Registered agent for a Delaware LLC
Data last updated: Apr 22, 2026The quick read on Delaware registered agents
Every Delaware LLC is legally required to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. The role is to receive service of process (lawsuit papers), state tax notices, and other official government mail on the LLC's behalf. You can serve as your own agent if you live in Delaware and meet the requirements, or hire a commercial service for typically $99 to $299 per year.
Delaware-specific rules matter. The statute is 6 Del.C. § 18-104. The registered agent's address goes on the public state record, so most owners who want privacy use a paid service to keep their home address off the record. Owners who live in the state and don't mind the public listing often save $100 to $250 per year by serving as their own agent.
Who can serve as a registered agent in Delaware
Delaware requires the registered agent to be either an individual Delaware resident or an entity authorized to do business in Delaware. Individuals must be at least 18, have a principal business office with a physical Delaware street address (not a PO box, not a CMRA mail-drop), and be available during normal business hours to accept service of process. Entity agents, including the major national services, must be listed on the Division of Corporations' Commercial Registered Agent registry under 6 Del.C. § 18-104(g). This registry is how Delaware distinguishes between professional commercial agents (Northwest, CT Corporation, InCorp) and ad-hoc individual agents (your cousin who lives in Dover). Small-volume individual agents don't need to register as commercial agents.
There's no rule preventing the LLC's own member or manager from serving as the registered agent, provided they live in Delaware and meet the other requirements. There's one practical catch worth flagging. Your home or office address becomes part of the public Delaware Division of Corporations record, searchable by anyone through the Division's entity search portal.
What Delaware requires of a registered agent
- Physical street address in Delaware
Not a PO box, not a mail-drop. The address becomes part of the public record visible on the Secretary of State's business entity search.
- Available during business hours
Typically 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. The agent has to be physically present (or have staff present) to accept service, not just reachable by phone or email.
- At least 18 years old and a resident or registered entity
Individual agents must be 18+ and reside in Delaware. Entity agents must be registered to transact business in Delaware.
- Written consent on file
Delaware requires the registered agent to consent in writing to serve. Formation services handle this automatically when you sign up. For an individual agent, a simple signed consent letter suffices.
Delaware statute and change-of-agent rules
| Statute | 6 Del.C. § 18-104 |
| Change of registered agent form | Certificate of Change of Registered Agent |
| Change filing fee | $50 |
| Online filing | Not accepted (mail only) |
| Processing time | 10 business days |
| Commercial agents must register separately | Yes |
Choosing the right registered agent in Delaware
Delaware is a state where the commercial service path usually wins on both cost and privacy. Most Delaware LLCs are owned by non-residents; the entire point of a Delaware LLC is that formation is attractive to out-of-state owners, which means serving as your own agent isn't even an option. For Delaware residents, the tradeoff is more balanced. You save the $100 to $250 annual service fee, but your home address is exposed on the public entity record, and the 9-to-5 availability obligation rules out frequent travel.
A practical framework for deciding. If you're a Delaware resident running the LLC as a solo operator from a home address, and you're comfortable with the public-record tradeoff, serve as your own agent. If you're a non-Delaware resident forming a Delaware LLC for its Chancery Court advantages or because you're raising investor capital, use a commercial service. Northwest Registered Agent at $125 per year with price-lock, or the cheaper $119 from Bizee, are the two most common choices for single-state Delaware filings. LegalZoom at $249 is not cheaper just because of the bigger brand.
Registered agent services that operate in Delaware
National commercial registered agent services operate in all 50 states plus DC, so every provider below accepts Delaware LLCs. Sorted by annual renewal cost. Click the service name for the full review.
| Service | Annual renewal | Trustpilot | Review count |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness | $99/yr | 4.8 | 28,984 |
| Bizee fka Incfile | $119/yr | 4.7 | 25,227 |
| MyCorporation | $120/yr | 3.7 | 279 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $125/yr | 3.8 | 217 |
| CorpNet | $149/yr | 4.9 | 1,205 |
| doola | $197/yr | 4.6 | 2,005 |
| Tailor Brands | $199/yr | 4.7 | 14,203 |
| BizFilings | $220/yr | 4.5 | 170 |
| Inc Authority | $249/yr | 4.9 | 46,831 |
| LegalZoom | $249/yr | 4.6 | 30,014 |
| Rocket Lawyer | $250/yr | 4.5 | 9,717 |
| Firstbase | $299/yr | 4.8 | 1,045 |
If you let your Delaware registered agent lapse
Under 6 Del.C. § 18-1109, a Delaware LLC that fails to maintain a registered agent for 30 consecutive days can be declared in default by the Division of Corporations. In practice, the Division sends a notice to the LLC's last known address and gives about 30 days to fix the issue before triggering formal cancellation. Once cancelled, the LLC loses its good standing and its limited liability shield until reinstated. Reinstatement requires filing a Certificate of Revival with a $200 state fee, paying all back-owed annual tax ($300 per year plus penalties), and re-designating a compliant registered agent. For LLCs that lapsed for multiple years, the accumulated tax and penalty burden can exceed $1,000 before the entity is back in good standing.
