Alabama Registered Agent: If you wish to start an LLC in Alabama, you have to appoint a registered agent. According to Alabama State Law, it is mandatory to have an Alabama Registered Agent if you are conducting business in the state. A registered agent receives all the official and legal documents from the State. They also receive the service of process if there’s any lawsuit in concern.
In the following guide, we have shared all the required information regarding hiring a registered agent, why you need a registered agent in Alabama, and who can be a registered agent for your LLC. Read this guide carefully before you hire an Alabama Registered Agent.
On this page, you’ll learn about the following:
What is an Alabama Registered Agent
A registered agent (or a statutory agent or a resident agent) in Alabama is an individual or a business that represents your business in receiving official documents. These official papers include formation documents, business renewal documents, tax filing, and any legal document if the LLC gets sued by other companies. All these documents go straight to the registered agent’s official address in the state. While forming an LLC, it is mandatory to appoint a registered agent.
When you file the Alabama LLC formation papers with the Secretary of State, LLCs have to mention their registered agent’s name and address. When you choose a registered agent in Alabama, you can go for two options, hiring an in-house registered agent or outsourcing the service.
Hiring a Registered Agent in Alabama
You may have several options for hiring a registered agent in Alabama. To become a registered agent, one has to meet the basic eligibility criteria. If the minimum requirements are fulfilled, anyone residing in Alabama can represent your LLC as your registered agent.
Who Can Be a Registered Agent
- The person must be above 18 years old.
- The person must have a legal and physical address in the state where the LLC will operate.
- The person must be physically present during normal working hours.
- Anyone who fulfills the above requirements can act as a registered agent.
- Recommended – You should use a professional registered agent in Alabama always.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent
Yes, you can be your own registered agent. In fact, any member of the LLC, managers, and the owner can be a registered agent. Besides, someone from the owners’ family, such as a spouse, relatives, or other family members, can also act as a registered agent. As mentioned above, anyone who is representing the business as an agent should fulfill the basic criteria.
Why You Shouldn’t Be Your Own Registered Agent
Many small businesses do not hire a registered agent to save a chunk of money. However, it is not recommended to be your own registered agent. There are a bunch of problems one has to face while being a registered agent of his own LLC. Following are some of the issues you face,
- If you are operating your business from home or you are into web business, then your home address will be shared on the public portal. This address will be used for mailing and other official purposes. This will hamper your privacy.
- A registered agent has to be physically available at the official address during working hours on working days for 52 weeks. Being your own registered agent might restrict your other work due to this.
- The registered agent’s address must be up to date in the Secretary of State portal.
It is recommended to outsource the registered agent service to ease your work as it protects your privacy, especially if you conduct your business from home. It is always wise to outsource the RA service than be your own registered agent.
Recommended: You can get the best registered agent service at a reasonable price with online LLC service providers. We recommend using –
LegalZoom – $299 Per Year
How to Choose a Registered Agent in Alabama
You can choose an Alabama Registered Agent in two ways, either you can employ an in-house RA or outsource the service. Another option is to be your own registered agent. However, it is recommended to outsource the service as it is less worrisome and hassle-free.
In-house Registered Agent
As far as the in-house registered agent is concerned, it can be anyone from the LLC, including you, or you can employ an individual for this position. In that case, your office or home address will be the Registered Agent’s office address. Every LLC has to share its principal office address, mailing address, and registered agent’s office address to the state public portal. Hiring a registered agent service will make it easier as you can use the RA’s address as a mailing address.
Outsourcing Registered Agent Service
You may also avail yourself of professional registered agent services. Doing so ensures that you will have the best service provider to represent your business. Following are the best Registered Agent services on our list that will provide you with registered agents to ease your worries.
LLC Service | Our Rating & Pricing | Top Features | Learn More |
#1 TOP PICK  | $99 Per Year |
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 | $125 Per Year |
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Note that availing of the services of professional registered agents would be your best option since you are guaranteed that whoever is handling your legal affairs knows their stuff well. If you are forming your LLC from scratch, then with LegalZoom Registered Agent, you will get the full formation package.
What to Consider While Choosing an Alabama Registered Agent
Here are some factors to consider when choosing a registered agent.
- Service Fee: Since most states require formal businesses to have registered agents, selecting the best-registered agent is critical. Hiring a registered agent typically costs between $99 and $300 annually. When you consider how much time it will save you, this is a small price to pay.
- Tenure in Business of Registered Agent: You want the registered agent to have established and time-tested procedures for handling documents. We recommend Registered Agent Services that have been in business for a long time. They are experienced and well capable of handling all your documentation.
