What Is a Resident Agent in Michigan?

A resident agent is an individual or business entity designated to receive legal documents, service of process, and official government correspondence on behalf of your Michigan business entity. Every LLC, corporation, nonprofit, and most other registered business entities in Michigan are generally expected to designate and maintain a resident agent with a physical Michigan address.

Michigan Registered Agent provides complete resident agent service for $99 per year, including document processing, compliance tracking, and privacy protection.

Resident Agent Functions and Responsibilities

Your resident agent serves as the official contact point between your business and state regulatory authorities. When the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs needs to send notices, when courts need to serve legal papers, or when government agencies need to deliver tax documents, these communications are directed to your resident agent.

The resident agent maintains a physical address in Michigan where someone 18 or older is present during business hours Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, to receive and sign for these documents. This ensures the state and courts can reach your business reliably for important legal and administrative matters.

When documents arrive, the resident agent receives them and forwards them to you for appropriate response. This system maintains consistent delivery channels regardless of business location changes or operational structure.

Michigan Resident Agent Requirements

Michigan law establishes specific criteria for who can serve as a resident agent:

Individual Resident Agents — Must be Michigan residents age 18 or older. Someone 18 or older needs to be available at the agent's address during business hours Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, to sign for documents.

Business Entity Resident Agents — Must be business entities authorized to operate in Michigan. The entity cannot serve as its own resident agent.

Address Requirements — The resident agent maintains a physical street address in Michigan. PO boxes and virtual offices do not satisfy regulatory requirements.

Availability Standards — The resident agent or a designated representative must be available during normal business hours to receive service of process and official documents.

Entities Requiring Resident Agents in Michigan

Michigan generally expects the following business entities to maintain a resident agent:

• Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
• Corporations (for-profit and nonprofit)
• Limited Partnerships
• Limited Liability Partnerships
• Foreign entities registered to operate in Michigan

Whether forming a new business or operating an existing entity, maintaining a resident agent in good standing is a fundamental compliance requirement.

Self-Appointment as Resident Agent

Michigan allows business owners to serve as their own resident agent if they meet residency and availability requirements. This approach presents several operational challenges:

Public Records Exposure — Your resident agent address appears on public filings with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Using a home address makes your personal residence publicly accessible through state databases.

Availability Requirements — Someone 18 or older needs to be physically present at the agent address during business hours Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, to sign for documents. This restricts business operations and personal flexibility.

Relocation Complications — Moving requires filing address changes with LARA and paying associated fees. Frequent relocations create ongoing administrative obligations.

Legal Service Reception — Process servers deliver lawsuit papers to your resident agent address during business hours. Many business owners prefer to avoid this scenario at their home.

Professional Resident Agent Service Advantages

Professional resident agent service addresses these operational challenges systematically:

Privacy Protection — Michigan Registered Agent's address appears on your public filings, keeping your home address out of state databases and reducing unsolicited commercial contact.

Consistent Availability — We maintain dedicated facilities staffed during required business hours. You are not constrained by availability requirements or geographic location.

Document Processing — All documents are scanned and forwarded the same day received. Email notifications and online portal access ensure immediate awareness of new correspondence.

Compliance Support — We track Michigan filing deadlines and send advance reminders for Annual Statements and other regulatory obligations.

Operational Stability — Your resident agent address remains constant regardless of business relocations or operational changes, eliminating filing updates with LARA.

Professional Presentation — Professional resident agent service demonstrates regulatory awareness and operational sophistication to partners, investors, and regulatory authorities.

Documents Received Through Resident Agent

Your resident agent may receive various categories of correspondence:

• Service of process for lawsuits and legal proceedings
• Official notices from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
• Tax documents and notices from state revenue authorities
• Annual Statement reminders and compliance notifications
• Regulatory correspondence about business entity status
• Administrative notices regarding filings or fees

Michigan Registered Agent forwards all documents the same day received, ensuring timely awareness of legal and regulatory matters requiring response.

Michigan Registered Agent Service Infrastructure

We maintain dedicated facilities in Lansing, Michigan, with trained personnel who understand state regulatory requirements. Our operations are structured to meet Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs standards for resident agent service.

For $99 per year, your service includes:

• Registered office address in Michigan
• Same-day document scanning and forwarding
• Compliance reminders and alerts
• Online document portal
• Privacy protection — our address on public filings

Our operational protocols ensure systematic document handling, accurate record-keeping, and consistent availability during required business hours. This infrastructure supports your compliance obligations and provides operational reliability.

Establishing Resident Agent Service

For new Michigan business formations, list Michigan Registered Agent as your resident agent on organizational documents filed with LARA. For existing entities changing resident agents, file the appropriate change form with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and pay the $5 state filing fee.

Upon enrollment, you receive access credentials for your document portal where you can view correspondence, monitor compliance deadlines, and manage account information. Our support team is available Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time for questions or assistance.

Get Started — $99/year

Review our FAQ section for additional information about Michigan resident agent requirements and service features. Contact us at support@miregisteredagent.org or for specific questions about your business situation.

This is not legal advice. Michigan Registered Agent is not a law firm. Consult an attorney for legal guidance.