Georgia Resident Agent Service

Why Georgia requires a resident agent

Your Georgia corporation's resident agent can be an individual who lives in Georgia, a domestic corporation, nonprofit or LLC, or a foreign corporation, nonprofit or LLC with authority to transact business in Georgia, and in each case the agent's business office must match the registered office. The LLC statute, O.C.G.A. 14-11-209(b), works much the same way, permitting another LLC, a corporation, an individual resident, or an authorized foreign LLC or foreign corporation. O.C.G.A. sec. 14-2-501; sec. 14-11-209(a)-(b)

What happens if you lapse

• Going 60 days or more with no resident agent or registered office, or letting 60 days pass before telling the Secretary of State that the agent changed or resigned, lets the state dissolve a corporation administratively after notice and a 60-day cure period, and LLCs are exposed to the same result under sec. 14-11-603(b)(1)(B)-(C). O.C.G.A. sec. 14-2-1420(3)-(4); sec. 14-11-603(b)(1)(B)-(C)
• A foreign corporation that has gone 60 days or more with no resident agent or registered office in Georgia, or has not reported agent changes to the Secretary of State within 60 days, may lose its certificate of authority, and the Secretary of State then acts as its agent for service on causes of action arising before revocation. O.C.G.A. sec. 14-2-1530(3)-(4); sec. 14-2-1531(d)
• An administratively dissolved corporation or LLC has five years to apply for reinstatement, and the application must include a $250 reinstatement fee and a statement confirming that all taxes are paid. O.C.G.A. sec. 14-2-1422(a); sec. 14-2-122(12); sec. 14-11-603(b)(4); sec. 14-11-1101(a)(16)
• A foreign corporation that transacts business in Georgia with no certificate of authority, which is where a revoked corporation ends up, cannot maintain a proceeding in a Georgia court until it has one and owes the $500 civil penalty under sec. 14-2-122. O.C.G.A. sec. 14-2-1502(a)-(b)
• Georgia's fee schedule sets that $500 civil penalty for a foreign corporation that transacts business in the state without a certificate of authority. O.C.G.A. sec. 14-2-122(10)

Official Georgia links

• Office of Secretary of State - (404) 656-2817
• Business entity search

Frequently asked

Do I need a resident agent in Georgia?

Almost every state does, and the Georgia rule is set out above with its citation. Where the law leaves a choice, a resident agent is still the practical way to make sure service of process reaches you.

How much does Georgia resident agent service cost?

$129 a year, with no setup fee, the same price in all 50 states plus DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Service of process is received and scanned the same business day.

Can I switch my Georgia resident agent to ResidentAgents.com?

Yes. Order online and we prepare the change of agent filing for you; the state's filing fee is shown on this page.