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Order $89 to $99 Georgia registered agent service online for immediate access to our address and state forms. No additional charges.
Your business must appoint a Georgia registered agent to receive documents in legal matters, including notice of lawsuit. Our reliable registered agent service fulfills this requirement. You get:
A Georgia registered agent serves as the official point of contact between your organization and the state and is responsible for receiving and forwarding legal and government mail. Appointing an agent with the Georgia secretary of state is not just useful in terms of staying on top of your legal obligations—it is a prerequisite for forming and legally operating your organization in the state.
Not all registered agents in Georgia offer the same level of service, though, so we’ll go through their duties, requirements, and the appointment process to help you make an informed choice for your organization. You'll discover Harbor Compliance, a reputable registered agent service provider that makes timely delivery of your notices a priority.
According to the Georgia Code (§ 14-11-209 for LLCs and § 14-11-501 for corporations), the primary duty of a registered agent is to accept legal and government notices and ensure they reach you promptly.
To be able to receive legal mail sent by the state, the agent must be present during regular business hours at a designated physical location in Georgia, known as the registered office.
The agent’s failure to either receive or forward a legal notice could have severe consequences for your organization. This is especially true in the case of missed lawsuits since you would be unaware of any litigation involving your entity. As a result, you wouldn’t show up in court or take other appropriate action. Ultimately, your absence or inaction could prompt the court to issue a so-called default judgment, which typically favors the plaintiff.
To prevent such escalations, it's crucial to have a dependable and trustworthy registered agent in place, one that will ensure a timely response to any legal challenges.
According to Georgia state law, your registered agent can be any of the following:
An individual registered agent can be a friend, employee, or even yourself, provided they maintain a physical address in the state (note that P.O. or virtual mailboxes are not allowed). The other option is to partner with an organization that provides registered agent services, generally known as a commercial registered agent.
Commercial agents are widely considered a superior option because their staff is always available at the registered office to receive your notices. They also have developed systems for delivering received correspondence to you as fast as possible.
If you’re creating an entity in Georgia for the first time, you’ll appoint a registered agent in your formation paperwork (Articles of Incorporation for profit and nonprofit corporations or Articles of Organization for LLCs). The documents will have a specific section designated for the agent's information that you must fill out.
You can expect an official response from the secretary of state’s Corporations Division within 15 business days. If the agent you specified does not meet state requirements, the secretary of state will issue a denial notice, and your registration will not go through.
The process of appointing an agent is quite similar if you’re expanding an existing organization into Georgia. You'll have to include the agent’s information in your foreign qualification filings.
Even after your formation or foreign qualification paperwork is approved, you’ll be responsible for keeping your agent’s information updated with the state (maintaining the agent). However, there is no separate form for changing your existing agent’s address or partnering with a completely different one. You’ll update your agent’s details by filing an amendment to your annual registration report.
If you're looking to entrust the registered agent responsibility to professionals, Harbor Compliance is the perfect option. Our Registered Agent Service is carefully designed to ensure you never miss an important notice. It offers a range of benefits, including:
Upon receiving your notice, we'll scan it on the same day and send you an email with a Client Portal link through which you can access it. In case of lawsuits, we'll make a call to the person associated with the account to accelerate your response.
If you need help meeting Georgia’s other regulatory requirements, we can help through various additional services, most notably:
While going for an individual Georgia registered agent may seem like the more convenient and cost-effective option, it has its set of disadvantages, as outlined in the table below:
| Individual Agent | Disadvantage |
|---|---|
| Yourself |
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| Colleague/employee |
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| Friend/family member |
|
Harbor Compliance eliminates all of the above issues and offers the following advantages:
The process of appointing Harbor Compliance as your Georgia registered agent depends on whether you are:
If you'd rather not handle the entity formation process yourself, you can completely outsource it to us through our Nonprofit Formation, Incorporation, or LLC Formation Services. Simply select the service that aligns with your entity’s structure, and we'll take care of the entire registration process, which includes appointing Harbor Compliance as your registered agent in Georgia.
However, if you prefer to navigate the process independently, you can appoint us in three simple steps:
Expanding your organization into a different state can take time and effort in the face of administrative and regulatory hurdles. Our Foreign Qualification Service package is designed to fast-track the process of setting up shop in Georgia.
Once you've finished the wizard, we'll process all the required documents and submit them to the secretary of state to secure your Georgia certificate of authority. As part of the service, we'll appoint Harbor Compliance as your Georgia registered agent.
If you're looking for a hassle-free way to change your registered agent in Georgia, simply choose the Change of Agent option when ordering our Registered Agent Service. Complete the purchase, and we'll appoint Harbor Compliance as your new agent with zero involvement on your end.
Located in nearby Atlanta, GA!
Appoint us as your Georgia registered agent when you incorporate your business or form your LLC. Sign up for registered agent service and file using the state forms and instructions in your Client Portal. The forms are pre-filled and signed as required by the state.
Appoint us as your agent when you apply for a certificate of authority to transact business in Georgia. Sign up for Georgia registered agent service and file using the forms and instructions in your Client Portal. The forms are pre-filled and signed as required by the state.
Changing your registered agent to us is easy. Sign up for Georgia registered agent service and file using the forms and instructions in your Client Portal. The forms are pre-filled and signed as required by the state.
Harbor Compliance is a provider of nationwide registered agent service. We can help you consolidate your agent representation and achieve cost savings. Our specialists manage the process to change registered agents so that virtually no work is required on your part. We will complete the state filings to appoint us as your registered agent. Additionally, we can extend your subscription term so that you avoid double payment for any portion of your current contract. There’s no reason to wait. Simply contact us for consolidation and we’ll take care of the rest. If you have registered agent appointments spanning multiple states or entities, contact us today.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about registered agents in Georgia. If you require additional support or resources, please visit our Information Center.
A registered agent in Georgia can be either an adult state resident or a legal entity authorized to transact in the state. In any case, they must maintain a physical street address in the state to which your correspondence will be directed.
No, Georgia state laws require an individual registered agent to be a state resident. However, you can appoint a foreign legal entity as long as it’s authorized to do business in the state.
Yes, you have the option to designate yourself as a registered agent. It's important to note that you must be available at the registered office throughout standard business hours, and your personal information will enter the public record.
No, your organization can have only one registered agent in Georgia.
To ensure your legal notices are handled by experts, order our Registered Agent Service. Remain confident that no vital correspondence will go unnoticed, and bring yourself closer to operating in accordance with Georgia's laws.
If you want to check whether your organization meets various state regulations, you should obtain your free Harbor Compliance Score™. If you come across any areas of concern, feel free to explore our supplementary services or request a demo of our robust compliance software, designed to assist you in staying ahead of your legal obligations.
Although registered agent requirements are similar across states, it's crucial to be aware of subtle distinctions. Refer to the table below to explore our registered agent service in various jurisdictions:
