Rhode Island Registered Agent

A Rhode Island registered agent is a person or entity authorized to accept legal mail on behalf of a business. The registered agent must accept legal documents in person at the physical address provided to the Rhode Island Department of State’s Business Services Division. The agent will then forward those documents to the affected business. You can act as your own agent if you meet the requirements, or you can appoint someone else to fill the role.

Learn more:

• Purpose of RI Registered Agents
• Rhode Island Registered Agent Requirements
• How to Find a RI Registered Agent
• Reasons to Hire Registered Agents Inc
• How to Appoint a Rhode Island Registered Agent
• How to Change a Rhode Island Registered Agent
• FAQs

Purpose of RI Registered Agents

The primary purpose of a Rhode Island registered agent (sometimes known as a resident agent) is acting as the legal point of contact for businesses they serve. Once they receive legal paperwork, the registered agent is obligated to forward it to the business in question as soon as possible. Registered agents are also responsible for accepting and forwarding other important correspondence from the state.

Rhode Island requires every entity registered with the Department of State to have both a registered agent and a registered office on file. A registered office is the physical address where a registered agent receives service of process and other important mail.

Rhode Island Registered Agent Requirements

There are two basic requirements for Rhode Island registered agents:

1. The agent has to be a Rhode Island resident or an entity registered to do business in the Ocean State.

2. The registered agent must keep a registered office at a street address within Rhode Island and be available at that address during normal business hours to accept service of process. P.O boxes and virtual business addresses aren’t permitted.

Can I be my own registered agent in Rhode Island?

You can act as your own Rhode Island registered agent as long as you’re a resident of the state with a physical address. You must also be available at that address during regular business hours Monday through Friday. Keep in mind the address you list on formation paperwork will also become part of the public record. If you aren’t fine with those conditions, it’s best to find someone else to act as your registered agent.

How to Find a RI Registered Agent

Your method for finding a Rhode Island registered agent will depend on if you want to hire an individual or an entity.

Want to hire an individual? Ask around in your business circles. You could also ask a family member or friend who you trust to handle sensitive legal documents. But make sure you don’t give the job to any random person in your orbit.

Looking for an entity? Hiring a professional registered agent service is a wise choice if you’re looking for consistent service and additional perks. If you hire us, for instance, we’ll expertly handle your legal documents and give you a free business domain name for a year.

Reasons to Hire Registered Agents Inc

When you hire Registered Agents Inc as your Rhode Island registered agent, you receive the advantages of a national operation combined with the expert knowledge of a local business. This means you get:

• Same day document uploads
  Right after we accept legal mail for your business, we start scanning it and uploading it to your secure online account. We process everything in-house as well.
• Swift notifications
  We’ll send you an email notice as soon as there’s a new document uploaded to your account and ready to view.
• Annual report filings
  Most Rhode Island businesses have to file an annual report. If you don’t, your company could lose its good standing with the state. But don’t stress, because when you hire us as your registered agent, we’ll file the annual report for you. You only have to pay the state fee.
• Local offices nationwide
  Registered Agents Inc has offices in all 50 states. That means if you want to expand to Connecticut or Massachusetts, we’ve got you covered.
• Secure online account
  After you hire us, you’ll automatically be able to access your online account. This is where we upload any legal mail we receive for your business. It’s also a place to add new services and find state-specific resources.
• Expert support
  Our customer service pros know all the particulars of business filings in Rhode Island. If you have a question, they’re happy to answer it via phone or email.

Interested in providing your own registered agent services to clients? Take a look at our Wholesale Program.

How to Appoint a Registered Agent in Rhode Island

To appoint a registered agent in Rhode Island, list their name and registered office address on your formation paperwork. If you’re forming a corporation, you’ll list your registered agent information on Articles of Incorporation. If you’re forming a Rhode Island LLC, you’ll list the information on Articles of Organization.

How to Change a Rhode Island Registered Agent

You’re allowed to switch both your Rhode Island registered agent and/or registered office. To change both at once, find the appropriate Change of Registered Agent form for your entity type and submit it to the Rhode Island Department of State. If you only want to change the registered office address, fill out the appropriate Change of Registered Office form.

The Change of Registered Agent form costs $20 to file, while there’s no charge for the Change of Registered Office form.

You can file either form online, by mail, or in person. For in-person and mail filings, use the below address:

RI Department of State
Business Services Division
148. W River St. Suite 1
Providence, RI 02904

Frequently Asked Questions