Louisiana Registered Agent: If you wish to start an LLC in Louisiana, you have to appoint a registered agent. According to Louisiana State Law, it is mandatory to have a Louisiana 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 Louisiana, and who can be a registered agent for your LLC. Read this guide carefully before you hire a Louisiana Registered Agent.
On this page, you’ll learn about the following:
What is a Louisiana Registered Agent
A registered agent (or a statutory agent or a resident agent) in Louisiana 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 Lousiana 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 Louisiana, you can go for two options, hiring an in-house registered agent or outsourcing the service.
Hiring a Registered Agent in Louisiana
You may have several options for hiring a registered agent in Louisiana. To become a registered agent, one has to meet the basic eligibility criteria. If the minimum requirements are fulfilled, anyone residing in Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana
You can choose a Louisiana 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  | $299 Per Year |
| |
 | $125 Per Year |
|
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 a Louisiana 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 Louisiana
At the time of submitting the Louisiana Articles of Organization, 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 Louisiana LLC Online Filing page and provide the information of your Registered Agent accordingly.
Appoint Registered Agent By Mail
To appoint a registered agent in Louisiana by mail, you need to download the Louisiana 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 Louisiana Articles of Organization.
Cost of a Louisiana 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 Lousiana.
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 $125 per year, but if you buy their LLC formation package at $39 + state fees, you might get a registered agent at a low cost.
How to Change a Registered Agent in Louisiana
To change the Louisiana registered agent, you must file a Change of registered agent or office by entity form. This form can be submitted to the Louisiana Secretary of State via mail, online, fax, and in person.
File Online
For online filing, you need to get the online form, which is available on the Louisiana 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 online.
Fee: $25 + $5 convenient fee for credit card payment
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 Louisiana 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: Commercial Division
P.O. Box 94125
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125
(225) 925-4704
In-person Submission: Louisiana Secretary of State
8585 Archives Ave.
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Fax: (225) 932-5314
How to Pay: The filing amount is payable to the Louisiana 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 Louisiana Need a Registered Agent Service
There are several reasons why a business should appoint a registered agent in Louisiana. Some of the most important reasons are listed below,
- Confidentiality: Having a registered agent service in Louisiana 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 Louisiana to publicly upload their address to the Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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.
Louisiana Business Laws and Registered Agent
Registered Agents are responsible for handling the business laws related to your LLC and other legal issues related to your Louisiana LLC. Every state has its own business laws. Louisiana is no exception. It has its own set of standard business laws to regulate businesses in the State. Here are some of the important business laws every business should follow in Louisiana.
Louisiana Antitrust Laws
Antitrust laws regulate and prevent anti-competitive practices in any open market by levying heavy penalties and punishment against such activities. These laws counter the formation of cartels, monopolies, or any barrier created for new entrants in the market. The Louisiana Antitrust laws prohibit any agreement or conspiracy in restraint of trade or commerce, price-fixing, scheme of arrangements executed to reduce competition in the market, and any unfair methods of competition. The State allows the filing of private lawsuits and a successful plaintiff to recover attorney’s fees as well.
Louisiana Deceptive Trade Practices Laws
The State of Louisiana aims to protect its residents from unfair business practices. Such practices mislead the consumers into investing in invaluable market products by selling them with twisted statements and lies such as false advertising. The laws specifically prohibit false advertising and odometer tampering.
The remedies for such acts include actual damages, and in case of willful violation, the offender must pay triple the amount of damages in addition to the attorney’s fees and costs; injunction, restraining order, and any other additional relief necessary to compensate the victim. In case of odometer tampering, the license of the offender may be revoked and civil penalties to be levied up to $500, and imprisonment up to 90 days.
The Registered Agents are the people who act as points of contact between your business and the State Authorities. They assist your business in ensuring compliance with all regulations and codes of the State. Hiring a registered agent in Louisiana will help you handle your business in a smooth and legally compliant manner.