- State Jurisdiction Limitation: If your company expands to another state, you should use the same registered agent in all states to reduce the administrative burden of dealing with multiple registered agent service providers. Check out the best Registered Agent Services to consider for this job.
- Offer Monitoring and Follow-up Services: You want to receive up-to-date information and alerts from your registered agent as soon as possible so that you are aware of the various statutes, rules, and regulations that apply to your company. Some of the service providers offer this service. Make sure to choose an RA service that includes this service.
How to Appoint a Registered Agent in Alabama
At the time of submitting the Alabama Certificate of Formation, the registered agent can be appointed by the LLC. It can be done online or by mail. No additional fee is charged for appointing a Registered Agent. Only the state filing fee should be paid.
Appoint Registered Agent Online
To appoint a registered agent online, you have to go to the Alabama LLC Online Filing page and provide the information of your Registered Agent accordingly.
Appoint Registered Agent By Mail
To appoint a registered agent in Alabama by mail, you need to download the Alabama LLC filing form (PDF). Fill up the “Registered Agent” section with appropriate details of the agent and submit it to the SOS office. For more information, read on Alabama Certificate of Formation.
Cost of an Alabama Registered Agent
The cost of having a registered agent can be variable. It depends on whether you are employing an in-house registered agent, being your own agent, or outsourcing the service. The cost of having a registered agent can start from $99 and go up to $300 per year. It will be cost-effective if you outsource the registered agent service in Alabama.
Registered Agent services that also provide LLC formation packages can provide the same service at a lower price. For example, LegalZoom offers standalone registered agent service at $299 per year, but if you buy their LLC formation package at $0 + state fees, you might get a registered agent at a low cost.
How to Change a Registered Agent in Alabama
To change the Alabama registered agent, you must file a Change of registered agent or office by entity form. This form can be submitted to the Alabama Secretary of State via mail or email. Read more on how to change a registered agent in Alabama.
File By Email
For email filing, you need to download the form, which is available on the Alabama Secretary of State portal. Fill in all the necessary information of LLC as well as current and old registered agents. This form must be completed and signed by the newly appointed registered agent and any authorized member of the LLC. The signature of the new registered agent acts like the consent to be appointed as one. Submit it via email to [email protected]
Fee: $100 + $3 per copy
(Expedited Fee: $100)
File By Mail
You can also choose to file the form through the mail. You need to download the Change of registered agent or office by entity form from the Alabama Secretary of State’s portal. Fill in all the details on your computer. The completed form is to be signed by the newly appointed registered agent. The duly signed form must be sent to the following address,
Mail to: Secretary of State,
Business Services Division,
P.O. Box 5616,
Montgomery, AL 36103-5616
How to Pay: The filing amount is payable to the Alabama secretary of state through a credit card when filing online/by email. For paper filing, you can choose to pay through money order or check.
Why Do LLCs in Alabama Need a Registered Agent Service
There are several reasons why a business should appoint a registered agent in Alabama. Some of the most important reasons are listed below,
- Confidentiality: Having a registered agent service in Alabama ensures the complete privacy of your business and related documentation. Appointing a registered agent company instead of an individual gets you privacy and confidentiality contracts beforehand.
- Up-to-date Compliance: LLCs and corporates have plenty of paperwork and compliances that are to be updated on time. With a registered agent service, you don’t have to worry about those compliances as your registered agent will maintain a compliance calendar.
- Privacy: It is mandatory for businesses in Alabama to publicly upload their address to the Alabama Secretary of State. If you are using the home address for your business, then it would not be safe to make your private address public. On the other side, appointing a registered agent service will cover you up here as they have to provide their address to the Alabama SOS and not yours.
- Availability: Every registered agent has to be available during office hours of work on business days. If you hire a registered agent service, then they can be available at the required time without harming other tasks at the company.
- Online Safe Backup: Every registered agent in Alabama or any other state usually takes online backup of all the documents and paperwork. This ensures the LLC papers are securely saved in a central system.
- Lawsuits or Summons: Getting summoned or involved in a lawsuit does not leave a good impression on the employees. With a registered agent, all the related papers will be delivered to the Registered Agent’s official address. Hence, owners do not have to receive any such papers in their office in front of their employees.
Alabama Business Laws for Registered Agents to Note
A registered agent or statutory agent is the core member of an LLC. When forming an LLC, it is imperative that business owners select a suitable agent; otherwise, they can get fined by the secretary of state. Of course, they need to go according to state regulations when selecting the agent.
Every state has different business laws, and so does Alabama. The job of the registered agent is to be present when accepting legal and tax documentation from the government as well as when lawsuits are filed. Only a resident of the state would know about the rules and provide services within the state. The following are different business laws in Alabama:
Antitrust Laws
Every company that’s in the market always considers another one as their competition. There is always a change in the price, and just so they can control the price or supply, some companies try to merge. This can lead to an unfair competitive advantage, and the antitrust laws help the other companies with that.
