Oklahoma Registered Agent (Info & Registered Agent Services)

What is an Oklahoma Registered Agent & is it Necessary?

An LLC cannot be formed or do business in Oklahoma 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 they meet the state’s requirements (see below) and agree to the job responsibilities.

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

And make sure you have a valid registered agent on file at all times, because the state isn’t messing around – they will administratively dissolve your LLC if you go more than 60 days without an agent.

What are the Requirements of a Registered Agent?

Oklahoma’s requirements are fairly inclusive, so you should have no problem finding an agent that meets them. That said, you can’t just choose anyone you want. According to state law, your registered agent must:

• Be an individual Oklahoma resident or a corporation authorized for business in the state.
• Have a physical address in Oklahoma (no P.O. boxes).
• Have a mailing address in Oklahoma.

You can appoint yourself as the registered agent as long as you meet the requirements and dont mind the added responsibilities. Your LLC can even be its own agent. Take a look at what the state’s LLC Act has to say:

When you file the Articles of Organization, you’ll need to include your agent’s name and address. Here’s a screenshot of that section from the 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 Oklahoma?

Oklahoma’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 an Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma or a foreign entity who has foreign qualified in Oklahoma.

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 Oklahoma, 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 Oklahoma, 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 Oklahoma registered agent.

Facilitate this change through the Secretary of State’s Entity Filing page. You can also mail or hand-deliver a Change of Designation of Resident Agent and/or Registered Office and/or Principal Office form to:

Oklahoma Secretary of State

421 N.W. 13th St., Suite 210

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73103

Either method will cost you $25, payable by credit card or check. Online submissions will be processed in 1-2 business days and mailed ones will take 7-10. When dropping off your form in person, you can pay an extra $25 for expedited, same-day processing.

There are a number of reasons you might need to file for a change, but the most common is a registered agent’s resignation.

The good news is that you’ll never be blindsided by an agent’s departure. The state requires every resigning agent to notify their LLC at least 30 days before submitting an official resignation form. This will give you plenty of time to appoint a replacement, but make that change as soon as possible. If you spend more than 60 days without an agent on file, the state will administratively dissolve your LLC.

Have Questions or Concerns?

This guide contains almost everything there is to know about Oklahoma registered agents. However, you might have a unique situation that requires additional information. Reaching out to the Oklahoma 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 Business Services page is your go-to spot for LLC formation information, including some helpful guidance on registered agents.

Give Them a Call

Or, if you’d rather chat on the phone, reach out to their Oklahoma City office at (405) 521-3912.