A Virginia Registered Agent will
provide various services, such as
accepting formal documentation and
correspondence from the VA State
Corporation Commission.
Your
corporation must have Virginia
Registered Agent services 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.
Requirements for a Registered Agent in Virginia
- Every corporation, domestic or foreign, must have a Registered Agent with a registered office within the State of Virginia 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 Virginia.
- If the Registered Agent is a person, they must live in Virginia.
- 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 Virginia at a street address (a P.O. Box is not acceptable).
The address for your Registered Agent
in Virginia doesn't need to be the
same as your business address. In
fact, you can use a
Virginia virtual mailbox
for your business address.
Important:
A virtual mailbox is not a replacement
for a Registered Agent. They perform
two separate functions and per VA
corporation law, you are required to
have a Registered Agent.
What Virginia Registered Agents Do
A Registered Agent’s primary function is to accept official correspondence and documentation, including but not limited to:
- State and federal government correspondence and notices
- Service of process notices (e.g., if your corporation is sued or required to appear in court)
- Correspondence from the VA State Corporation Commission (SCC)
- 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 Virginia Registered Agent Services for the First Year
Bizee provides complete Virginia
Registered Agent services for any
corporation formed in the state. Even
better, if you form your corporation
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
Virginia and able to legally act as
your Registered Agent. Here’s what our
Virginia Registered Agent services
include:
Email notification whenever we receive documents for your business
A digital dashboard where you can access, store and retrieve any information we’ve received for your business
An always-available Registered Agent who can receive correspondence, documents and legal proceedings on your corporation's behalf
Automatic forwarding of all legal correspondence, documentation and information directly to you
Appointing a Registered Agent for Your Corporation
When you're forming a Virginia State corporation, 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 Corporation
Your business needs to have a Registered Agent as soon as it’s formed. You can do this two ways:
When you create your business, you must include your Registered Agent's information in your Articles of Incorporation.
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 Articles of Incorporation for you.
Assign a New Registered Agent After Incorporation
You can also assign someone else as your Registered Agent in Virginia after you’ve incorporated. There are a couple of ways to do this.
Once you’ve chosen a new Registered Agent, you can make the change online via the Clerk's Information System or request a paper form from the SCC on their website. Once you’ve made the change, the SCC will update their records. There is no fee for this service.
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 Virginia SCC on your behalf. We’ll notify you when we officially become your Registered Agent.
VA Registered Agent Search
In some situations, you may need to
know the name of the Registered Agent
that represents other VA corporations.
You'll find this information in the
Clerk's Information System.
If you can’t find the
Registered Agent information there,
you can request it from the State
Corporation Commission.
What Happens If You Don’t Have a Registered Agent?
If you don’t assign or provide a Registered Agent's details to the State Corporation Commission, you may be subject to certain ramifications, including but not limited to:
- Getting sued or served and not knowing about it. You could lose to a default judgment in your absence if your corporation is sued and you don’t respond.
- Losing your status as a corporation in the state. A Registered Agent is evidence to the state that your business exists. Without it, you could lose your business entity protections and your corporation may be dissolved.
- Falling out of good standing with the Virginia SCC. The state may revoke your right to do business if you don’t respond to certain correspondence (such as a request for your annual report).
Acting as Your Own Registered Agent
You can be the Registered Agent for your Virginia corporation if you have a business office in the state. There can be some drawbacks to this approach:
- The Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Virginia. If you’re forming a corporation outside the state, you’ll need to use an in-state Registered Agent.
- Someone must always be available during business hours at the Virginia address to sign for important documents.
- The Registered Agent’s name and address are part of the public record and available through the VA Clerk's Information System. If you prefer to keep your name and address private, you should use a Registered Agent service.
- If you change your business address or move out of state, you need to file additional documentation with the State Corporation Commission 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 Virginia Registered Agents
Yes. All business entities are required to have a Registered Agent. This is mandated by the VA State Corporation Commission. You'll find more information above.
You must assign a Registered Agent when you form your business with the State Corporation Commission. 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.
Yes, but we don’t recommend it for the reasons listed above.
Yes. And if you use a company as your Registered Agent, that company must be legally able to conduct business in the state. You'll find more information above.
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