How to Find the Registered Agent of a Company

Dick and Jane sat in our conference room and explained their predicament. This business opportunity in Missouri looked good – maybe even too good. John and Mary Smith were willing to sell Main Street Jewelers for a price that seemed too low for a jewelry store in a thriving tourist community. As corporate counsel to their family office, I was there to investigate.

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If the Smiths were the real owners, then Main Street Jewelers was a diamond in the rough that could yield significant profits. But something did not sit quite right. Were John and Mary Smith truly the owners? Corporate records could provide the answer. An LLC is a common form of business entity because owners are shielded from obligations of the business, but the identity of owners is a secret. Corporate records of an LLC. typically list only the business address and a registered agent. The registered agent is a contact person for legal and tax matters. Typically, a business owner serves as registered agent, but not always. Sometimes a third party is hired to perform this function. In that case, you might have an LLC registered to John and Mary Smith, but owned by someone else. Our clients were entitled to know who the real owners were. Finding out took nothing more than a trip to the internet.

The State

The first step was to determine where Main Street Jewelers was incorporated and the registered agent’s name. I directed my internet browser to the website of the Missouri Secretary of State’s office. All states have a similar office, and their websites are full of information about business entities. Within a few minutes, I learned that Main Street Jewelers was organized under the laws of Missouri. For most business entities – LLCs and corporations at least – the name and address of the registered agent are listed in the state’s database. The name provided was Edward Jones Company. I made a note of this and continued.

Edward Jones Company is a large financial services firm. Having business dealings with corporate subsidiaries, I knew that Edward Jones often serves as registered agent for these subsidiaries.

The Registered Agent

Nearly there, I moved to the Edward Jones website and searched for more information about their registered agent services. I immediately found what I needed – a webpage dedicated to registered agent services. This page included contact information for Edward Jones registered agents, including the mandatory email addresses and telephone numbers. I copied the contact information for the relevant office and returned to my clients to tell them what I had learned. Edward Jones would not provide the requested information directly to us because of privacy laws, but they would provide it to our clients. Edward Jones required proof of authority before releasing the needed information. Armed with this knowledge, Dick and Jane contacted the Smiths and asked them to sign a letter of consent. Shortly thereafter, we received the information necessary to contact the true owners.

Tips and Expert Advice

First, it is helpful to use business search engines when investigating an individual, business, or other entity. For example, Smart Business Search (https://smartbusinesssearch.com/) allows you to search across multiple states. Many other similar services are available, and many are free of charge.

Second, when searching for corporate records on a State Secretary of State website, try using the business’s assumed name as well as its true name. In many states, an LLC that conducts business under a name other than its real name must file a fictitious name statement, sometimes called an assumed name certificate. If not, the entity could be subject to personal liability, including the loss of limited liability protections. This filing provides another layer of information about who is behind the organization.

Third, understand the authority of a registered agent. In most states, a registered agent is appointed to receive legal documents on behalf of a business. Under these circumstances, the registered agent is not necessarily related to the business. However, in many states, the registered agent is also required to provide the state with updated information, such as the names and addresses of the officers or managers of the organization. Also, in most states, if a business fails to maintain a registered agent, the state may dissolve the business, making the owners personally liable for the business’s debts.

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FAQ

Q: What is a registered agent?

A: A registered agent is an individual or business that is appointed to receive legal documents on behalf of a company. The registered agent must have a physical address in the state in which the company is registered.

Q: Why do companies use registered agents?

A: Companies use registered agents to ensure that they receive important legal documents, such as service of process and tax notices, and because many states require all companies to maintain a registered agent.

Q: What information is available from a registered agent?

A: The information available from a registered agent varies from state to state, but typically includes the name and address of the company, the name and address of the registered agent, and the date the company was registered.

Q: How can I find the registered agent for a company?

A: You can find the registered agent for a company by searching the state’s business registry, or by hiring an online service, and looking up the company’s records.