What Is a Registered Agent for an Arizona Corporation?
A registered agent for an Arizona corporation — called a statutory agent under Arizona law — is the individual or entity designated to receive service of process, official state correspondence, and formal legal notices or demands on the corporation’s behalf. Under A.R.S. § 10-504, the statutory agent appointed by a corporation is “an agent of the corporation on whom process, notice or demand that is required or permitted by law to be served on the corporation may be served and that, when so served, is lawful personal service on the corporation.” When a statutory agent receives legal process, the agent must forward the documents to the corporation so the corporation may respond by the applicable deadline.
The statutory agent’s role is strictly limited. It is a statutory compliance function — the agent does not manage the corporation’s operations, does not hold a corporate office, and is not a general representative of the corporation for commercial purposes. The role is distinct from those of the corporation’s officers, directors, and shareholders.
Arizona requires every corporation — whether domestic or foreign, for-profit or nonprofit — to designate and continuously maintain a statutory agent and a known place of business in the state. Under A.R.S. § 10-501, the known place of business is the physical street address maintained on file with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), and it may be the same as the statutory agent’s address. This is the address to which the ACC directs official correspondence and at which the statutory agent may be personally served during normal business hours.
Is a Registered Agent Required for an Arizona Corporation?
A statutory agent is a mandatory legal requirement for every corporation in Arizona. Under A.R.S. § 10-501, each domestic corporation must continuously maintain in Arizona both a known place of business and a statutory agent. For foreign corporations, A.R.S. § 10-1507 imposes an identical requirement. The obligation applies from the date of formation or registration and continues through the date of dissolution, withdrawal, or termination — without interruption.
The following corporation types must maintain a statutory agent on file with the ACC:
- Domestic for-profit corporations — formed by filing Articles of Incorporation (Form C010)
- Domestic nonprofit corporations — formed by filing Articles of Incorporation – Nonprofit (Form C011)
- Domestic professional corporations (PCs) — formed by filing Articles of Incorporation using the same Form C010, with the professional corporation box checked
- Foreign corporations — registered to transact business or conduct affairs in Arizona by filing Application for Authority (Form C018)
“Continuously maintain” means the corporation must have a qualified, available statutory agent and a compliant known place of business at all times. Under A.R.S. § 10-1420, a domestic corporation that is without a statutory agent or known place of business for sixty days or more becomes subject to administrative dissolution. For a foreign corporation, the equivalent consequence under A.R.S. § 10-1530 is revocation of its authority to transact business in Arizona.
Who May Serve as a Registered Agent for an Arizona Corporation?
Arizona law provides two categories of persons who may serve as a corporation’s statutory agent. Under A.R.S. § 10-501, the statutory agent must be one of the following:
Option A — An Individual — An individual who resides in Arizona may serve as the corporation’s statutory agent. The individual must have a permanent, full-time physical street address in Arizona. If the individual has a separate mailing address, it must also be in Arizona. The individual must accept the appointment in writing by signing and filing Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002) with the ACC.
Option B — An Organization — A domestic corporation formed under Title 10, a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in Arizona, a domestic limited liability company formed under Title 29, or a foreign limited liability company authorized to transact business in Arizona may serve as a statutory agent. The entity must not be the corporation it seeks to represent — a corporation cannot be its own statutory agent. The entity must accept the appointment in writing using Form M002.
Note: A corporation can appoint one of its own directors or officers as a statutory agent in his or her individual capacity, but the corporation itself cannot serve as its own statutory agent. The Instructions for Form C010 confirm this restriction.
The table below summarizes the address requirements for the statutory agent’s known place of business:
| Requirement | Permissible | Not Permissible |
| Address type | Physical street address in Arizona | P.O. Box only |
| Service accessibility | Personal service during normal business hours | Solely a mailbox service |
| Commercial address use | Permitted if the commercial enterprise is the agent | Solely a telephone answering service |
| Location | Anywhere in Arizona | Outside Arizona |
How to Designate a Registered Agent on Your Arizona Certificate of Formation
The statutory agent and known place of business are designated on the corporation’s Articles of Incorporation filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission. For a domestic for-profit or professional corporation, this information appears in Article 8 of Form C010. For a domestic nonprofit corporation, it appears in Article 6 of Form C011. The designated statutory agent must have accepted the appointment in writing before the Articles are signed and submitted to the ACC.
