Texas LLC Registered Agent
These are persons or entities that agree to accept service of process and official mailings on behalf of your Texas LLC.
When you are sued against, Service of Process or legal papers will be sent to your Registered Agent for LLC. The state may also send reminders and notices to your LLC via the Registered Agent.
A Texas Registered Agent is required to provide a normal business hours (9-5) M- F address.
You can have the address of someone at the law firm on records and designate this person as a registered agent if you wish; other states allow P, O. Box for LLC Registered Agents but not Texas No PO Box Addresses.
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Do You Need a Registered Agent in Texas?
Texas requires all business entities to have a Registered Agent when forming an LLC. Also, keep in mind that a Registered Agent has to stay on file with the state as long as you have an LLC.
Why Do You Need a Registered Agent in Texas?
A Registered Agent handles the service of process when your company is sued and will see to it that the LLC receives proof of delivery for legal documents.
Thus, all companies such as corporations and LLCs are obligated to have a Registered Agent on file with the state.
Or the Registered Agent of your LLC if you want to get someone involved in legal stuff. Texas requires an LLC to name a Registered Agent for each one so that courtroom files can be accurately served and tracked.
đź’ˇ Tip:
Choosing a professional Registered Agent Service can help keep your address private and off public records.
Who can serve as my Texas Registered Agent?
Texas Registered Agent: You have 3 options for who your registered agent will be.
- You
- A friend or family member.
- Texas Registered Agent Service
While it may be cheaper to act as your Registered Agent, doing so does have its drawbacks.
What are the risks?
If you do decide to act as your own Texas Registered Agent, there are many pitfalls you may encounter such as:
- Missing vital state notifications
- Subject to administrative dissolution
- Service of Process (Loose Legal Cannon)
The problem is worse if you:
- Move without updating your residential address with the state
- You often travel or are away from home for many hours
- No address you can trust
- Neglect to observe your mail daily
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Not posting an important notice from the state
The Secretary of State of Texas or other agencies in the state are going to need a fast way to send important notices to your business.
These notices will often require certain actions by your LLC on specific deadlines. Not meeting these deadlines could result in costly penalties and fees.
Administrative Dissolution
If your LLC is dissolved by the Texas Secretary of State, this will lead to numerous consequences.
The state does not peek at your LLC every day, but if it finds that you are overdue for renewal and unable to reach you due to an incorrect address listed on the record.
Default Judgment
The process server will make several attempts of service to your business, in case it involves an LLC lawsuit.
This indicates that the assumption from which we were referring earlier — also known as piercing of the corporate veil, it gives rise to an expectation that doing so is easier than previously believed — applies in reverse and can lead someone who has brought litigation against your LLC on his behalf defenselessly. Typically, your LLC gets slapped with a default judgment as well.
The person you are suing with your LLC does not need to defend itself in the presence of yourself. This generally ends in a summary judgment against you as well as your LLC.
Contempt of Court
If you have an LLC that is involved in a lawsuit, expect to receive a subpoena. Requesting your testimony or records.
And if you fail to reply, you can be held in contempt of court. This approach can result in fees or the issuance of a bench warrant, through which the sheriff gets your data IOR makes you go to court.
đź“ť Note:
Your Registered Agent's information is part of the public record, which means your address could appear on multiple websites.
Do YOU need to be your Registered Agent?
In Texas, you are allowed to be your Registered Agent. When there are risks, they tend to be rare and you should pay for savings with a bit more time penning the index directly.
However, there are benefits to a professional Registered Agent Service as well, such as keeping your home address private.
Texas Registered Agent Information is Public
You can just as easily appoint a friend or family member to be the Registered Agent of your LLC. However, that means the public can soon stroll up to your front door.
The information you provide in your Certificate of Formation, including the Registered Agent address, will be held on file with the Texas Secretary of State and available to anyone who wants it.
Listing your address as the LLCs Registered Agent Address will make it public and can be potentially to multiple websites.
Once this info pops up on another site – it propagates, by now your address can be slammed into Google.
We can assist in hiding your address if you do not wish for it to be publicly known.
đź”” Special Offer!
Set up your LLC with Northwest Registered Agent for $39+ state fees and get a free year of Registered Agent service.
