What Is a Registered Agent for an Arizona LLC?
A registered agent—officially called a statutory agent under Arizona law—is the person or entity an LLC appoints to receive lawsuits, government notices, and legal demands on the company’s behalf. A.R.S. § 29-3115 creates the role and confines the agent’s statutory duties to three tasks: forwarding any process, notice, or demand to the LLC at the most recent address the company has supplied; notifying the LLC if the agent resigns under A.R.S. § 29-3117; and keeping agent information current in the LLC’s articles of organization or foreign registration statement. The Arizona Corporation Commission also mails its own official correspondence—including compliance warnings and dissolution notices—to the statutory agent’s address on file.
Note: Arizona uses the term statutory agent rather than “registered agent.” Both phrases describe the same role. Every ACC form, statute, and instruction page refers to the position as the statutory agent.
Is a Registered Agent Required for an Arizona LLC?
Every domestic LLC, registered foreign LLC, and Professional LLC doing business in Arizona must designate and continuously maintain a statutory agent in the state. The mandate is explicit: A.R.S. § 29-3115(A) provides that “each limited liability company and each registered foreign limited liability company shall designate and maintain a statutory agent in this state.” The obligation begins the moment the Arizona Corporation Commission accepts the company’s formation or registration documents and continues for as long as the entity remains on Commission records—through active operations, winding up, and even after administrative dissolution. An LLC that goes sixty consecutive days without a statutory agent on file faces dissolution proceedings under A.R.S. § 29-3708. Because the appointment does not take effect until the agent delivers a signed acceptance to the Commission, the LLC must coordinate written consent before or simultaneously with its formation filing.
The table below shows the statutory agent obligation across LLC entity types filed with the ACC.
| Entity type | Statutory agent required? | Governing statute | Formation or registration form |
| Domestic LLC | Yes | A.R.S. § 29-3115 | Articles of Organization (Form L010) |
| Professional LLC (PLLC) | Yes | A.R.S. § 29-3115 | Articles of Organization (Form L010) — select PLLC |
| Foreign LLC | Yes | A.R.S. § 29-3115 | Foreign Registration Statement (Form L025) |
Who May Serve as a Registered Agent for an Arizona LLC?
A statutory agent must be either an individual who resides in Arizona or an entity authorized to transact business in the state. A.R.S. § 29-3115(B) lists every eligible category: an individual resident of Arizona, a domestic corporation, a domestic limited liability company, a foreign corporation authorized in Arizona, or a foreign limited liability company authorized in Arizona. Unlike several states that restrict the role to individuals and corporations, Arizona expressly permits another LLC to serve as a statutory agent. Every statutory agent must maintain a place of business or residence in Arizona, and the appointment does not take effect until the agent signs and delivers an acceptance record to the Commission.
The table below summarizes the address requirements the Commission enforces for statutory agents.
| Address element | Requirement |
| Physical street address in Arizona | Required — a P.O. Box alone does not satisfy this requirement |
| Mailing address in Arizona | Required — may be a P.O. Box |
| Out-of-state address | Not permitted |
| Agent’s street address and registered office | Must match — service of process is delivered to the street address on file |
| Where ACC mails official notices | Mailing address if one is on file; otherwise, street address |
Note: All addresses filed with the ACC become public record and are viewable through the Commission’s online database. Business owners who prefer to keep a home address off the public record often appoint a professional statutory-agent service whose commercial street address appears on file instead.
Can an LLC Member or Manager Serve as Registered Agent in Arizona?
Any member or manager who is an individual residing in Arizona may serve as the LLC’s statutory agent. The member or manager must have a physical street address in the state and must sign and deliver the Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002) to the ACC. Because the member-agent acts in an individual capacity, the appointment is personal—it does not transfer automatically if the member sells or assigns an LLC interest. The arrangement saves money, but it carries trade-offs in privacy, availability, and continuity that every business owner should weigh before deciding.
The Instructions for Form M002 clarify the boundary: “a corporation or LLC cannot be its own Statutory Agent—it must appoint someone apart from itself.” A member or manager serving as an agent does so as a natural person, not as the LLC. That distinction means the individual’s name and home or office address appear on the public record.