- Obtain acceptance from the statutory agent by having the agent complete and sign Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002). The ACC strongly recommends submitting Form M002 simultaneously with the Articles of Incorporation. If no statutory agent acceptance is in the ACC system at the time the Articles are examined, the Articles will be rejected.
- Complete the statutory agent section of the Articles of Incorporation: provide the agent’s name (individual or entity) and the physical street address in Arizona. A separate mailing address may also be provided.
- Confirm the address: the known place of business must be a physical street address in Arizona. A P.O. Box is not acceptable as the street address.
- Submit the Articles of Incorporation, Form M002, the required Certificate of Disclosure, a Cover Sheet, and payment to the ACC by mail (Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division – Examination Section, 1300 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007), by fax (602-542-4100 for regular or expedited service), or in person at the Phoenix office.
- Pay the applicable filing fee. Pay the applicable filing fee, which is listed in the ACC’s Schedule of Fees – Corporations.
The table below summarizes the formation form, corporation type, and filing fee for each type of corporation:
| Form | Corporation Type | Filing Fee (Regular Processing) |
| Articles of Incorporation (Form C010) | For-profit corporation | $60 |
| Articles of Incorporation (Form C010) | Professional corporation | $60 |
| Articles of Incorporation – Nonprofit (Form C011) | Nonprofit corporation | $40 |
| Application for Authority (Form C018) | Foreign corporation | $175 |
Note: If no delayed effective date is specified in the Articles of Incorporation, the corporation is formed on the date the Articles are delivered to the ACC, provided all statutory requirements are met and all fees are paid.
Registered Agent Requirements for Professional Corporations in Arizona
A professional corporation (PC) in Arizona is subject to the same statutory agent requirements as a standard for-profit corporation. Under A.R.S. § 10-2202, Chapters 1 through 17 of Title 10 — which include the statutory agent provisions of A.R.S. § 10-501 — apply to professional corporations to the extent they are not inconsistent with Chapter 20. Because Chapter 20 contains no provisions altering statutory agent eligibility, consent, or address requirements, the rules are identical.
The distinctions between professional corporations and standard for-profit corporations are governed by Chapter 20 of Title 10 and relate to ownership eligibility and management restrictions, not to statutory agent designation. Under A.R.S. § 10-2230, at least one-half of the directors and the president of a professional corporation must be licensed in Arizona or another state to render a professional service described in the corporation’s articles of incorporation. Under A.R.S. § 10-2220, the corporation may issue voting shares only to individuals licensed to render the described professional service, with limited exceptions allowing up to forty-nine percent of voting shares to be held by unlicensed persons unless the licensing authority prescribes a different threshold. A professional corporation also may render professional services in Arizona only through individuals licensed in Arizona, as required by A.R.S. § 10-2213.
The table below compares statutory agent requirements and PC-specific requirements:
| Requirement | Standard For-Profit Corporation | Professional Corporation |
| Statutory agent eligibility | A.R.S. § 10-501 | A.R.S. § 10-501 (identical) |
| Acceptance required | Yes (Form M002) | Yes (Form M002) |
| Known place of business requirements | Physical Arizona address | Physical Arizona address (identical) |
| A corporation cannot be its own statutory agent | Yes | Yes (identical) |
| Director/president eligibility | No professional license required | At least half of the directors and president must be licensed (A.R.S. § 10-2230) |
| Formation form | Form C010 (for-profit box checked) | Form C010 (professional corporation box checked) |
| Formation filing fee | $60 | $60 |
Note: Arizona does not prohibit professional corporations from being formed for any specific profession under Chapter 20 itself. However, A.R.S. § 10-2213(с) provides that professionals may render services through a non-PC business entity unless the applicable licensing law expressly prohibits it. Incorporators should verify with the relevant licensing authority whether a professional corporation is required, permitted, or prohibited for their profession.
