District of Columbia Registered Agent
Here’s the low-down about getting a registered agent in DC.
Why do we have resident agents in the first place?
Long ago, you just herded sheep and paid your taxes to the lord of the land. Gradually, economies changed, new company structures like corporations and limited liability companies emerged. These types of company structures were created to protect business owners from liabilities and provide tax advantages. Business entities are furnished stature that is separated from the individuals who put them together. Unfortunately, it didn’t take very much time for owners to figure out that they could evade litigation by personally steering clear of servers of process. So, to close that loophole, most jurisdictions require business owners to select a “registered agent.”
Describe the responsibilities of a typical District of Columbia registered agent?
A registered agent in DC provides a physical address where someone is present during typical business hours. The registered agent is responsible to accept legal documents and service of process on behalf of your company and then forward this paperwork on to your company. Additionally, your registered agent will remind you about important filing due dates like annual report filings and other things to keep your business compliant. Your agent can also double check to ensure your company is compliant with District of Columbia state law.
How does my company benefit from having a registered agent in DC?
Businesses in the District of Columbia benefit in many ways by appointing a resident agent. First and foremost, designating a statutory agent keeps your business entity in conformity to state law. With RegisteredAgentService.net as your DC registered agent, anytime you are sent any legal notification, service of process, letter or annual report notice – we accept those for you. Within minutes, we’re scanning your files into your online account. You’ll receive instant notification of any documents we scan into your registered agent account. In addition, we also keep track of your District of Columbia annual report due dates and send you reminders with how-to links so you can complete your paperwork before it’s due with the DC Secretary of State.
Tell me the top 5 things I should be looking for when selecting a registered agent?
Solid Background: You want to appoint a registered agent who knows what they’re doing, who’s been performing the duties of a registered agent for several years and has a good track record.
Trustworthy: You need to be able to depend on your registered agent. You need to know that they will fulfill their responsibilities and be accessible during typical business hours to receive service of process and other legal paperwork.
Character: Your registered agent must have a reputation for delivering service of process and legal paperwork in a timely and reliable manner. If they accept legal documents on your behalf and fail to deliver them to you, your business could wind up with a decision against you in court without even knowing your company is party to a lawsuit.
Consumer Relations: Let’s say you need to clarify or have a question about some aspect of your business as it relates to the State. You don’t want to talk to someone reading off a script in a call center in India, you want to talk to a consumer service rep who actually knows a thing or two about business registered agent service.
Additional Services: In addition to basic registered agent service (by receiving your legal papers), make sure your registered agent offers additional services like: Pre-populated paperwork for state filings, reminders for important filing dates and deadlines, tools that will keep your business in compliance with State law.