The table below compares self-service and professional-service approaches.
| Factor | Self-service (member or manager as agent) | Professional statutory-agent service |
| Annual cost | $0 — no separate fee beyond formation filing | Typically $50–$300 per year |
| Privacy | Member’s personal or office address becomes public record | Service’s commercial address appears on file |
| Availability | The member must be reachable at the street address during business hours | Service staffs a physical office during business hours |
| Business continuity | Member relocation or departure triggers a required Statement of Change | Service remains in place regardless of internal LLC changes |
| Document handling | The member receives the process directly | Service scans and forwards process, often with same-day digital notification |
How to Designate a Registered Agent on Your Arizona LLC Certificate of Formation
An LLC designates its statutory agent in Section 4 of the Articles of Organization (Form L010), filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission, together with a signed Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002). The organizer must provide the agent’s name, a physical street address in Arizona that is not a P.O. Box, and a mailing address in Arizona. The filing fee for the articles is $50 for regular processing. The ACC also requires a management-structure attachment—either the Manager Structure Attachment (Form L040) or the Member Structure Attachment (Form L041)—and a Cover Sheet. Without a signed Form M002 accompanying the articles, the Commission will reject the filing.
Follow these steps to designate the statutory agent at formation.
- Confirm that the proposed agent meets the eligibility criteria of A.R.S. § 29-3115(B)—an Arizona-resident individual, a domestic corporation or LLC, or a foreign corporation or LLC authorized in Arizona.
- Have the proposed agent complete and sign the Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002). There is no filing fee for this form under regular processing.
- Complete Section 4 of the Articles of Organization (Form L010) with the agent’s name, street address, and mailing address.
- Fill in all remaining sections of Form L010—entity type (LLC or PLLC), exact entity name, management structure, and principal address.
- Attach the required management-structure attachment (Form L040 for manager-managed or Form L041 for member-managed).
- Sign and date the articles as the organizer.
- Submit Form L010, Form M002, the structure attachment, a Cover Sheet, and the $50 filing fee to the ACC Examination Section by mail (1300 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007), by fax (602-542-4100 for regular or expedited service), or online through Arizona Business Center.
Foreign LLCs follow the same agent-designation process but use the Foreign Registration Statement (Form L025). Section 8 of that form collects the agent’s name and addresses. The filing fee for a foreign registration is $150.
The table below compares filing fees across the documents most closely tied to the statutory-agent designation.
| Document | Form | Regular fee | Expedited fee |
| Articles of Organization (domestic LLC or PLLC) | L010 | $50 | $85 |
| Foreign Registration Statement | L025 | $150 | $185 |
| Statement of Change — principal address or statutory agent | L020 | $5 | $40 |
| Statutory Agent Acceptance | M002 | $0 | $35 |
| Statutory Agent Resignation | L032 | $10 | $45 |
| Application for Reinstatement | — | $100 | $135 |
Amounts are drawn from the Schedule of Fees — Limited Liability Companies and A.R.S. § 29-3213. Expedited processing adds a $35 surcharge to the regular fee. Accelerated tiers are also available: $100 for next-day, $200 for same-day, and $400 for two-hour service. All fees are nonrefundable.
Registered Agent Information in Your LLC Operating Agreement
The operating agreement is not required to include the statutory agent’s name or address, and the ACC does not file or review operating agreements. A.R.S. § 29-3105(c)(3) provides that an operating agreement “may not vary any requirement, procedure or other provision of this chapter about statutory agents.” The operating agreement, therefore, cannot alter who qualifies as an agent, override the signed-acceptance requirement, or excuse the LLC from maintaining an agent on file with the Commission. Some organizers choose to note the current statutory agent in the agreement for internal recordkeeping, but that notation carries no legal weight with the ACC. The official designation is controlled entirely by the articles of organization or the most recent Statement of Change (Form L020) on file with the Commission.
Practical note: Updating the operating agreement alone does not change the statutory agent on Commission records. An LLC must always file Form L020 with an accompanying signed Form M002 to make any agent change official.
What Happens to an Arizona LLC Without a Registered Agent?