The Registered Agent’s Role in Corporate Governance and Legal Proceedings
The statutory agent occupies a distinct and statutorily defined position within the framework of corporate governance and legal proceedings in Arizona. Its role is separate from, and should not be confused with, the roles of the corporation’s officers, directors, and shareholders.
Primary Role: Designated Agent for Service of Process — The statutory agent is the corporation’s primary point of contact for all legal process, notices, and demands. Under A.R.S. § 10-504, proper service on the statutory agent at the known place of business constitutes lawful personal service on the corporation itself. A lawsuit is legally initiated against the corporation when the summons and complaint are delivered to the statutory agent, triggering the corporation’s deadline to file a responsive pleading. The statutory agent must forward those documents to the corporation promptly to preserve the corporation’s ability to defend.
The Arizona Corporation Commission as Substitute Agent — Under A.R.S. § 10-504(B), if a corporation fails to appoint or maintain a statutory agent at the address shown on the records of the ACC, the Commission itself becomes the corporation’s agent for service of process. Service on the ACC is made by delivering duplicate copies of the process, notice, or demand. The ACC then forwards one copy by mail to the corporation at its known place of business. If such substitute service occurs, the corporation receives an additional thirty days to respond beyond the time otherwise provided by law. For foreign corporations, A.R.S. § 10-1510 provides a parallel mechanism. The practical risk is significant: when a process is served on the ACC as substitute agent, the corporation may not receive timely notice of the legal action, creating a substantial risk of a default judgment.
Governance Implications — The board of directors and officers bear responsibility for ensuring that a qualified, available statutory agent is continuously maintained. Any change in the statutory agent or known place of business requires prompt action by an authorized officer, chairman of the board, or other authorized person, evidenced by filing the appropriate Statement of Change (Form C016) with the ACC.
Registered Agent Information in Corporate Bylaws
Under A.R.S. § 10-206, the board of directors of a corporation shall adopt initial bylaws, and those bylaws “may contain any provision for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the corporation that is not inconsistent with law or the articles of incorporation.” Arizona does not require the corporate bylaws to identify the statutory agent or the known place of business.
The official designation of the statutory agent is made in the Articles of Incorporation filed with the ACC and is updated by filing a Statement of Change (Form C016). Bylaws are internal governance documents kept at the corporation’s principal office and are not filed with the ACC. The Instructions for Form C010 confirm that bylaws should not be filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Amending the corporate bylaws does not constitute an official change of statutory agent. Any change with legal effect must be accomplished by filing Form C016 with the ACC. A corporation may nonetheless choose to reference its statutory agent in its bylaws for the following practical reasons:
- Providing directors, officers, and shareholders with a centralized reference to the corporation’s current statutory agent information
- Establishing an internal notification procedure when the statutory agent or known place of business changes
- Documenting the process by which the corporation will appoint a replacement statutory agent in the event of a resignation or departure
What Happens to an Arizona Corporation Without a Registered Agent?
An Arizona corporation that fails to maintain a statutory agent or a known place of business faces administrative dissolution. Under A.R.S. § 10-1420, the ACC may commence a dissolution proceeding if the corporation is without a statutory agent or known place of business in Arizona for sixty days or more. The ACC serves the corporation with written notice under A.R.S. § 10-1421, and the corporation has sixty days after service of that notice to correct the deficiency. If the corporation fails to cure the deficiency within those sixty days, the ACC administratively dissolves the corporation by signing a certificate of dissolution.
For a foreign corporation, the equivalent consequence under A.R.S. § 10-1530 and A.R.S. § 10-1531 is revocation of the foreign corporation’s authority to transact business in Arizona. The procedural framework mirrors the domestic dissolution process: the ACC provides notice, the corporation has sixty days to cure, and the ACC issues a certificate of revocation if the deficiency persists.
