California registered agent requirements

All California LLCs and corporations, both domestic and foreign, are required by California statute to designate a registered agent for service of process. In California, a registered agent may be 1) an individual over the age of 18 who resides in California or 2) a registered corporate agent qualified with the California Secretary of State. The requirement for an agent for service of process also extends to limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships doing business in the state.

One of the main duties of the registered agent is to receive, at a registered office, legal documents that provide notice of a court action, as well as other documents that are required or permitted by law to be served on the entity. The address for the registered office must be a physical street address in California. P.O. boxes are not permitted.

Failure to appoint and maintain a registered agent can lead to an LLC or corporation being deemed to not have the authority to transact business within the state, which means that the entity will lose certain rights and privileges. The LLC or corporation may not be able to file a lawsuit or do business in other states, and eventually be administratively dissolved.

CT Corporation representatives are easy to contact and handle requests efficiently, professionally and courteously. Ever since we incorporated, we’ve turned to CT Corporation for the corporate services we need in order to grow our business.
Cynthia Weaver Naughton, SandsPoint Capital Advisors LLC

What to look for when choosing a California registered agent

A California registered agent should be able to provide your domestic or foreign LLC or corporation with reliable and professional service. The agent must be available and physically present at the registered office during normal business hours to ensure that any hand-delivered legal documents, such as services of process, are received and handled in an appropriate and timely manner.

A corporation or LLC in California can still be sued even if it does not have a registered agent to receive notice. By not handling legal documents promptly and properly, your company has less time to prepare and risks a default judgment.

Your California registered agent should have expert, up-to-date knowledge in the state’s business formation law and in other areas of business entity compliance. Staff should be trained in the proper handling of legal documents. There should be well-developed processes for delivering crucial notices to you, as well as follow-up protocols regarding delivery.

Another consideration is if you plan to expand into other states. As the appointment of a registered agent is a common requirement for foreign qualification, you may want to consider having a provider with national coverage.

Why choose CT Corporation as your registered agent service provider in California?

CT Corporation's reliable, professional registered agent services help ensure that a California LLC or corporation won’t miss a critical filing, endanger its good standing, or lose the right of your business to defend itself in court. You’ll benefit from monitoring tools and services that provide insight into your business compliance. With CT Corporation, you can have confidence in knowing that you’re staying on top of your company’s compliance obligations.

CT Corporation provides registered agent services in all 50 states and D.C., and offers a full range of compliance services — such as formation, business license, and annual reports — for LLCs, corporations, and other business entities.
Record your registered agent information with the California Secretary of State’s office — essential for keeping your business in good standing
Receive state documents and legal notices, including service of process and wage garnishment notices, and promptly relay them to your designated contacts — so nothing gets overlooked
Monitor laws and regulations — making sure you aren’t caught off guard by changes
Designate a specific team to serve as your go-to resource for answers to your questions — meaning, you won’t get the round around
Customize your registered agent services if you wish to include alerts of upcoming deadlines and forwarding of business documents — so you’ll have less to manage

Safeguard your business with America's most reliable registered agent service

Registered Agent package options:

Products

Registered agent services

Easily appoint your registered agent online within 10 minutes

Order Online - $374*

  • Registered agent services - includes a registered agent location within the state to receive legal and critical business communications and a dedicated team to receive and route all service of process legal notifications

  • Online portal - compliance portal to keep your business compliant 24/7

  • Name availability check - verification and reservation of desired business name within the state

    Not included

  • Incorporation services - completion and filing of all legal documents and Articles of Incorporation with the state

    Not included

  • Qualification services - preparation and filing of all qualification documents with the state

    Not included
Registered agent and incorporation filing

Our incorporation experts are here to help you start your business with a solid and smart foundation

Order Online - $884 +state fees*

  • Registered agent services - includes a registered agent location within the state to receive legal and critical business communications and a dedicated team to receive and route all service of process legal notifications

  • Online portal - compliance portal to keep your business compliant 24/7

  • Name availability check - verification and reservation of desired business name within the state

  • Incorporation services - completion and filing of all legal documents and Articles of Incorporation with the state

  • Qualification services - preparation and filing of all qualification documents with the state

    Not included
Registered agent and qualification filing

Legally register an existing business in another state

Order Online - $907 +state fees*

  • Registered agent services - includes a registered agent location within the state to receive legal and critical business communications and a dedicated team to receive and route all service of process legal notifications

  • Online portal - compliance portal to keep your business compliant 24/7

  • Name availability check - verification and reservation of desired business name within the state

  • Incorporation services - completion and filing of all legal documents and Articles of Incorporation with the state

    Not included

  • Qualification services - preparation and filing of all qualification documents with the state

CA Registered Agent FAQs
  • What is a CA registered agent for an LLC or corporation?

