Arizona Registered Agent
What is an Arizona registered agent?
A registered agent is an individual or company appointed to accept legal mail on behalf of a business. Arizona registered agents must maintain a physical address in Arizona where they accept legal mail in person. Every business entity in Arizona is required to appoint and maintain a registered agent.
What Is the Role of a Registered Agent in Arizona?
An Arizona registered agent (also called a statutory agent) serves as the legal point of contact for a business entity registered in the state. If the legal system or the state needs to get in touch with your business, they will contact your registered agent. This may mean sending mail, but it could also mean showing up in person to serve a summons or subpoena. This is why a registered agent is required to list a physical address in the state of Arizona where they’re available in person to accept documents during business hours.
What is the difference between a statutory agent and a registered agent?
There is no difference between a statutory agent and a registered agent. They serve the same function and perform the same role. The only difference between statutory and registered agents is in their names. Everything else is exactly the same.
Arizona says they use the term “statutory” because the rules for agents are laid out via state statutes such as A.R.S. §§ 10-501 and A.R.S. §§ 10-504.
Does Arizona Require a Registered Agent?
Yes. Arizona requires LLCs and corporations to designate and maintain a statutory agent in perpetuity. They must also maintain a “known place of business,” which can be the agent’s address.
If an Arizona business fails to meet the statutory agent requirement, they may be administratively dissolved by the ACC.
Can anyone be a registered agent in Arizona?
Arizona sets forth specific rules about who in the state can be a registered agent. An Arizona statutory agent can be either:
- A person
An individual statutory agent must be minimum 18 years old and live in Arizona. - A business
An entity statutory agent must have a physical AZ address and be allowed to conduct business in the state.
Can I use myself as a registered agent?
Yes. As long as you live in Arizona and are willing to put your physical address on public-facing business documents, you can be your own registered agent.
How Do I Find a Registered Agent in Arizona?
To find the right registered agent for your business in Arizona, you’ll need to do some research and decide whether you want your agent to be an individual or an entity.
If you’d prefer to designate a person as your statutory agent, you’ll want to be selective with your options. Your business partners are good alternatives if you don’t want to be the agent yourself.
If you’d rather designate an entity as your statutory agent, consider what you’d like your agent to do for you in addition to accepting service of process. Some questions to consider:
- How important is your privacy?
- Do you need a registered agent in multiple states?
- What type of document management do you need?
When you hire Registered Agents Inc as your statutory agent in Arizona, we keep your documents safe and upload them to your client account right away. Plus we have offices in every single state, so you can add service wherever you need it.
What does it mean to choose a registered agent?
Choosing a registered agent means deciding who you trust to receive your legal mail and state correspondence. This decision is an essential part of the business formation process.
How much is a registered agent in Arizona?
It depends. Designating yourself or a business partner as your registered agent in Arizona is free. Hiring a registered agent service can range from about $50 a year to a few hundred. At Registered Agents Inc, we provide expert registered agent services for $200 per year.
Steps to Appoint an Arizona Statutory Agent
Appointing an Arizona statutory agent takes two steps. They are as follows:
- Designate agent on formation documents
To appoint a statutory agent in AZ, you’ll include their name and physical address on your business formation documents. (Mailing address can be included too, if relevant.) For LLCs, you’ll include the necessary info on your Articles of Organization. For corporations, you’ll include it on your Articles of Incorporation. - Submit Statutory Agent Acceptance form
To finalize your agent appointment, you need to submit the Statutory Agent Acceptance form. The agent (if an individual) or an authorized person (if an entity) needs to fill out and sign the document. For those filing by mail, Arizona strongly recommends submitting the Acceptance with your Articles to make sure they’re processed correctly. Note: If you’re filing online, the agent will receive an email through which they can accept the appointment. No physical paperwork needs to be filed.
Prior to submitting the documents, make sure the statutory information you provide exactly matches the information the agent lists. The ACC may reject your filing if the details vary.
If you need to change your AZ statutory agent after forming your business, you’ll have another filing to complete, detailed below.
How to Change Arizona Registered Agent
Changing your registered agent in Arizona involves submitting the proper paperwork. You’ll need to file a Statement of Change, which can be done by mail or online using the state’s eCorp system.
The state notes that online filing may be more convenient than filing by mail, which requires more mindful attention to the forms, as they vary by entity type.
How do I change my LLC’s registered agent in Arizona?
The process for changing the registered agent for your Arizona LLC varies whether you’re filing online or by mail.
To change your LLC agent online:
- Log in to eCorp to access your dashboard.
- Go to “Online Services.”
- Select “Change Addresses” or “Statutory Agent.”
- Enter the name and email of your new agent, along with any other required information.
- The agent will receive an email from the state, allowing them to accept the appointment.
To change your LLC agent by paper:
- Fill out the LLC Statement of Change form. You’ll need your new statutory agent’s name and address. (If you’re changing the agent for your corporation, you’ll fill out the Corporation Statement of Change form instead.)
- Agent needs to fill out the Statutory Agent Acceptance form.
- Mail the forms, together, to:
Arizona Corporation Commission – Examination Section
1300 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Benefits of Hiring Registered Agents Inc
Registered Agents Inc provides high-end registered agent services to businesses in all 50 states, plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. Our robust registered agent service includes benefits such as:
Assistance from knowledgeable customer service representatives
Our team has expert knowledge about all things Arizona business. They can help when you have questions about filing paperwork with the ACC and can guide you toward important resources in your online account.
Access to secure online account
As a Registered Agents Inc client, let your online account take you where you need to go. Whether you need a specific state form for your Arizona LLC or need to explore the filing options for additional states, you can find it in your client account.
Option to add business formation services
When you sign up for Arizona registered agent service with us, you’ll have access to a range of additional offerings from within your online account. Such services include LLC and corporation formation in Arizona and beyond.
Office locations nationwide
We have a local office in every state. When your business grows, whether you add locations in New Mexico or Nevada, we’ll be right there with you.
If you want to offer registered agent services to your clients, check out our Wholesale Program for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a statutory agent the same as a registered agent in Arizona?
Yes. The only difference between statutory and registered agents is in their names. Everything else is exactly the same.
Is an agent the same as a lawyer?
No. Statutory agents serve a very specific function: to accept legal mail for a business. While a lawyer can act as a business’s statutory agent, attorneys and agents are not inherently the same thing.
How do I become a registered agent in AZ?
To become a registered agent in Arizona, someone needs to designate you as their agent on their business formation or Statement of Change paperwork. Then, you need to accept the appointment via the Statutory Agent Acceptance form (or online equivalent). Once those documents are accepted by the state, you’re officially a registered agent in AZ.