The table below summarizes the consequences of non-compliance:
| Consequence | Authority |
| Administrative dissolution of a domestic corporation | A.R.S. § 10-1421 |
| Revocation of a foreign corporation’s authority | A.R.S. § 10-1531 |
| ACC becomes substitute agent for service of process (domestic) | A.R.S. § 10-504 |
| ACC becomes substitute agent for service of process (foreign) | A.R.S. § 10-1510 |
| Loss of right to carry on business (domestic — limited to winding up) | A.R.S. § 10-1421(с) |
| Risk of default judgment without the corporation’s knowledge | A.R.S. § 10-504(B) |
An administratively dissolved domestic corporation continues its corporate existence but may not carry on any business except that necessary to wind up and liquidate its affairs. The administrative dissolution does not terminate the authority of the corporation’s statutory agent under A.R.S. § 10-1421(D).
Reinstatement — Under A.R.S. § 10-1422, a corporation that has been administratively dissolved may apply to the ACC for reinstatement within six years after the effective date of dissolution. The application must state the corporation’s name and the effective date of dissolution, and must confirm that the grounds for dissolution either did not exist or have been eliminated. The reinstatement filing fee is $100 for regular processing. When reinstatement is effective, it relates back to the effective date of the administrative dissolution, and the corporation resumes carrying on its business as if the dissolution had never occurred. A foreign corporation whose authority was revoked may similarly apply for reinstatement within six years under A.R.S. § 10-1531(F).
How to Change a Registered Agent for an Arizona Corporation
A corporation changes its statutory agent by filing a Statement of Change (Form C016) with the Arizona Corporation Commission, as authorized by A.R.S. § 10-502 for domestic for-profit corporations, A.R.S. § 10-1508 for foreign for-profit corporations, A.R.S. § 10-3502 for domestic nonprofit corporations, and A.R.S. § 10-11508 for foreign nonprofit corporations. Any registered corporation — for-profit, nonprofit, professional, domestic, or foreign — may use this process and this form.
- Obtain acceptance from the new statutory agent by having the agent complete and sign Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002). The ACC recommends submitting Form M002 simultaneously with Form C016. If no statutory agent acceptance is on file when the Statement of Change is examined, the filing will be rejected.
- Complete Form C016 with the corporation’s exact entity name as shown in ACC records, the new statutory agent’s name, and the new statutory agent’s physical street address in Arizona. See the Instructions for Form C016 for detailed guidance.
- File the form by mail (Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division – Examination Section, 1300 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007), by fax (602-542-4100 for regular or expedited service), or in person at the Phoenix office.
- Pay the applicable filing fee, if any.
There is no filing fee for a corporation Statement of Change under regular processing. Expedited processing is available for an additional $35, same-day service for $200, and next-day service for $100. The fee is the same regardless of whether the corporation is for-profit, nonprofit, or a professional corporation.
The change becomes effective on delivery to the ACC for filing, unless a delayed effective date is specified.
If a statutory agent changes its own street address, the agent may file a Statement of Change (Form C016) on its own behalf under A.R.S. § 10-502(с). The statutory agent must give written notice to the corporation of the address change before filing. This mechanism allows an agent who represents multiple corporations to update each corporation’s record individually using the same form. The statutory agent certifies by signing the form that it has given the corporation written notice of the change.
Arizona Corporation Registered Agent Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Arizona corporation serve as its own registered agent?
No. A corporation cannot serve as its own statutory agent in Arizona. Under A.R.S. § 10-501, the statutory agent must be an individual who resides in Arizona or a separate entity — a domestic corporation, a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in Arizona, a domestic LLC, or a foreign LLC authorized to transact business in Arizona. The Instructions for Form C010 expressly state that “a corporation cannot be its own Statutory Agent — it must appoint someone apart from itself.” The corporation may appoint one of its directors or officers as a statutory agent in that individual’s personal capacity, but the entity itself is ineligible.
Can a sole incorporator of a corporation serve as its registered agent?
Yes. An incorporator who is an individual residing in Arizona and who has a permanent physical street address in the state may serve as the corporation’s statutory agent. The incorporator must accept the appointment by signing Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002), which is submitted alongside the Articles of Incorporation. By signing the Articles, the incorporator acknowledges under penalty of law that the filing complies with Arizona law, and the named agent’s acceptance must be on file with the ACC. The incorporator’s personal address will appear in the corporation’s public filing history, as all documents filed with the ACC are public record.
