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For new nonprofits
Registered agent for a nonprofit: what it is and who to name
Every nonprofit corporation has to name someone to receive its legal mail, an official contact the state and the courts can always reach.
Depending on your state it is called a registered agent, statutory agent, resident agent, registered office, or agent for service of process. Here is what the role does and how to choose one.
Registered agent at a glance
| What it is | Your nonprofit's official contact for legal and state mail |
| Who can serve | An adult who lives in the state, or a commercial service |
| Cost | Free if you serve yourself, or about $100 to $150 a year commercial |
| Other names | Statutory agent (OH), resident agent (MI), registered office (PA), agent for service of process (CA) |
What a registered agent does
The registered agent is the person or company your state and the courts contact when they need to reach your nonprofit, for lawsuits, official notices, and state mail. The agent has to have a physical address in the state where you incorporate and be available during normal business hours. You name your agent right on your Articles of Incorporation.
Can you be your own registered agent?
Yes, in most states, as long as you live in the state, have a physical street address there (not a PO box), and can be available during business hours. Serving as your own agent is free. The tradeoffs: your address becomes part of the public record, you have to be reliably reachable, and if you move you must update the state. For a home-based founder who is often out, that can be a hassle.
When to hire a commercial agent
A commercial registered agent, usually $100 to $150 a year, makes sense if you do not have a physical address in the state, you want to keep your home address off the public record, you move often, or your founders live out of state. They receive mail on your behalf and forward it to you.
What the role is called in your state
The job is the same everywhere, but the name changes. Most states say registered agent. Ohio says statutory agent. Michigan says resident agent. Pennsylvania uses registered office. California uses agent for service of process. In New York, you name the Secretary of State to receive legal papers, and a registered agent is optional. The Secretary of State mails the papers on to an address you give, so keep that address current. Our state start-up guides use the right term and rules for each state.
How to name or change one
You list your agent when you file your Articles. To change agents later, most states have a short, low-cost filing. Keep the agent current, because if the state cannot reach you, you can fall out of good standing.
Registered agent is one of 41 terms in our plain-English nonprofit glossary.
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General information for people starting a nonprofit, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm specifics with the IRS, your state, or a qualified professional.
Sources: councilofnonprofits.org · irs.gov · N.Y. Not-for-Profit Corp. Law 402 · Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code 5.201 · Cal. Corp. Code 6210. Verified September 2026.