Your CT Registered Agent provides various services, including the acceptance of formal documents and correspondence from the Connecticut Secretary of State (CT SOS).
Your LLC must have a Registered Agent at all times. You must appoint one when you first start your business. You can also replace your existing CT Registered Agent at a later date, provided there is a smooth transition between the old and new agents.
Connecticut Registered Agent Requirements
- Every domestic and foreign LLC must, at all times, maintain a Registered Agent with a registered office within the State of Connecticut.
- The Registered Agent can be either a natural person or a domestic or foreign (licensed to transact business in this State) artificial legal entity (Corporation, LLC, LP or LLP).
- The registered office must be located at a street address (a P.O. Box alone is not acceptable) within the State of Connecticut.
- If the Registered Agent is a person, they must reside in Connecticut.
- If the Registered Agent is a business, they must be able to conduct business in Connecticut.
- The Registered Agent must be available during normal business hours to sign for any correspondence.
Note that the address for your CT Registered Agent does not need to be the same as your Connecticut LLC business address. In fact, it shouldn't be as your LLC is not permitted to act as its own Registered Agent.
Important: Connecticut mandates that you must confirm or update your Registered Agent information in your annual report.
What a Connecticut Registered Agent Does
A Registered Agent's primary function is to accept official documents and correspondence on behalf of your business.
This includes:
- Correspondence from the CT SOS
- Service of process notices (e.g., if your LLC is sued or required to appear in court)
- Official state and federal government correspondence and notifications
- Tax forms and requests to complete permits, company filings and reports
Having a Registered Agent also provides proof to the state that your business exists.
Incfile Provides Free Connecticut Registered Agent Service for the First Year
Incfile provides complete Connecticut Registered Agent service for any LLC formed in the state. Better yet, if you start your business through Incfile, your Registered Agent is completely free for the first year and only $119 a year after that.
Incfile is authorized to conduct business in Connecticut and can legally act as your Registered Agent. Here’s what the Incfile Registered Agent service provides:
An always-available CT Registered Agent who can receive correspondence, documents and legal proceedings on your LLC’s behalf
A digital dashboard where you can access, store and retrieve any information we’ve received for your business
Email notification whenever we receive documents for your business
Automatic forwarding of all legal correspondence, documentation and information directly to you
Appointing a Registered Agent for Your LLC
When you first form your LLC, you must appoint a Registered Agent. You can change it at any point after that. Here’s how to go about it.
Assign a Registered Agent When You Form Your LLC
Your business needs to have a Registered Agent as soon as it’s formed. You can do this two ways:
You’ll need to include your Registered Agent's details in your Certificate of Organization.
When you start your business through us, you’ll get a free year of our Registered Agent Service and we’ll use the information you provide to complete and file your Certificate of Organization for you.
Change Your Registered Agent After Formation
You can also assign a different person or business entity to be your Connecticut Registered Agent after you’ve formed your LLC. There are a couple of ways to achieve this.
Once you’ve chosen a new Registered Agent, you can complete the Change of Agent form. Once you’ve done that, send it to the Secretary of State so they can update your records.
When you use our Registered Agent service, we take care of all the form filling and filing for you. We’ll collect important information about your business, complete the form on your behalf and then send it to the Secretary of State. We’ll let you know once we officially become your Registered Agent.
Connecticut Registered Agent Search
In some situations, you may want to know the name of the Registered Agent that represents another LLC in Connecticut. This information is available in the state's business database.
If the Registered Agent isn’t listed there, you can request it from the Secretary of State.
What Happens If You Don’t Have a Registered Agent?
If you don't assign or provide details of a Registered Agent to the Secretary of State, there may be several possible ramifications, including:
- Getting served or sued and not finding out about it. If your LLC is sued and you don’t know about it, you could lose to a default judgment in your absence.
- Falling out of good standing with the CT SOS. If you don’t respond to certain correspondence (like the request for your annual report), certain states may revoke your right to do business.
- Losing your status as an LLC in Connecticut. A Registered Agent “proves” to the state that your business exists. Without it, you could lose your business entity protections and your LLC may be dissolved.
Acting As Your Own Registered Agent
If you have an address in Connecticut, you can be the Registered Agent for your LLC. We don’t recommend this approach as there can be some drawbacks:
- The Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Connecticut. If you’re forming an LLC outside the state, you’ll need to use an in-state Registered Agent.
- You need to always have someone on hand during business hours at the Connecticut address to sign for important documents.
- The Registered Agent’s name and address are part of the public record and available through the Secretary of State's website. If you prefer your name and address aren’t published, you should use a Registered Agent service.
- If you change your business address or move out of state, you need to file additional documentation with the Secretary of State for the new address if you act as your own Registered Agent. This wouldn’t be the case if you used a Registered Agent service, making a move or address change much simpler.
Note: While you, as an individual, may act as your LLC's Registered Agent, your LLC cannot act as its own Registered Agent. This is stated clearly in the instructions for the Certificate of Organization form.
Other Useful Resources
FAQs About Connecticut Registered Agents
Yes. All LLCs in CT are required to have a Registered Agent. This is mandated by the CT SOS. You'll find more information above.
You must assign a Registered Agent when you start your business. You can change your agent later by filing the correct form. If you form your business through Incfile, we’ll file all the necessary forms on your behalf. Find more information above.
Yes, but we don’t recommend it for the reasons listed above. Also, your LLC may not act as its own Registered Agent.
Yes. Additionally, if they're a business providing Registered Agent services, they must be legally able to conduct business in your state. Find more information above.
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