Delaware filing agency
Delaware Division of Corporations
- Website
- corp.delaware.gov
- Phone
- (302) 739-3073
- 401 Federal Street, Suite 4, Dover, DE 19901
- Hours
- 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Eastern, Monday to Friday
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who can be a registered agent for a Delaware LLC?
An individual Delaware resident at least 18 years old with a principal Delaware business office, or an entity authorized to transact business in Delaware. Commercial services that act as registered agent for multiple LLCs must be listed on the Division of Corporations' Commercial Registered Agent registry under 6 Del.C. § 18-104(g). PO boxes and mail-drop addresses are prohibited. The owner or manager of the LLC can serve, provided they meet the residency and availability rules.
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What does a Delaware registered agent service cost?
National services range from $99 per year (ZenBusiness) to $299 per year (Firstbase). Most mainstream services operating in Delaware charge $119 to $149 for single-state registered agent service. Delaware-based local services sometimes undercut this with $50 to $85 per year pricing, though they typically don't include mail scanning or compliance reminders.
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Can I be my own registered agent if I live in Delaware?
Yes, if you're at least 18, have a physical Delaware street address (not a PO box), and are available during business hours to accept service of process. The obligation applies every business day, so frequent travel effectively rules it out. Your home address becomes part of the public Division of Corporations record for anyone to search.
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What does it cost to change my registered agent in Delaware?
$50 for the Certificate of Change of Registered Agent, filed with the Division of Corporations. The new agent must sign a consent. Delaware does not accept this filing online; it must be mailed or delivered in person to the Dover office. Processing takes about 10 business days. Most formation services handle the paperwork for free when you switch your RA to them.
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What happens if my Delaware LLC's registered agent resigns?
You have 30 days to designate a replacement under 6 Del.C. § 18-1109. Miss the window and the Division of Corporations can cancel the LLC for failure to maintain an agent. Reinstatement requires a $200 Certificate of Revival plus payment of any unpaid $300 annual franchise tax (with a $200 late penalty per year plus 1.5% monthly interest). Letting the LLC lapse costs more than $500 to fix even in the best case.
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Do I need a different registered agent if I'm a non-Delaware resident?
Yes, unless you have a physical Delaware address yourself. Most Delaware LLCs are owned by non-residents, so a commercial registered agent service is standard. The service's Delaware office address satisfies the statutory requirement, letting you own the Delaware LLC from anywhere in the world. Non-US founders commonly use Northwest or Bizee because both accept international owners without a US tax ID (though EIN filing is a separate task).
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Does Delaware share my registered agent's address publicly?
Yes. The registered agent's name and Delaware address appear on the public entity record, searchable through the Division of Corporations' ICIS portal. If you serve as your own agent using a home address, that address is permanently on the public record. A paid registered agent service substitutes its own business address, which is a common reason Delaware LLC owners opt for a service even when they technically qualify to self-serve.
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Do I need a registered agent for a Delaware LLC?
Yes. Delaware law requires every LLC to designate a registered agent with a physical street address in Delaware and availability during business hours. There is no exception for inactive or small LLCs. If the LLC loses its registered agent and doesn't designate a replacement within the state's grace period, Delaware begins administrative dissolution of the entity.
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How much does a registered agent service cost in Delaware?
National services range from $99 per year (ZenBusiness) to $299 per year (Firstbase). The $190 average is close to the market median. Delaware-based local registered agent services also operate in the state, typically pricing between $50 and $150 per year.
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How do I change my registered agent in Delaware?
File Certificate of Change of Registered Agent with Delaware Division of Corporations. The fee is $50. Processing takes about 10 business days. Most formation services handle this paperwork for free when you sign up.
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Is the registered agent fee tax deductible?
Yes. Registered agent fees are an ordinary and necessary business expense deductible on the LLC's federal tax return (Schedule C, Form 1065, or 1120/1120-S depending on tax treatment). Delaware state tax treatment follows federal on this deduction. Keep the invoices with your tax records.
Related
Sources
- Statute: delcode.delaware.gov/title6/c018/sc01/index.html · verified April 22, 2026
Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, Subchapter I, Section 18-104: Registered office and registered agent requirements. - Change of agent: corpfiles.delaware.gov/llcchgracor.pdf · verified April 22, 2026
Delaware Division of Corporations Certificate of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office form for Limited Liability Companies. $50 filing fee. - Penalty: delcode.delaware.gov/title6/c018/sc11/index.html · verified April 22, 2026
6 Del.C. § 18-1109 and § 18-1110 govern cancellation for failure to maintain a registered agent and the revival process. $200 revival fee plus annual tax arrears. - Commercial agent registration: corp.delaware.gov/commercial-registered-agent/ · verified April 22, 2026
Delaware Division of Corporations Commercial Registered Agent registry. National services operating in Delaware must be listed on the registry under 6 Del.C. § 18-104(g).