Does a corporation need a registered agent separate from its officers and directors?
No. Arizona does not require the statutory agent to be someone other than a director, officer, or employee of the corporation. Any individual who meets the eligibility requirements — residency in Arizona and a physical street address in the state — may serve, regardless of whether that person also holds a corporate office or sits on the board. The only prohibition is that the corporation itself cannot serve as its own statutory agent. The formally appointed statutory agent remains required at all times; no other role or designation substitutes for this requirement.
Must a registered agent be designated before filing formation documents?
Yes. The statutory agent’s name and street address are required fields on the Articles of Incorporation, as specified in A.R.S. § 10-202. The designated agent must have already accepted the appointment by signing Form M002 before the Articles are submitted. The ACC will reject the Articles if no statutory agent acceptance is in its system at the time of examination. This requirement applies equally to for-profit corporations (Form C010), nonprofit corporations (Form C011), and foreign corporations (Form C018).
Is the corporation’s registered agent required to be listed in the corporate bylaws?
No. Under A.R.S. § 10-206, bylaws may contain provisions for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the corporation that are not inconsistent with law or the articles of incorporation, but no provision of Title 10 mandates that the statutory agent or known place of business be identified in the bylaws. The official designation is made in the Articles of Incorporation and updated by filing Form C016. Bylaws are internal governance documents not filed with the ACC, and amending them does not affect a legal change of statutory agent.
Can I change my corporation’s registered agent online?
Yes. The Arizona Corporation Commission’s new online filing portal, Arizona Business Center, allows corporations to submit filings electronically, including changes to statutory agent information. The change is filed using Form C016, and the Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002) from the new agent must accompany the filing. There is no filing fee for a Statement of Change under regular processing. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee.
Do Professional Corporations (PCs) have different registered agent requirements?
No. Under A.R.S. § 10-2202, Chapters 1 through 17 of Title 10 apply to professional corporations to the extent they are not inconsistent with Chapter 20. Because Chapter 20 contains no provisions altering statutory agent eligibility, acceptance, or address requirements, the rules are identical to those for standard for-profit corporations. The distinctions between PCs and standard for-profit corporations relate exclusively to ownership eligibility, share issuance, and management restrictions under A.R.S. §§ 10-2220 and 10-2230. Both types are formed using Form C010 and pay the same $60 filing fee.
Can the same individual or service act as registered agent for multiple Arizona corporations?
Yes. Arizona law does not limit the number of corporations for which an individual or entity may serve as a statutory agent. This practice is standard among professional statutory agent service companies operating in Arizona. If an individual or entity serving as agent for multiple corporations changes its own street address, it may file a separate Statement of Change (Form C016) for each represented corporation under A.R.S. § 10-502(с), certifying that written notice of the change has been given to each corporation.
What happens if my corporation’s registered agent moves out of Arizona?
If the statutory agent is an individual who relocates outside of Arizona, that person no longer satisfies the residency requirement of A.R.S. § 10-501 and ceases to be eligible to serve. The corporation must promptly appoint a new statutory agent by filing Form C016 along with a completed Form M002 from the new agent. If the corporation remains without a statutory agent for sixty days or more, the ACC may commence administrative dissolution proceedings under A.R.S. § 10-1420. If the agent merely relocates to a new address within Arizona, the agent may update the address by filing Form C016 and certifying that written notice has been given to the corporation.
Is there a different registered agent fee for nonprofit corporations changing their agent?
No. Arizona charges no filing fee for a corporation Statement of Change (Form C016) under regular processing, regardless of whether the corporation is a for-profit corporation, a nonprofit corporation, or a professional corporation. This uniform no-fee policy is reflected in the Schedule of Fees – Corporations, which lists the Statement of Change filing fee as “No Fee.” Expedited processing services are available for an additional fee: $35 for expedited, $200 for same-day, or $100 for next-day processing.