What Is a Statutory Agent in Ohio?

A statutory agent is a person or company designated to receive legal documents and official correspondence on behalf of your business. Every Ohio LLC and corporation generally needs to maintain a statutory agent with a physical address in the state.

The term "statutory agent" is specific to Ohio. Other states typically use "registered agent." The function is the same — providing a reliable point of contact for service of process, lawsuits, tax notices, and state correspondence.

Professional statutory agent service costs $99 per year with Ohio Registered Agent.

What Does a Statutory Agent Do?

Your statutory agent receives important documents during normal business hours at their designated address. This includes:

Service of process — Official notification of lawsuits or legal actions against your business

Legal documents — Subpoenas, summons, and other court-related papers

State correspondence — Notices from the Ohio Secretary of State about your business status

Tax notices — Official communications from tax authorities

Compliance alerts — Reminders about filing deadlines or regulatory changes

The agent's address appears on public filings with the Ohio Secretary of State. Anyone can look up your business information online and see who serves as your statutory agent.

Ohio's Statutory Agent Requirements

The Ohio Secretary of State establishes specific rules about statutory agents:

Who can serve: Individuals must be Ohio residents. Business entities must have a business address in Ohio. Non-domestic entities need authorization under Title XVII. Individual owners can serve as their own agent if they meet these requirements.

Address requirements: The agent needs a physical street address in Ohio where they can be reached during normal business hours. PO boxes are not allowed. Commercial mail receiving agencies are also explicitly prohibited by Ohio law.

Availability: Your statutory agent must be available during normal business hours to receive documents. Consistent availability matters because missing service of process can have serious consequences.

Who Needs a Statutory Agent in Ohio?

These business types generally need statutory agents:

• Limited liability companies (LLCs)
• Corporations
• Limited partnerships
• Limited liability partnerships
• Out-of-state businesses registered to operate in Ohio

Sole proprietorships typically don't need statutory agents since they operate under the owner's personal name without separate legal entity status.

Can I Be My Own Statutory Agent?

Yes, if you're an Ohio resident. Many business owners start by serving as their own statutory agent when they first form their company.

However, consider these factors:

Public record concerns. Your personal address goes on public filings with the Ohio Secretary of State. Anyone can access this information online through business entity searches.

Availability expectations. You need to be present at the listed address during normal business hours to receive documents. This can be challenging if you travel, work irregular hours, or operate from home.

Professional appearance. Having a commercial address for official correspondence can make your business appear more established than using a residential address.

Relocation complications. If you move, you need to file updated statutory agent information with the state promptly to avoid missing important documents.

Benefits of Professional Statutory Agent Service

Privacy protection. Our address appears on public records instead of yours. This keeps your home or business location private from anyone searching Ohio business filings.

Reliable coverage. We maintain consistent business hours and never miss documents. You don't need to worry about being available or traveling for work.

Immediate document access. We scan and upload documents to your secure portal the same day they arrive. You receive an alert and can download everything immediately.

Compliance support. While Ohio doesn't have annual report requirements, we send reminders about other important deadlines that may affect your business.

Stable address. If you move or change office locations, your statutory agent address stays the same. No need to file updates with the state.

Our Statutory Agent Service

Ohio Registered Agent provides straightforward statutory agent service for Ohio businesses at $99 per year.

You get a physical Columbus address for state filings, same-day document scanning and forwarding, online portal access, compliance reminders, and privacy protection.

We handle coordination with the Ohio Secretary of State when you sign up. For businesses changing agents, we file the necessary paperwork (the state charges a $25 fee for agent changes).

Your portal access is set up within one business day. From that point forward, documents arrive at our office and get scanned immediately for your access.

Get Started

Protect your privacy and maintain reliable document receipt with professional statutory agent service. Our $99 annual fee covers everything you need to stay compliant while keeping your personal information private.

Ready to sign up? Visit our checkout page and provide your business information. We'll handle the rest.

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