(Discover why Northwest is a top choice check out our Northwest Registered Agent review)
Protect Our Address from Public Records
While in many cases business owners throughout Texas work from their homes, remember that the address of your Registered Agent (if you use a service) will be visible on public records via the address listed on the LLC Certificate of Formation.
Hire a Texas Registered Agent Service to keep away your residential address Your address will not necessarily appear on the public record for your Certificate of Formation (just theirs, if they are available.
Which is the Best Texas Registered Agent?
Which Texas Registered Agent is best for your business depends on a few different factors.
You:
If you meet all of the following requirements to be your Registered Agent in Texas.
- You live in Texas
- You use a Texas physical address
- Just remember, your address will be displayed on public records.
Why choose this? The same is a good option to save some money as you do not have to pay for Registered Agent Service.
Friend or Family:
Anyone Can Be Your Texas Registered Agent if you are:
- They live in Texas
- They are relatively new (not always) and have an address on a street in Texas.
- They must also be willing to disclose their address on public records.
Why choose this? That is a great thing to take advantage of if you do not live in Texas and want to save some money by skipping the Registered Agent Service hiring process.
Texas Resident Agent Service:
The price of membership with such services tends to fall in the $100-$300/year range. They will then forward the mail they receive to you or, in some cases (if digital), upload it directly to an online account.
Why choose this option? It's a good choice if you:
- Don't live in Texas
- No Friend Or Family Whose Address You Can Use
- Unavailability for normal business hours mail delivery
- Do Not Want Your Address Listed in the Certificate of Formation
đź’ˇ Tip:
Choosing a Registered Agent Service not only ensures compliance but also helps you maintain privacy and avoid legal complications.
Texas Registered Agent FAQs
Can I be my own Registered Agent in Texas?
Yes, Texas law allows you to serve as your LLC’s Registered Agent. Any consenting adult who is a Texas resident can fulfill this role, including yourself, a friend, or a family member.
Keep in mind that if you or someone else serves as the Registered Agent, their address will be listed as the Registered Office address and will be part of the public record. If you’re concerned about privacy, you can hire a Northwest Registered Agent. They offer a service that lets you use their Texas office address on your formation documents, keeping your personal information private while still meeting Texas legal requirements.
How much does a Registered Agent in Texas cost?
Hiring a Registered Agent Service in Texas typically costs between $100 and $300 per year.
If you want to save money and have an address in the state where you can be available during regular business hours, you can act as your LLC’s Registered Agent, whether it’s a home or business address.
If you lack a Texas address or prefer not to have your address on public records, consider using Northwest Registered Agent as your Registered Agent Service. They provide excellent customer service and allow you to use their address to protect your privacy.
For a comparison of Northwest and other top Registered Agent Services, check out our guide on the Best Registered Agent Services in Texas.
Can I change my Registered Agent later?
Yes, you can change your Registered Agent in Texas at any time, as often as needed.
To do so, you need to:
- File Form 401 with the Texas Secretary of State.
- Update your Registered Agent through your SOSDirect online account.
The fee for changing or updating your Registered Agent in Texas is $15.
How do I register as a Registered Agent in Texas?
You don’t need to register separately with the state to become a Registered Agent for a Texas LLC.
Simply list yourself as the Registered Agent on the Certificate of Formation, and keep a completed copy of Form 401-A with the LLC’s business records.
Can a family member be a Registered Agent in Texas?
Yes, a family member can serve as your Registered Agent in Texas, provided they meet the legal requirements.
To qualify, your family member must have a physical address in Texas (PO Boxes are not allowed) and be available at that address during normal business hours.
Can my LLC be its own Registered Agent?
No, your LLC cannot serve as its own Registered Agent in Texas.
While a Texas LLC can appoint another company (which may be another LLC, a Corporation, or any entity) as its Registered Agent, the LLC itself cannot fulfill this role. Although a few states permit LLCs to act as their own Registered Agents, Texas does not.
How do I get an LLC in Texas?
To learn how to form an LLC in Texas, follow the step-by-step instructions in our Texas LLC Certificate of Formation guide, which breaks down the entire process for you.