The ACC may begin administrative dissolution proceedings against any LLC that goes sixty consecutive days without a statutory agent on file. Under A.R.S. § 29-3708, the Commission delivers a written notice to the company at the agent’s address—or, if no agent exists, at the LLC’s principal address. The LLC then has sixty days to cure the deficiency. If the company fails to cure within that window, the ACC states administrative dissolution, and the LLC may conduct activities only to wind up its affairs or apply for reinstatement. The statute specifies that “a limited liability company that is administratively dissolved continues in existence as an entity but may not carry on any activities except as necessary to wind up its activities and affairs.” Separately, A.R.S. § 29-3119 permits substitute service of process—by certified mail to the principal address, or by hand delivery to any person in charge at a regular place of business—when an LLC has no agent or its agent “cannot with reasonable diligence be served.”
The table below summarizes the consequences and the statutory authorities behind each.
| Consequence | Trigger | Cure period | Authority |
| Administrative dissolution proceedings begin | No statutory agent in Arizona for 60 consecutive days | 60 days after ACC delivers notice | A.R.S. § 29-3708(A)(2) |
| Administrative dissolution proceedings begin | Failure to notify ACC within 60 days of agent change or resignation | 60 days after ACC delivers notice | A.R.S. § 29-3708(A)(4) |
| Substitute service of process permitted | No agent, or agent cannot be served with reasonable diligence | — | A.R.S. § 29-3119(B) |
| LLC name released for reuse | No reinstatement application filed within 6 months of dissolution | — | A.R.S. § 29-3709(B) |
An administratively dissolved LLC may apply for reinstatement under A.R.S. § 29-3709 within six years of the effective date of dissolution. The application must state that the grounds for dissolution have been cured, identify the current statutory agent and principal address, and be accompanied by all outstanding fees and penalties plus the $100 reinstatement application fee. If the LLC’s original name has been taken by another entity during the dissolution period, the company must simultaneously file articles of amendment to adopt a new name. Upon reinstatement, the LLC resumes operations retroactively as if the dissolution had never occurred.
Practical note: Administrative dissolution does not terminate the authority of the last statutory agent on record. Even after dissolution, that agent remains listed in Commission files and may still receive service of process on the LLC’s behalf until a formal resignation is filed.
How to Change a Registered Agent for an Arizona LLC
An LLC changes its statutory agent by filing the LLC Statement of Change of Principal Address or Statutory Agent (Form L020) with the ACC, accompanied by a signed Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002) from the new agent. The filing fee is $5 for regular processing. Under A.R.S. § 29-3116, the appointment of a successor statutory agent “is not effective until the successor statutory agent, the limited liability company, or the registered foreign limited liability company delivers a record to the commission signed by the successor statutory agent accepting the change or the appointment.” Member or manager approval is not required to file a Statement of Change.
Follow these steps to change the statutory agent.
- Confirm the new agent’s eligibility under A.R.S. § 29-3115(B).
- Have the new agent complete and sign the Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002).
- Complete the LLC Statement of Change (Form L020)—enter the LLC’s exact name, the new agent’s name, street address, and mailing address in Section 3. If only the current agent’s address is changing, complete Section 2 instead of Section 3.
- Sign and date Form L020.
- Submit Form L020, Form M002, a Cover Sheet, and the $5 fee by mail or in person at the ACC Examination Section (1300 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007), by fax (602-542-4100), or online through Arizona Business Center.
The Instructions for Form L020 warn that “if no statutory agent acceptance is in the Arizona Corporation Commission system at the time the Statement of Change is examined, the Statement of Change will be rejected.” Always submit Form M002 simultaneously with Form L020.
If the change originates with the existing statutory agent updating its own name or address—for example, a law firm that changes its name—the agent files under A.R.S. § 29-3118 using the same Form L020 and must promptly notify the LLC of the filing.
When a statutory agent resigns without being replaced, the agent files the Statutory Agent Resignation (Form L032) with a $10 filing fee. Under A.R.S. § 29-3117, the resignation takes effect on the thirty-first day after the ACC receives the filing, or upon appointment of a new agent, whichever comes first. The resigning agent must mail written notice of the resignation to the LLC at an address other than the agent’s own. Once the resignation takes effect, the LLC has sixty days to appoint a replacement before the ACC may initiate dissolution proceedings.
