Every LLC must have a registered agent by law. The registered agent is the official point of contact within the state, which is a lot of responsibility. A registered agent is mandatory for every LLC in Oregon, and you have to know who your registered agent is going to be before you create your LLC.
As the main point of contact, a registered agent receives legal documents filed through a court. Legal documents are time-sensitive so they must be processed as soon as possible. Your agent can also receive tax forms. Registered agents make sure a business is in compliance with state and federal regulatory bodies, and will be responsible for filing important documents like your Annual Report.
If there is a lawsuit, service of process is the legal procedure where a plaintiff files documents with other parties they want to bring into the lawsuit. The registered agent is the point of contact for those documents too.
Who can be a registered agent in Oregon?
Once you have chosen your registered agent, you just need to add that information to your Articles of Organization. You can either register online or print the forms from the website. The Articles of Organization is a short form, but the information must be accurate. You need to provide basic information about the business, such as the names of the owners and managers, and the name and address of the registered agent, which will be visible to the public.
You have a choice of filing online, turning in the paperwork in person, mailing the paperwork, or sending it by fax. Filing online is fastest, and mail is the slowest. If you file online, you can log on with your registry number and sign up as a new user. There is a nonrefundable $100 processing fee for filing the Articles of Organization.
It’s easy to change the information on your LLC, and keeping your information updated will ensure that you and your business are protected. The process is simple, and you have the same choices as far as how to file the paperwork.
If you decide to change agents, there is a nonrefundable $100 processing fee for filing an amendment to your Articles of Organization. There are several delivery options if you don’t want to make your changes online, and the processing times are similar to when you file the initial paperwork.
You absolutely have the right to be your own registered agent in Oregon. Your business can’t be a registered agent, but you can be the registered agent as an owner of the business. Businesses often use an owner, employee, accountant, or attorney as a registered agent. Contracting with an agent service company is a choice many businesses make for several reasons.
The registered agent must provide a street address, and your name and street address will be on all business formation documents. Some people don’t want their name on documents everyone will see. You will need to have regular hours at the business in order to accept legal mail.
While you can use anyone you choose to be the registered agent for your business, there are advantages to using a Registered Agent Service.
Your LLC needs to have a registered agent, and it is important to have an agent who can fulfill all the necessary responsibilities. The registered agent makes sure the business operates smoothly and legally, and must be available at a physical location during regular business hours. You can choose anyone you want, but using a registered agent service provides important benefits so you can pay attention to what’s important.
The law requires that a person must be appointed who has the authority to accept legal documents. Otherwise, there would be no way to know if important documents were served.
When it comes to delivering legal documents, timeliness is important. That is why a legal agent must be available at a physical address during business hours.
If your registered agent is someone in your company, and that person leaves, you could end up without a registered agent, at least for a little while. During that time, you could be subject to default judgments, fines and penalties, loss of good standing with the Secretary of State, and your business’ authority to conduct business could be revoked.
If you do not have a physical location in the state, you can use a registered agent service.
A registered agent can resign by sending a signed statement to the Corporate Division of the Secretary of State and also sending a copy to the business. The address is:
Secretary of State
Corporate Division
255 Capitol Street NE, Ste 151, Salem
OR 97310-1327
This portion of our website is for informational or educational purposes only. Tailor Brands is not a law firm, and the information on this website does not constitute legal advice. All statements, opinions, recommendations, and conclusions are solely the expression of the author and provided on an as-is basis. Accordingly, Tailor Brands is not responsible for the information and/or its accuracy or completeness. It also does not indicate any affiliation between Tailor Brands and any other brands, services or logos on this page.
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