The civil statute of limitations laws
Every state has different statutes of limitations, and they are the basics that set the limitations on the aspects of filing lawsuits in the state. This law helps get help according to practicability and fairness. Sometimes the person can take the service, and later after some time, they get to know the mistakes of the service provider. The Alabama Civil Statute of limitation laws helps with that.
Deceptive trade practices law
This law is made to prevent people from getting into fraud due to sales tactics. Alabama has adopted this law, but the state has not adopted the full-fledged law. It is very important to know the sections that are applicable in the state too.
Interest rates laws
Many customers sign up for more credit cards or personal loans after seeing an advertisement. If you think you are getting into debt because of high-interest rates, then an attorney can be a lot of help.
How to Remove a Registered Agent for LLC in Alabama
A registered agent for LLC in Alabama can be removed by submitting Change Registered Agent form with Alabama Secretary of State along with a filing fee of $30.
How to Remove a Registered Agent for LLC in Alabama
When it comes to understanding the intricacies of managing a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Alabama, one must familiarize themselves with the role of a registered agent. A registered agent plays a critical role in ensuring that important legal documents and communications are managed effectively and in a timely manner. However, there may be instances where an LLC wishes to remove or replace its registered agent. In this editorial piece, we delve into the process of removing a registered agent for an LLC in Alabama.
Before delving into the removal process, it is essential to understand the responsibilities of a registered agent. A registered agent, often an individual or a professional entity authorized to do business in the state, accepts and forwards legal documents and official correspondence on behalf of the LLC. They are the designated point of contact for the LLC and the state, ensuring that essential official notifications, tax forms, and legal documents reach the right person within the company.
As circumstances change or needs arise, an LLC may decide to remove or replace its registered agent. Under Alabama law, there are certain formal steps that need to be followed to complete this process. The Alabama Limited Liability Company Act provides the necessary guidance for a smooth and effective agent removal.
First, it is crucial to review the LLC’s Operating Agreement, as it may specify the process and requirements for appointing or removing a registered agent. If specific provisions are outlined, it is necessary to adhere to them accordingly. If the Operating Agreement is silent on this matter, the Alabama Limited Liability Company Act comes into play.
According to the Alabama law, an LLC may typically remove and replace its registered agent by complying with the state’s filing requirements. The LLC must file a formal document called the Statement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent with the Alabama Secretary of State.
The Statement of Change form includes pertinent information such as the LLC’s name and official address, details of the new registered agent, and their respective address, including their physical location, not a post office box. After completing the form, it must be signed by an authorized person within the LLC, such as a member or manager, and filed with the appropriate filing fee. It is crucial to ensure that the information provided is accurate and up to date to guarantee a hassle-free process.
Following the submission of the Statement of Change, it is advisable to promptly notify the existing registered agent in writing about the change. This enables them to update their records and redirect any future correspondence they may receive to the newly appointed agent.
It is worth emphasizing that when removing a registered agent, the LLC should strive to consolidate information promptly. Accurate record-keeping ensures that the LLC receives critical legal documents without delay, avoiding potential complications or penalties. Failure to have an active registered agent could put the company at risk of missing crucial court summons or tax notices, harming its legal standing or financial wellbeing.
To conclude, removing a registered agent for an LLC in Alabama is a well-defined process that requires adherence to the state’s law and a prompt filling of necessary documents. Careful attention to detail and effective communication will facilitate a smooth transition to a new registered agent.
FAQ
To change the registered agent in Alabama, you need to submit the RA change application form to the Alabama Secretary of State. This can be done online, by mail to the address Secretary of State, Business Services Division, P.O. Box 5616, Montgomery, AL 36103-5616, or by fax, whichever provision is available for you. The cost to change a registered agent in Alabama is $100.
It is easy to become a registered agent in Alabama. To become a registered agent, you have to be above 18 years of age and a resident of the state. It does not require any specific educational background to become a registered agent in Alabama.
In Alabama, anyone can be a registered agent. Spouses, relatives, any member of the LLC, and yourself, anyone who fulfills the criteria, can be a registered agent. The person has to be a resident of Alabama and must be a legal adult.
To change a registered agent’s address in Alabama, you need to submit the RA Change Form mentioning the new address. The form can be submitted online, by mail to the address Secretary of State, Business Services Division, P.O. Box 5616, Montgomery, AL 36103-5616, or by fax, whichever provision is available for you. This form should be submitted to the Alabama SOS.