How to Remove a Registered Agent for LLC in Louisiana
A registered agent for LLC in Louisiana can be removed by submitting a Notice of Change of Registered Office and/or Registered Agent with the Louisiana Secretary of State with a filing fee of $25.
As with many legal matters, the process of removing a registered agent for an LLC in Louisiana can be a confusing and convoluted process. Business owners might opt to remove their registered agent for a number of reasons, including changes to their company’s management structure or a desire to work with a different service provider. Regardless of the reason for the change, it’s critical that business owners have a clear understanding of the process involved in this undertaking.
The first step in the process is to review the original Articles of Organization for the LLC in question. That document typically outlines the instructions on how to remove or change your registered agent. Nonetheless, if the information you need is not immediately clear, reaching out to an attorney or experienced LLC applications assistant to assist would be important.
Once you have a clear understanding of the procedures required for such a change to occur, the next step is to notify your state’s Secretary of State such as in Louisiana upon any proposed or necessary changes. The Secretary of State central registry that maintains information for all businesses each year mails an annual report form that can be helpful to identify the registered agent.
Once registered by the Secretary of State, agent notification must always be given in writing with undeniable documentation as this proof confirms your credible intent, either by certified mail or hand delivery, confirming the removal action being taken and to which agent or the self-registration of the LLC if that provision is in the waiver or Articles of Organization. If hand delivered, then a receipt of verification would be required as a point of reference that is when the process begins to become about detail.
From there, the next phase requires careful attention to detail to ensure continuity for your LLC. During the transfer process, the already existing “successor” must have agreed that their office address will be in use to carry out the responsibilities required of the initial nominated agent.
While it may be forgotten in the process, it is in the interest of the LLC or owners company that follow up with your given registered agent to either reacquire this same service or cancelation of entirely justified further ensure that the switch has been noted. Does it cost so much to ensure notifications have gone through and to pursue each pledged step to ensure they have re-attributed your records in due time? Definitely not!
Getting the oil lamps ready mere 35 years ago when receiving solicitations from other states on principles of filing, notion to review and redefine would aid avoidance of possible current contradictions observed alongside registered agent service as each state’s requirement does show technical differences.
All LLC agents should serve the business unquestionably. However, should disagreements or failings emerge, don’t worry. The change for a better service could be consulted promptly yet assured to consider contract details before any rash decisions in your company’s affairs. Sloppiness and unnecessary abruptness lead to consequences and a time waste, and more often not this results mostly due to a lack of understanding clearly stated regulations.
In conclusion, removing a registered agent of an LLC in Louisiana (or whichever state) requires, among interests of your company but not limited to strict attention to detail to expedite a hitch-free process. So always consider having an advocate aid you with understanding around provisions you may end up breaking in proposed plans that continue to reduce actions to a routine, principally to fit in currents working within companies. We urge continuous routine to provide alternative choices when selecting adequate choices on which way arises changes for any nominated registered agents will add perceived quality to whoever will work outside vision margins.
FAQ
You can change the registered agent in Louisiana. To do so, you need to submit an application form and a fee of $25. Submit the RA change application form to the Secretary of State. It can be done online, by mail to the address Commercial Division, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125, or by fax, whichever provision is available for you.
Anyone who is above 18 years of age and a permanent resident of Louisiana can become a registered agent. The person must have a right to conduct business in the state. If these requirements are fulfilled, anyone can become a registered agent.
If you want to change the registered agent’s address, you have to update the new address to the Louisiana SOS. To do so, you need to submit the RA Change Form to the Louisiana Secretary of State. In the form, update the address section with the new one. You can submit it online, by mail to the address Commercial Division, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125, or by fax, whichever provision is available for you. You may pay a fee for the process.
By visiting the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website, you can find a company’s details. Go to the business search option to look for the company. Once you find it, check the registered agent details on the portal.
A registered agent in Louisiana is appointed to serve any process or notices on behalf of your company. The registered agent’s office address is used as an official address for such paperwork. Anyone who meets the requirements can be a registered agent in Louisiana.
