Get the fastest Massachusetts LLC formation online and rely on us to serve as your resident agent
Before you can form a limited liability company (LLC) in Massachusetts, you need to appoint an official point of contact so that the commonwealth and others can get in touch with your business, especially for legal notices that must be delivered in person. That person (or company) is called a resident agent. We’ll tell you below what the resident agent is, their duties, and the requirements to be one.
A resident agent (called a “registered agent” in most states) is an individual or other entity designated by the business to receive important legal documents on behalf of the business.
Under the Massachusetts Statutes Chapter 156C, Section 5, all LLCs must appoint and maintain an office, which may (but doesn’t have to) be its place of business in the commonwealth, and a resident agent. The agent’s primary role is to accept legal documents 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, a notice of annual reports, or notifications of taxes.
A Massachusetts resident agent in Massachusetts must be one of the following:
Serving as your own resident agent can cause problems, which is why registered (resident) agent services are popular. Here are some reasons to consider hiring a service to act as a resident agent.
You’ll need to name your resident agent when you complete the official paperwork with the commonwealth of Massachusetts to form your LLC, so you’ll need to decide who your resident agent or registered/resident agent service will be beforehand. Of course, you need to be sure to inform whomever you’re appointing and get their permission to serve in that role.
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.
Massachusetts Business Resources
Get a Registered Agent in These States
Start an LLC in Your State
Get Your Massachusetts Registered Agent
Start Your LLC Today
Services
Company