How to Find the Best Registered Agent in Montana

A registered agent is the point of contact between a company and the Montana Secretary of State.

The central role of a resident agent is to receive legal notices and other official correspondence, including:

• Articles of Organization – Montana limited liability company (LLC) formation document
• Articles of Incorporation – corporation formation document
• Annual report fee– due April 15 every year
• Certificate of Existence – proof an organization is in good standing on Monday
• Corporate income tax – expected by the 15th day of the fifth month after the end of the corporation’s tax year

Other business structures include:

• Sole proprietorships
• Partnerships
• Nonprofit

The Articles of Organization form in Montana will ask you to provide information regarding the appointed registered agent.

• Registered agent address
• Registered agent name

The statement of resignation will request certain information.

• Business entity
• Registered agent name
• Statement of resignation
• Contact information where the statement is being sent to
• Signature

The Secretary of State does not charge for processing a statement of resignation.

• You will maintain good standing in Montana

The Montana annual report is due every year on April 15.

If you submit the fee late, you risk losing good standing in Montana and could face involuntary dissolution and accrue late fees.

You appoint a registered agent so that they can keep up with critical due dates so that you don’t miss important deadlines.

• Your private office address doesn’t become public record

Working from a private office in Montana means the small business address becomes the business address and public record.

Anyone can search the Montana Business Search by business or business file number.

Appoint an outside agent allows you to use the registered office address as the business address to keep your private office or home address out of public record.

• You preserve your good reputation

An agent receives sensitive legal documents, such as subpoenas on behalf of a business organization.

The appointed agent accepts the official correspondence from law firms and process servers out of the view of clients.

• You get the benefit of working when you want

Montana state law requires a registered agent to be available during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, to accept important notices from the Secretary of State.

Appointing yourself as your own registered agent means that you must be available during those hours.

When you appoint an outside agent, they will cover those hours so you can come and go from the office as you wish.

• You can access the Certificate of Existence 24/7

You require the Certificate of Existence to prove you’re in good standing with the state of Montana to open business bank accounts.

Registered agent services give you access to the certificate and other formation documents anytime to make business convenient.

• LLC formation is fast and easy

When you expand a business into other states, you’re required to appoint a registered agent for the formation process.

Having one already appointed, you can quickly form a foreign LLC.