Arizona LLC Registered Agent Frequently Asked Questions
Can an Arizona LLC serve as its own registered agent?
No. The Instructions for Form M002 state that “a corporation or LLC cannot be its own Statutory Agent—it must appoint someone apart from itself.” The LLC may appoint one of its own members or managers in that person’s individual capacity, provided the individual is an Arizona resident with a physical street address in the state, but the entity itself cannot fill the role. This rule ensures that a distinct person is always available to accept service of process on the company’s behalf.
Can a single-member LLC owner serve as the LLC’s registered agent?
Yes. A sole owner who is an individual Arizona resident may serve as the company’s statutory agent. The owner must list a physical street address in Arizona on the Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002) and be available at that address during business hours to accept service of process. The trade-off is that the owner’s name and address become part of the public record maintained by the ACC. Owners who value privacy often appoint a commercial statutory agent service instead.
Does a multi-member LLC need a registered agent separate from its members?
No. Any member who is an individual Arizona resident may serve, or the LLC may appoint an outside person or entity that satisfies the eligibility criteria of A.R.S. § 29-3115(B). There is no statutory requirement to use an independent third party. Many multi-member LLCs choose a professional service for continuity—when a member departs or relocates, the statutory agent designation remains unaffected, and no Statement of Change (Form L020) is needed.
Is it required to designate a registered agent prior to submitting the formation documents for a business entity?
Yes. Section 4 of the Articles of Organization (Form L010) requires the statutory agent’s name, physical street address, and mailing address. The signed Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002) must be submitted together with the articles. The ACC will reject a formation filing that arrives without a completed acceptance form. Organizers should secure the agent’s written consent before preparing the articles.
Is the LLC’s registered agent required to be listed in the operating agreement?
No. Arizona law does not require the operating agreement to identify the statutory agent. A.R.S. § 29-3105(c)(3) prohibits the operating agreement from varying any statutory-agent requirement, which means the agreement can reference the agent for internal convenience but cannot override the designation on file with the ACC. The official agent of record is always the person or entity shown in the Commission’s database, not the person named in the operating agreement.
Can I change my LLC’s registered agent online?
Yes. The ACC’s Arizona Business Center portal, launched in January 2026, supports online filing for Statements of Change and other LLC documents. Paper filing by mail or in person at the Phoenix office remains available. Regardless of filing method, the LLC must submit a completed Form L020 with the $5 fee and a signed Form M002 acceptance from the new agent. Check the LLC Forms page for the most current forms and posted processing times.
Does a Professional LLC (PLLC) have different registered agent requirements?
No. A Professional LLC follows the same statutory-agent rules as any other domestic LLC. Both entity types are formed on the Articles of Organization (Form L010)—the PLLC simply checks the “Professional Limited Liability Company” box in Section 1 and describes the professional services it will provide. The agent-eligibility criteria, acceptance process, address requirements, and change procedures under A.R.S. § 29-3115 are identical for LLCs and PLLCs.
Can the same individual or service act as registered agent for multiple Arizona LLCs?
Yes. Arizona law places no limit on the number of LLCs for which a single individual or entity may serve as a statutory agent. Commercial registered-agent services and attorneys routinely represent hundreds of Arizona entities simultaneously. Each LLC must independently submit a signed Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002) for the appointment, and if the shared agent later resigns, a separate Statutory Agent Resignation (Form L032) must be filed for each LLC.
What happens if my LLC’s registered agent moves out of Arizona?
The LLC must appoint a replacement agent before the sixty-day dissolution window opens. A.R.S. § 29-3708(A)(2) authorizes the ACC to begin administrative-dissolution proceedings when an LLC lacks a statutory agent in Arizona for sixty consecutive days. If the departing agent files a Statutory Agent Resignation (Form L032), that resignation takes effect on the thirty-first day after the Commission receives it. The LLC should file a Statement of Change (Form L020) with a new agent’s signed Form M002 well before either deadline expires to avoid compliance gaps.