In Louisiana, when you file your business with the Louisiana Secretary of State, then you must provide the details of the registered agent you hired. You need to enter the name, address, phone number, and date of appointing the registered agent. Once the formation is complete, your registered agent will be registered with the Louisiana SOS.
If you want to search for a registered agent’s address in Louisiana, you must search through the Louisiana SOS. Go to the website, search by the company name, and finally, look for the registered agent details. In the registered agent section, you will find the address and contact information of the registered agent in Louisiana.
To find the business name with the help of a registered agent’s name, you must visit the Louisiana SOS website. In the search option, you can enter the registered agent’s name to get the business details. You can search for the business there under the search results.
The requirement for a registered agent is the person appointed as a registered agent must be 18 years of age or older and must be a resident of the state. If both criteria are fulfilled, that person can serve as a registered agent in Louisiana.
Looking up a registered agent for a corporation in Louisiana is easy. You must go to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s portal. You can find a business by its name, tax ID, and registered agent’s name. Search a business by its name to get the registered agent information of the corporation.
The resignation process is easy for a registered agent in Louisiana. The person has to send a written notice (resignation letter) to the company first. Once the notice is accepted by the company, it has to be sent along with the resignation notice to the Louisiana SOS by mail or fax, or online to proceed further.
If you want to update the registered agent in Louisiana online, you must visit the official website of the Louisiana Secretary of State. You have to submit the RA Change Form online (if available) or by mail to update the registered agent in Louisiana.
To get a free registered agent in Louisiana, you can do a couple of things. The first thing is you become your own registered agent for your company. The second way is to make someone from your family a registered agent. Finally, if you are hiring a professional registered agent, you can look for free service providers.
In Louisiana, if you want to research the registered agent, you must visit the Louisiana SOS. You can search your business by its name to get the information. Once you get the information about the company, you can research the registered agent, his address, and contact information.
The registered agent form (business formation document) needs to be mailed to the address Commercial Division, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125. There is no separate form to appoint the registered agent. A registered agent should be appointed through the formation documents in Louisiana.
If you have a business in Louisiana, you must have a registered agent. However, if you don’t have one or your registered agent has resigned, then you need to hire/replace another one asap, or you can serve as a registered agent for your company in Louisiana.
If your registered agent representing your company dies, then the power given to him gets inactive. Companies in Louisiana need to appoint/replace another registered agent through the RA change process. You can change a registered agent by mail, online, or by fax.
It is not 100% confirmed that you can hide a registered agent’s name. Because in Louisiana, it is mandatory to have a registered agent’s name and address to be uploaded on the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website. If you run an Anonymous LLC, then you can hide owners’ and members’ names from being seen.
You need to call on this number 225-922-1000 in Louisiana to get the information about the registered agent. This is the Secretary of State’s office number in Louisiana. You might have to wait and follow the caller’s instructions to reach the department you are searching for.
Every registered agent in Louisiana has to give their consent before they start representing a business. In some cases, the registered agent has to submit the consent letter separately to the Louisiana SOS. Whereas, in some cases, they can only sign the RA change form or the formation documents to send their consent.
In Louisiana, a registered agent and a resident agent are the same designations. It is just the name that is different in different states. The process of appointing the registered agent and the resident agent is the same in Louisiana.
In Louisiana, If consent is not given by the designated person, then the company might have to face legal liabilities. It might be considered a false representation. On the other hand, the un-consented agent can deny any duty assigned to the person.
In Louisiana, a company can be sued even when there is no registered agent. The company will receive the legal notice in a different way than usual because there is no registered agent’s office to receive the documents.
An appointed registered agent can reject the designation if they want. In Louisiana, you need to sign and submit a statement of rejection to the Louisiana SOS. Once the rejection statement is accepted, you can leave the job immediately.
In Conclusion
Before you choose a registered agent for your Louisiana 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.
