{"id":870,"date":"2019-11-05T12:18:06","date_gmt":"2019-11-05T19:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/az-small-business-representation\/?p=870"},"modified":"2024-11-27T09:50:31","modified_gmt":"2024-11-27T16:50:31","slug":"arizona-statutory-agent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/az-small-business-representation\/blog\/arizona-statutory-agent\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is A Statutory Agent For An LLC?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Are you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/az-small-business-representation\/blog\/create-llc-arizona\/\">starting an LLC in Arizona<\/a>? We\u2019ll cover everything you need to know about statutory agents in Arizona, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What is a statutory agent?<\/li>\n<li>Why do you need a statutory agent in Arizona?<\/li>\n<li>Why it helps to work with a small business attorney<\/li>\n<li>FAQs about statutory agents in Arizona<\/li>\n<li>What to do if you need help<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Statutory Agent Overview<\/h2>\n<p>A statutory agent is the person or company who agrees to accept legal mail on behalf of your Arizona LLC. \u201cLegal mail\u201d includes official notices from the state and Service of Process of legal documents.<\/p>\n<p>Under <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azleg.gov\/arsDetail\/?title=29\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ARS 29-604<\/a>, the statutory agent for an Arizona LLC must be one of the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>An individual Arizona resident<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li>A domestic corporation<\/li>\n<li>A limited liability company (LLC)<\/li>\n<li>A foreign corporation or LLC that\u2019s authorized to do business in Arizona<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Generally speaking, a statutory agent must be available during normal business hours to accept Service of Process. The actual definition of \u201cnormal business hours\u201d is fairly vague, but it\u2019s generally understood to be Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the statutory agent\u2019s address must be a physical Arizona address. Using a P.O. Box for the agent\u2019s address is not permitted.<\/p>\n<p>Note that Arizona is one of the few states that use the term statutory agent. In most states, statutory agents are referred to as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sba.gov\/business-guide\/launch-your-business\/register-your-business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">registered agents<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Why do you need a statutory agent in Arizona?<\/h2>\n<p>The obvious answer is that LLCs in Arizona are required by law to appoint a statutory agent. In fact, you won\u2019t be able to file your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azcc.gov\/docs\/default-source\/corps-files\/forms\/l010-articles-of-organization.pdf?sfvrsn=930da41f_8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Articles of Organization<\/a> with the Arizona Corporation Commission (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.azcc.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AZCC<\/a>) until you choose a statutory agent.<\/p>\n<p>More importantly, you need a statutory agent to ensure that you (the business owner) receive legal mail in a timely manner. Whether we\u2019re talking about an important notice from the AZCC that requires immediate action or Service of Process for a complaint, summons, or subpoena, there may be devastating consequences if such communication doesn\u2019t reach the business owner before a hard deadline.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re shaking your head while thinking you won\u2019t ever get sued, think again. In today\u2019s litigious society, it\u2019s never been easier for an angry customer, business partner, or employee to pursue legal action. Government agencies may also sue \u2014 or at the very least, launch a formal investigation \u2014 in response to alleged infractions of state or federal employment law.<\/p>\n<p>In short, the excuse that you didn\u2019t receive legal mail in time to meet a mandatory deadline or issue a legal response won\u2019t cut it. Arizona courts provide ample time for couriers to complete Service of Process, and if the courier can\u2019t reach you during that generous time window, the case will proceed without you.<\/p>\n<h2>Choosing a Registered Agent for Your Arizona LLC<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s safe to say that many Arizona LLCs \u2014 especially small, owner-operated businesses \u2014 list the business owner as the statutory agent. More often than not, the statutory agent\u2019s address for receiving legal mail is the business address.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind, however, that the statutory agent must be available during normal business hours. If the business owner isn\u2019t always in the office, it may be wise to choose another employee or business partner who will consistently be available.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Similarly, if the business address isn\u2019t suitable for a statutory agent (e.g. it\u2019s a P.O. Box or virtual address), you may need to list the agent\u2019s personal address. If you\u2019re the business owner and statutory agent, and you work from home, listing your home address for the statutory agent is perfectly acceptable.<\/p>\n<p>There are some situations where choosing an external agent is advisable. In such cases, it may make sense to hire a third party company which specializes in serving as the statutory agent for Arizona LLCs.<\/p>\n<p>While hiring a company to be your statutory agent is convenient and reliable, it\u2019s an important decision that requires careful thought. It\u2019s always a good idea to consult with a <a href=\"\/az-small-business-representation\/\">small business attorney<\/a> before designating a third-party statutory agent.<\/p>\n<h2>Working with an Attorney to Register Your LLC in Arizona<\/h2>\n<p>Registering an LLC with the state of Arizona doesn\u2019t require an attorney, though it certainly helps to have a seasoned legal professional to guide you through the process. Whether you pay a small fee to have an attorney assist you during registration or pay a retainer fee for more comprehensive, ongoing legal services, a small business attorney can help you get your business off the ground quickly while avoiding the pitfalls that lead to future problems.<\/p>\n<p>A small business attorney can also help you choose the right type of business registration. LLCs are extremely popular in Arizona but they\u2019re not the only option at your disposal, and depending on your intended structure and future expansion plans, it may be wise to consider alternate business types.<\/p>\n<h2>FAQs About Statutory Agents in Arizona<\/h2>\n<h3>Q: Do I need a statutory agent in Arizona?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. State law requires a statutory agent for all LLCs registered in Arizona.<\/p>\n<h3>Q: Can I be my own statutory agent in Arizona?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes. In fact, many business owners in Arizona serve as their LLC\u2019s statutory agent.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>That said, keep in mind that a statutory agent must be available during normal business hours. If you\u2019re unable to fulfill that obligation due to service appointments or frequent travel, you\u2019ll need to choose another statutory agent who can be available Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.<\/p>\n<h3>Q: When does it make sense to hire a company to serve as the statutory agent in Arizona?<\/h3>\n<p>Serving as an LLC\u2019s statutory agent is a small but critical role. When time-sensitive legal mail arrives, it\u2019s up to the statutory agent to deliver the official notice or court documents in a timely manner.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you cannot serve as your own statutory agent and there isn\u2019t a reliable party within your company who can fulfill the obligation, it may be wise to hire a third party organization that specializes in serving as statutory agent. Such companies maintain a physical address in Arizona that\u2019s staffed during normal business hours, and unlike your assistant who calls in sick every other week, they can be counted on to deliver legal mail in a timely manner.<\/p>\n<p>Even better, hiring a third party agent eliminates the need to change your statutory agent when an internal employee who fills that roll leaves your company, or if you reach a point where you cannot fulfill the role yourself due to travel obligations.<\/p>\n<h2>What to Do If You Need Help Setting Up an LLC in Arizona<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Don\u2019t let the fear of \u201chiring an attorney\u201d keep you from seeking sound legal advice. If you need advice or assistance, discuss your business plan with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jacksonwhitelaw.com\/az-small-business-representation\/\">small business attorney<\/a> <i>before<\/i> filing your Articles of Organization with the state.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Call JacksonWhite&#8217;s Small Business Law Team at <a href=\"tel:4804641111\">(480) 464-1111<\/a> to discuss your case today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you starting an LLC in Arizona? We\u2019ll cover everything you need to know about statutory agents in Arizona, including: What is a statutory agent? Why do you need a statutory agent in Arizona? Why it helps to work with a small business attorney FAQs about statutory agents in Arizona What to do if you [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-small-business-representation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Is A Statutory Agent For An LLC? 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