ABOUT YOUR REGISTERED AGENT OFFICE IN MICHIGAN
Why are there resident agents in the first place?
Back in the good old days, 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 various business structures were created to protect business owners from liabilities and provide tax advantages. Business entities are afforded stature that is disconnected from the people who put them together. Unfortunately, it didn’t take very much time for owners to work out that they could avoid legal actions by personally hiding out from process servers. So, to tighten up that loophole, most jurisdictions insist that companies to appoint a “registered agent.”
Briefly, who can be a registered agent?
Your Michigan resident agent needs to be a company or person who is a lawful citizen of your state. They should be present to receive service of process during standard business hours. Registered agents in Michigan must furnish a legal, physical address within Michigan.
How does my company benefit from having a registered agent?
Michigan businesses benefit in many ways by appointing a resident agent. Most importantly, nominating a registered agent keeps your company in compliance with Michigan state code. With RegisteredAgentOffice.com as your Michigan registered agent, as soon as you get any service of process, legal notice, letter or annual report notice – we accept those for you. Momentarily, we’re uploading your files into your client account. You’ll receive instant notification of any documents we scan into your client account. Additionally, we also monitor your Michigan annual report due dates and email you reminders with how-to links so you can send in your paperwork on time with the Michigan Secretary of State.
Tell me the top 5 things I should be looking for in a registered agent?
Solid Background: You want to hire a registered agent who is competent at what they’re doing, who’s been performing the duties of a registered agent for several years and has a good reputation.
Dependability: You have to be able to trust your registered agent. You need to know that they will fulfill their responsibilities and be available during normal business hours to receive service of process and other legal paperwork.
Reputation: Your Michigan registered agent must have be known for delivering service of process and legal paperwork in a reliable and timely manner. If they accept legal documents for you and don’t deliver them to you, your business could wind up with a ruling against you in court and not even be aware that your company is involved in a lawsuit.
Consumer Relations: Just imagine you need to clarify or have a question about some aspect of your business as it relates to the State of Michigan. You don’t want to discuss it with a person reading off a script in a call center in some foreign country, you want to chat with a consumer service rep who actually knows a thing or two about business registered agent service.
Optional Services: Besides basic registered agent service (by receiving your legal documents), check to see if your registered agent offers more services like: Customized documents for your state filings, email reminders for important filing dates and deadlines, tools that will keep your business in good standing with the state.