    A California registered agent for service of process, also known as a registered corporate agent, is designated by a filing entity (such as an LLC or corporation) to receive any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served on the entity. Beyond alerting you to deadlines and court proceedings, some professional registered agents can also manage other documents for you at an incremental cost.

    Examples of documents received by a registered agent:

    • Service of process in connection with a lawsuit against the LLC or corporation
    • Notice of garnishment proceedings against an employee
    • Litigation documents once the lawsuit is underway, including motions or requests to produce documents
    • Legal notices
    • Government correspondence, such as notices concerning compliance requirements
  • How do I appoint CT Corporation as my registered agent in California?

    Businesses must provide information on an appointed California registered agent at the time of filing Articles of Incorporation or Organization with the state. Businesses must also include registered agent information in the initial and subsequent Statement of Information filings.

    You can easily appoint CT Corporation as your Registered Agent by contacting us or ordering online. The checkout process takes less than 10 minutes, and you will immediately receive the agent address. Our compliance specialists are also available on the phone to answer your questions and assist with your registered agent needs.

  • How do I change my registered agent in California?
    Changing the name or address of your registered agent for service of process in California requires filing the proper documents with the California Secretary of State’s office. If you wish to change your current registered agent, CT Corporation makes it easy to switch. Visit Change of Registered Agent to learn more.
  • Do I need a registered agent in California?
    Like most other states, California law requires domestic legal entities and foreign registered entities such as LLCs and corporations to appoint and maintain a registered agent and office in order to receive process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served on the entity. Your registered agent is responsible for receiving service of process and legal mandates for your company and promptly relaying them to the correct, designated individuals.
  • What happens if I don’t have a registered agent in California for my LLC or corporation?
    California requires entities such as LLCs and corporations to appoint and maintain a registered agent. Failure to do so can cost your company its good standing. This means you could lose the ability to secure loans and initiate lawsuits in the State of California. Not maintaining a California registered agent can endanger your limited liability protection.
  • If I don’t have a registered agent, can I still be sued in California?
    A California corporation or LLC can still be sued even if it does not have a California registered agent to receive service of process. The court can obtain jurisdiction in another manner, but the corporation or LLC may not have timely notice of the lawsuit in order to mount a defense.
  • Can I be my own registered agent in California?

    California allows individuals and business entities to be registered agents. Individuals must be 18 or older and reside in the state. Entities must have an active California filing or registration. A business entity cannot act as its own agent for service of process. The name and physical street address of the registered agent (where individual or legal entity) is a public record.

    However, there are significant responsibilities to consider. Failure to perform the duties of a registered agent successfully can have serious adverse consequences for the corporation or LLC. For example, the improper handling of a service of process may eventually result in a default judgment. Having a professional registered agent ensures that potential scenarios such as personal emergencies, vacations, and meetings do not result in the missed delivery of these important documents to the corporation or LLC. 

  • What is wage garnishment?

    If your LLC or corporation has employees, a wage garnishment is the type of court order or official notice it is likely to receive. State and federal courts and agencies can order an employer to garnish an employee’s wages.

    Federal law, for example, allows federal agencies to garnish the wages of individuals, for child support, tax liens, student loans, and consumer debt. Employers can be penalized for failing to comply with wage garnishment orders. For this reason, it’s very important to ensure you have a professional registered agent handling its service of process. Approximately 7% of U.S. employees have their wages garnished, and if your company receives a garnishment and fails to take action in time, your company can be liable for the amount its employees owe.

  • What is service of process?
    Service of process is the procedure used to notify a person or entity that a legal action has been initiated against them. Service of process is governed by state or federal rules or statutes. Common methods used to serve process include personal delivery, certified mail, return receipt requested, and leaving the documents at a person’s dwelling or abode with a person of suitable age and discretion. Service of process on a corporation or LLC can be made on certain officers or agents, including the corporation or LLC’s registered agent.
I strongly recommend CT Corporation as a reliable corporate compliance partner.
Walters-Morgan Construction, Inc.
Responsive, great, and knowledgeable customer service.
Children International
Business compliance requires global expertise. Expect more.
Trust CT Corporation to navigate compliance anywhere you do business.
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*State fees are mandatory fees imposed by the state. Price includes online discount automatically applied at checkout. Discount is for new customers only.
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