A Maryland Registered Agent is a crucial component for legal compliance and communication—discover why having a reliable registered agent is essential for your business's success.
Having a resident agent is mandatory when forming a limited liability company (LLC) in Maryland. Below we’ll explain what the resident agent is, their duties, and the requirements to be one.
A resident agent (referred to as a registered agent in most states) is an individual or company that is chosen by the entity to receive important legal documents on behalf of the business. It’s a legal requirement for all LLCs in Maryland.
According to the Maryland Code § 4A-210, each LLC must appoint and maintain both a principal office in the state and a resident agent. The agent’s primary role is to accept service of process (legal notices, such as notification of a lawsuit) on behalf of the LLC. This position is necessary because it ensures that the correct people within an LLC are notified in the event of time-sensitive events such as service of process for lawsuits, garnishment notices against employees, notice of annual reports, and important correspondence from the state.
A resident agent in Maryland must be one of the following:
The address of a Maryland resident agent must be an actual physical location and not a Post Office Box or mailbox service. A person authorized to designate a resident agent must file a signed statement with the Department of Assessment and Taxation confirming the appointment.
Although appointing yourself as the agent might seem easiest and least expensive option, many business owners prefer to instead use a registered agent service for the following reasons:
You’ll need to name your resident agent when you complete the official paperwork with the state to form your LLC, so you’ll need to decide who your resident agent or registered agent service will be before you begin that process. The agent will also need to sign the Articles of Organization when you file.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
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