To find a company’s registered agent in Alabama, you must visit the Alabama Secretary of State website. You will get an option to find the business by name. If you enter the name of the company, you can select the registered agent’s name to see the details.
A registered agent in Alabama is responsible for receiving legal notices and permits and serving any process on behalf of the company. It is mandatory to have a registered agent in Alabama. You can hire a professional or can be your own registered agent in Alabama.
Registered agents can be appointed by submitting their details at the time of company registration in Alabama. The formation document has a section where you need to provide details like the name, address, and contact information of the appointed registered agent. If you are serving as a registered agent, then provide your personal information.
To search for the address of a registered agent, you need to follow these steps,
1. Go to the Alabama Secretary of State’s website
2. Search by the name of the company
3. Check the Registered agent section and the address list
This way, you’ll be able to search for the registered agent’s address in Alabama.
To search for a business in Alabama, go to the Alabama Secretary of State’s website. You will find the “Search” option. You can search for a business by its name and by the registered agent’s name. Select the “registered agent” option and enter the name of your registered agent to get the business details.
For a registered agent in Alabama, you need to fulfill 3 main criteria. The first one is you have to be aged more than 18 years. Second, you have to be a resident of the state. That is, you must have a physical street address in Alabama. Finally, you must have the right to conduct business in Alabama.
It is easy to look up a registered agent for a corporation in Alabama. To do so, you need to visit the Alabama Secretary of State’s website. Go to the Business Search option. By selecting the Look up by name, you will be able to search for a business by its name. Once you get the business, you can check for the registered agent details.
In Alabama, if a registered agent wants to resign, he/she has to send the resignation letter to the company he/she is representing. After a certain number of days, along with the resignation letter, a resignation notice should be sent to the Alabama Secretary of State to confirm the resignation of the registered agent.
To update a registered agent in Alabama online, you have to submit the RA Change Form to the Alabama Secretary of State. Not all states provide an online method of updating a new registered agent. Check the Alabama SOS website to find out if the online method is available.
You can get a free registered agent in Alabama in three ways. The first way is if you become your own registered agent. Secondly, if any one of your relatives, spouse, or friends becomes a registered agent. Finally, there are business formation companies that provide free registered agent services in Alabama.
You can easily research a registered agent in Alabama. You need to visit the official website of the Alabama Secretary of State. If you have the business name, then you can go for the option “search by name.” As you find the company details, you can research a registered agent’s details from the list.
In the state of Alabama, the registered agent form should be sent to the Secretary of State, Business Services Division, P.O. Box 5616, Montgomery, AL 36103-5616. While registering your business, you must appoint the registered agent and enter all their details on the formation documents. Then mail it to the above-mentioned address.
In Alabama, having a registered agent for your company is mandatory. However, if there is no registered agent for your company, then you might get into legal trouble. Hence, it is important to hire a registered agent (you can also be your own registered agent) in Alabama.
If a registered agent dies, your company will be left with no registered agent. In Alabama, it is necessary to have a registered agent for your company. If he/she dies, all the power will be invalid. Companies must change/replace the registered agent by notifying the SOS asap.
It cannot be said surely if the registered agent’s name can be hidden or not. In some states, it is possible to hide an LLC member or the owners’ names in the public registry. It can happen if you have an anonymous LLC. In some states, it is not possible to hide the registered agent’s name. Check the regulations of business registration in Alabama Secretary of State for this.
To get the registered agent information in Alabama, you need to call 334-242-5324. The official time of the Alabama Secretary of State is 8 am to 5 pm (central time). You can call on this number and follow the instruction to reach the division you are looking for.
A registered agent’s consent is a written notice that confirms that the registered agent is ready to represent the company. In Alabama, if you appoint a new registered agent or change the previous person, then the new person appointed must submit their consent to the SOS.
There is no such difference between a registered agent and a resident agent. In Alabama, the registered agent is sometimes called a resident agent. In most states, a resident agent is called a registered agent. A few states use the term resident agent.
If a person appointed as a registered agent in Alabama has not given his/her consent, then a legal penalty and liability can be imposed on the person who is appointing a registered agent without their consent. Besides, they have the right to deny any duty of the process.
Yes, if there is no registered agent in your company in Alabama, your LLC can still be sued. There are different ways to sue any business entity in Alabama. If there is no one to receive the legal documents, then there will be another way to sue the company.
A registered agent can accept or reject the designation in Alabama. In order to reject the designation, the person can sign the statement of rejection and submit it to the Secretary of State. The statement of rejection is available on the SOS website.
In Conclusion
Before you choose a registered agent for your Alabama LLC, compare their price and services from the table. They will be responsible for all your documentation, filings, and other LLC-related tasks. Hence, choose the best one for your business that provides 100% accurate service at a reasonable price.
