal proceedings issued against it)
- Official Rhode Island and federal government documents, form filings and requests for information (including taxes, permits and company filings)
The Incfile Registered Agent Service for Rhode Island LLCs
If you have an LLC that’s incorporated in Rhode Island and you need a Registered Agent, we can help. Incfile provides a complete Registered Agent service for any Rhode Island business. If you form your business through Incfile, we’ll act as your Registered Agent free for your first year (normally a $119 annual cost).
We are authorized to conduct business in Rhode Island and can legally act as your Registered Agent.
Here’s what you need to know about Incfile’s Registered Agent service:
- An always-available Rhode Island Registered Agent who can receive correspondence, documents and legal proceedings on your LLC’s behalf
- A digital dashboard where you can access, store and retrieve any information we’ve received for your business
- Email notification whenever we receive documents for your business
- Automatic forwarding of all legal correspondence, documentation and information directly to you
How to Appoint a Rhode Island Registered Agent for Your LLC
You can appoint a Registered Agent when you first incorporate your Rhode Island LLC or at any point after that. Here’s how to go about it.
Assign Your Registered Agent When You Form Your RI LLC
Your business needs to have a Rhode Island Registered Agent Service as soon as it’s formed. You can achieve this through one of the following methods.
File Articles of Organization with the Rhode Island Secretary of State
You will need to include details of your Registered Agent in your Articles of Organization. This is the form that you file with the Secretary of State to formally create your business.
Incorporate Through Incfile and Get a Free Rhode Island Registered Agent
When you incorporate through us, we complete and file your Articles of Organization based on the information you’ve provided. Additionally, we give you a free Rhode Island Registered Agent service for the first year, and we’ll include details of your Registered Agent in the form that we file.
Incorporate your business through IncfileChange Your Registered Agent After Your LLC Is Formed
You can also change your Registered Agent service after you’ve formed your LLC. There are a couple of ways to achieve this.
Choose a Registered Agent Service and File a Statement of Change with the Rhode Island Secretary of State
Once you’ve chosen a new Rhode Island Registered Agent, you can complete a “Statement of Change” form that’s available on the RI Secretary of State website. Once you’ve filled it out, send it to the Secretary of State so they can update your records.
Sign Up for Incfile’s Rhode Island Registered Agent Service and We’ll File the Change on Your Behalf
When you choose to use our RI Registered Agent service, we take care of all the form filling and filing for you. We’ll collect important information about your business, complete form “Statement of Change” on your behalf and send it to the Rhode Island Secretary of State. We’ll let you know once we officially become your Registered Agent.
Order Incfile's Rhode Island registered agent serviceRI Registered Agent Search
In some situations, you might want to know the name of the Registered Agent that represents another Rhode Island LLC. If you do, you can search the business database of the Rhode Island Secretary of State, which will often provide details of a specific business’s Registered Agent.
If the Registered Agent isn’t available from the searchable business registry, contact the Rhode Island Secretary of State requesting the information.
The Risks When You Don’t Appoint a Rhode Island Registered Agent Service
What happens if you choose not to assign or provide details of a Registered Agent to the Rhode Island Secretary of State? There are several possible ramifications, including:
- Getting served or sued and not finding out about it: If your LLC is sued and you don’t know about it, you could lose to a default judgment in your absence.
- Falling out of good standing with the Rhode Island Secretary of State: If you don’t respond to certain correspondence (like the request for your annual report), certain states may revoke your right to do business.
- Losing your status as a Rhode Island LLC: A Registered Agent “proves” to the state that your business exists. Without it, you could lose your business entity protections and your Rhode Island LLC may be dissolved.
You Can Appoint Yourself as Your Own Rhode Island Registered Agent
If you have an address in Rhode Island, you can choose to be the Registered Agent for your LLC. We don’t recommend this approach as there can be some drawbacks:
- The Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Rhode Island. If you’re forming an LLC outside RI, you will need to use an in-state Registered Agent.
- You always need to have someone on hand during business hours at the Rhode Island address to sign for important documents.
- The Registered Agent’s name and address are part of the public record and available through the Rhode Island Secretary of State's website. If you prefer your name and address aren’t published, you should choose a Registered Agent service.
- If you change your Rhode Island business address or move out of state, you need to file additional documentation with the RI Secretary of State for the new address if you act as your own Registered Agent. This would not be the case if you use a Registered Agent service, making a move or address change much simpler.
FAQs About Rhode Island Registered Agents
Yes. All RI LLCs are required to have a Registered Agent. This is mandated by the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
You can either do it when you incorporate your Rhode Island business through paperwork filed with the Secretary of State or afterward by filing the correct form. If you form your business through Incfile, we will file all necessary forms on your behalf.
Yes, but we don’t recommend it for the reasons listed above. If you still want to be your own Registered Agent, you need to fill in the correct forms and pay a fee to the Rhode Island Secretary of State.
Yes. Additionally, if they are a business providing Registered Agent services, they must be legally able to conduct business in your state.
Useful Resources for Rhode Island Registered Agent Services
You might find these resources helpful:
