How to Find the Best Registered Agent in Kentucky
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This guide will help you find the best registered agent in Kentucky. We’ll explore key factors to consider, evaluate top providers, and equip you with the knowledge to make an informed decision for your business’s registered agent needs.
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What is a Kentucky registered agent?
The registered agent you appoint will be the point of contact between the business and the Kentucky Secretary of State.
The agent or service will receive service of process and other important documents directly from the state, including:
- Articles of Organization – the formation documents for LLCs in Kentucky
- Articles of Incorporation – the documents filed upon formation of corporations
- Annual report – due by June 30 every year
- Certificate of Existence – proof of good standing in Kentucky
- Bank franchise tax – only applies to financial institutions
A registered agent physically exists
The state of Kentucky requires a registered agent to be available during regular business hours to accept official correspondence from the Secretary of State.
Because of the agent’s physical presence, you can also opt to have the service’s address listed in the Kentucky public record database instead of a private office or home address.
An agent is a single point of contact
According to the Kentucky Secretary of State, you must have a point of contact so that the state knows someone will be available to accept service of process or other legal notices.
A person or business has five days to respond to a subpoena in Kentucky.
Failure to respond to a court summons in Kentucky can result in default judgments and contempt of court charges.
An appointed registered agent is a calendar reminder
The Kentucky annual report is due by June 30 every year.
If the fee isn’t paid on time, a business can accrue penalties and even fall into noncompliance and good standing.
A registered agent service will remind you when a fee or tax is due, help you file the official documents, and pay the proper fees.
Cost of a registered agent in Kentucky
It costs you nothing to appoint yourself as your own registered agent in Kentucky as long as you meet the state requirements.
According to Kentucky state law, a registered agent must be 18 years old and physically present.
You can also appoint a friend or family member as long as they have a street address and legal age.
Appointing an outside professional registered agent service can cost between $50 and $500.
When to appoint a registered agent
You elect a registered agent when you file the business formation documents with the Kentucky Secretary of State Business Services.
A limited liability company (LLC) appoints a registered agent when filing the Articles of Organization.
A corporation will submit registered agent information when filing the Articles of Incorporation.
The Kentucky Secretary of State mandates that all businesses, regardless of the structure, must appoint a registered agent.
Other business structures include:
- Sole proprietorships
- Partnerships
- Nonprofit
How does a Kentucky LLC appoint a registered agent?
You’ll provide the appointed registered agent information when you submit your LLC Articles of Organization to Kentucky Business Services.
1
File the Articles of Organization
You can download the Articles of Organization form (form KLC) and submit the document by mail.
Mailing address:
Michael G. Adams
Office of the Secretary of State
P.O. Box 718
Frankfort, KY 40602
Office address:
Room 154, Capitol Building
700 Capital Ave.
Or, you can file online using Kentucky Business One Stop Portal.
2
Appoint your registered agent
The LLC formation form KLC will ask an owner to provide certain information about the appointed registered agent.
- Registered agent address
- Registered agent’s name
- Registered agent signature
The signature is how a registered agent consents to an appointment in Kentucky.
3
Pay your Kentucky filing fees
The cost to file Kentucky LLC Articles of Organization is $40.
Kentucky Business Services does not provide expedited business filing services.
The cost to file Articles of Organization in Kentucky is $40.
How to change your registered agent
Sometimes a business organization must switch registered agents for various reasons, such as retirement.
The Kentucky Secretary of State requires you to submit any agent or agent address change officially.
Submit the statement of change of registered agent online
You can use the Kentucky Business Services Fasttrack Organization website to file the statement of change of registered agent.
The Kentucky filing fee to submit a statement of change is $10.
Submit the statement of change by mail or in person
You will complete the statement of change of registered agent/or registered office address form and submit it to the Kentucky Secretary of State.
The Business Services Division of the Kentucky Secretary of State processes a switch in agent or change of address the same day it’s received.
Submit the change by filing Articles of Amendment
Filing the Kentucky Articles of Amendment is one way to notify the Secretary of State of an agent switch. It is not recommended unless you make other business registration changes.
The cost to file Articles of Amendment in Kentucky is $50.
How to resign as a registered agent in Kentucky
First, you must notify the organization you’re resigning from that you’re withdrawing your consent.
Once the statement has been delivered, you will submit a copy of the notice of resignation agent to the Kentucky Secretary of State by mail or in person.
You will need to provide the state of Kentucky with certain information.
- Name of the organization
- Name and address of the registered
- Statement of resignation
- The effective date of resignation
- Company’s address the statement was delivered to
The processing fee to resign as a registered agent in Kentucky is $5.
Benefits of appointing a registered agent in Kentucky
-
You won’t miss the important due dates
The Kentucky annual report is due by June 30 each other.
If the report fee isn’t filed online, a business risks losing good standing in Kentucky, which can lead to a loss in asset protection.
When you appoint an outside agent, you will receive a reminder notification, and the agent will walk you through the process of filing the Kentucky annual report fee by the due date.
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Your home address remains private
Some new business owners work from a private or home office. If you appoint yourself, those personal addresses become public record and searchable.
The public can search the Kentucky Name Availability Search by business name or keyword and find your personal information.
Appointing a registered agent allows you to list the service’s address in the Kentucky database instead of yours.
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You are provided the utmost discretion
According to the Kentucky Secretary of State, receiving legal documents such as subpoenas is one of the primary responsibilities of a registered agent.
A registered agent will let you know if a law firm or process server attempts to contact you and intercept the sensitive documents out of sight of clients.
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You keep your independence
Kentucky laws about registered agents require that an agent in the state be available during normal business hours, Monday through Friday.
If you nominate yourself, you’re the one that must work those hours and be available to the Kentucky Secretary of State.
Appointing a registered agent as your point of contact in Kentucky gives you the freedom to work the schedule that suits your lifestyle.
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You get instant access to the Certificate of Existence
In Kentucky, the Certificate of Existence is proof that you are in good standing with the Kentucky Secretary of State.
Banks and creditors require businesses to show a Certificate of Existence to open new business bank accounts and apply for loans.
A professional registered agent service will post your formation documents to your online account so that you have 24/7 access.
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It speeds up forming a foreign LLC
Regardless of where you’re expanding, you must appoint a registered agent to expand to a different state.
The foreign LLC formation process is more straightforward if a registered agent is already appointed.
FAQs
Can I use my home address for my small business in Kentucky?
You can use your home address when you submit your business registration information. But, the business address will be a public record and searchable using the Kentucky Name Availability Search.
Can I use a Kentucky registered office address for everything on my business filing?
Nationwide registered agent services allow business owners to use their registered office address for everything, including the business public record database.
Can I use a Kentucky registered agent address with the IRS?
The IRS requires that you provide the physical street address of your company’s principal office when you apply for the EIN.
What is service of process in Kentucky?
Service of process refers to the delivery of legal notices and subpoenas to a person or business organization. Service of process requires a quick response.
When should I use my registered agent address in Kentucky?
You use a registered agent’s address when you submit the formation documents for a company. You will not use the Kentucky registered address on business cards, shipping, billing, or opening new business bank accounts.
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