Connecticut Registered Agent (& Registered Agent Services)

What is a Connecticut Registered Agent & Is it Necessary?

An LLC cannot be formed or do business in Connecticut without first having a registered agent on file with the Secretary of State. This is required by law and the penalties can be serious. Maintaining a registered agent doesn’t just keep you in good standing. It also provides an important service.

Think of your registered agent as your ambassador to the state, handling all your LLC’s important legal, tax, and compliance information. This can either be an individual, company or registered agent service, as long as meet the state’s requirements (see below) and consent to the appointment by signing the Certificate of Organization.

As soon as they’re appointed, your registered agent must be consistently available in Connecticut to receive and act on mailed documents and service of process. Here’s what the Secretary of State’s FAQ page specifically says:

Further down the page, another Q&A describes the necessity of getting your agent’s consent:

Ensure that your LLC maintains a valid registered agent at all times, because operating without one will cause your LLC to lose its good standing with the state, and if you’re agentless for more than three months, the state can dissolve it.

What are the Requirements of a Registered Agent?

Peruse the Connecticut LLC Act and you won’t find an extensive list of registered agent requirements, but there are a few non-negotiable rules. Follow them by making sure your agent:

• Be an individual Connecticut resident or a business entity authorized to do business in the state.
• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have a physical address in Connecticut (P.O. boxes are not allowed).
• Have a mailing address in Connecticut.
• Not be the LLC itself. An LLC cannot act as its own agent, but one of its members or managers can.

Once you’ve settled on an agent that meets these conditions, whether an individual or business entity, make the appointment official by including the agent’s name, address, and signature on your Certificate of Organization. Here’s what you’ll see on the actual form:

When you’ve got potential options for your registered agent, review each one to make sure that they meet these requirements. If they do, you’re good to go! If not, you’ll need to keep looking.

Who can be a Registered Agent in Connecticut?

Connecticut’s registered agent requirements are pretty broad, so you’ll have no shortage of options. On top of that, your agent can be either an individual or a professional service. But think carefully before choosing, because each option has its own pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look.

Individual

You may choose to appoint a single person as your registered agent. Some LLC owners take on registered agent duties themselves. Others appoint one of their partners or managers. Some will even appoint a family member. As long as the proposed agent fulfills the state’s requirements, they’re a valid option.

In addition to being a Connecticut resident, your agent must not currently be establishing residency or receiving benefits in another state, even if that residency is still forthcoming.

Some smart registered agent choices include attorneys, accountants, or other LLC partners, people who understand the ins and outs of business operations. 

Pros

• Convenience – Having familiarity and mutual trust with your registered agent is extremely beneficial, and appointing an acquaintance can provide both. Plus, you’ll always know how to contact them.
• Cost – Hiring someone you know often won’t cost a dime. It’s certainly cheaper than a professional service.

Cons

• Scheduling – Part of a registered agent’s duty is being consistently available to receive mailed documents and service of process. If your agent goes on vacation or moves out of state, it will throw a wrench in your plans.
• Punctuality Risks – Some state communications and filings are very time-sensitive. If your agent is unavailable when documents are delivered, it could slow down the entire process and put you at risk for late fees and penalties. Even worse, a friend or family member could lose or misplace a document. So if you’d rather not interrogate Aunt Louise about the location of a particular tax form, you might consider using a registered agent service instead.

Registered Agent Service

If safety and reliability is your goal, hire a registered agent service. A business acting as your registered agent must be either a domestic entity in Connecticut or a foreign entity who has foreign qualified in Connecticut.

Pros

• Privacy – Some documents delivered to your registered agent will contain sensitive information. Do you want details about your lawsuit or taxes lost out there in the world? Definitely not. A friend or family member might misplace these documents, but a professional service will not. Plus, in Connecticut, all registered agent names and addresses are available to the public. This might make an individual uncomfortable, but hiring a company will keep this personal information off the record.
• Reliability – Handling and processing time-sensitive documents is a registered agent service’s specialty, its area of expertise, its main game. Hire a professional service and you can be sure that your filings will be submitted properly and punctually, so you’ll never have to deal with late fees or other penalties.
• Location – Many registered agent companies offer service in most or all 50 states, so if business is booming and you decide to expand outside Connecticut, you won’t need to find a new agent for each state.

Cons

• Cost – There’s no getting around it – hiring a service costs more than appointing an individual who’s willing to do it for free. However, for a reasonable price (roughly $100/year), you’ll receive premium services. Taking your car to a mechanic costs more than letting your neighbor try to fix it, but the mechanic gives you peace of mind that the job will get done right, and that may very well be worth the cost.

All of the other steps in the LLC formation process will keep you busy, but take some time to ensure you find a registered agent that fits with your business model, goals, and values. Do this, and your LLC will reap the benefits for years to come.

Registered Agent Changes and Resignation

You may have a wonderful registered agent, someone who takes care of everything efficiently and who you trust completely. But you know what they say: all good things must come to an end. At some point in the life of your LLC, you may need to change your Connecticut registered agent.

Making this change is fairly simple. You can accomplish the task through the Online Filing Portal or by submitting a Change of Agent form and your $50 fee payment to:

Commercial Recording Division

Connecticut Secretary of The State

P.O. Box 150470

Hartford, CT, 06115-0470

Or, you can hand-deliver your materials to 30 Trinity St., Hartford, CT 06106.

LLCs change their registered agents for a number of reasons, but the most common is an incumbent agent’s resignation.

While losing a registered agent might be anxiety-inducing, you can rest assured knowing that you’ll never be suddenly left without one. This is because state law requires a resigning agent to retain their duties until the 31st day after submitting an official resignation.

But even with this month-long cushion, don’t put off finding a replacement. Go more than three months without an agent and the state will administratively dissolve your LLC.

Have Questions or Concerns?

This guide contains almost everything there is to know about Connecticut registered agents. However, you might have a unique situation that requires additional information. Reaching out to the Connecticut Secretary of State is easy, and they’ll have the answers you need. Here’s how to go about it:

Visit Their Website

The Secretary of State’s Business Services Division website contains a ton of great information on the entire LLC formation process, including registered agents. You might find the answers you’re looking for on this helpful FAQ page.

Give Them a Call

Or, if you’d rather speak directly with a person, you can call their Hartford office at (860) 509-6002.