Louisiana Registered Agent: Rules & Cost (2026)
Every Louisiana LLC must continuously maintain a registered office in Louisiana and at least one registered agent, under Louisiana Revised Statute 12:1308. The agent must be a resident citizen of Louisiana or a qualified entity authorized to act as agent for service of process. Changing the agent costs $25 (form #983), rising to $30 on October 1, 2026.
Quick Answer
- Required?
- Yes - continuously, for every LLC (RS 12:1308)
- Who qualifies
- Louisiana resident citizen, or a qualified law firm/corporation/LLC
- Registered office
- A physical Louisiana address - no PO box alone
- Named where
- In the initial report filed with the Articles of Organization
- Change agent
- Form #983 - $25 fee ($30 from Oct 1, 2026)
- Agency
- Louisiana Secretary of State (geauxBIZ)
What a Louisiana Registered Agent Is
A registered agent is the person or entity your LLC designates to receive service of process (lawsuit papers), tax notices, and official correspondence from the state. The registered agent is paired with a registered office - a physical Louisiana street address where the agent can be reached during normal business hours. Together they give the public and the courts a reliable point of contact for the LLC.
Louisiana Revised Statute 12:1308 requires every LLC to continuously maintain both a registered office in Louisiana and at least one registered agent. This is not a one-time formality: the requirement runs for the entire life of the LLC. You name the initial agent in the initial report that accompanies your Articles of Organization. For the concept across all states, see the national registered agent overview.
Who Can Be a Registered Agent in Louisiana
Under RS 12:1308, a Louisiana registered agent must be one of the following:
- An individual who is a citizen of Louisiana residing in the state;
- A partnership or professional law corporation authorized to practice law in Louisiana;
- A domestic or qualified foreign corporation or LLC authorized to transact business in Louisiana and authorized by its articles or certificate to act as agent for service of process, with the required certificate on file with the Secretary of State.
The registered office must be a physical location in Louisiana; a post office box alone does not satisfy the requirement, because process must be capable of being served in person. This is why the statute frames the office as a real address, not merely a mailing point.
Can You Be Your Own Registered Agent?
Yes. If you are a Louisiana resident citizen with a physical Louisiana street address, you may serve as your own registered agent at no state cost. Many single-member LLC owners do this. The trade-offs are practical: your address becomes part of the public record, and you must be reliably available at that address during business hours to accept service of process.
Because of those trade-offs, many owners hire a commercial registered agent service. A commercial agent provides a stable Louisiana address, forwards documents, and keeps your home address off the public filing. Commercial services set their own annual price, which is not a state fee and is not required by law. See what an LLC is for how the agent fits the overall structure and the registered agent guide for choosing one.
How to Change Your Registered Agent
To change your registered office or registered agent, file a Change of Registered Office or Agent (form #983) with the Louisiana Secretary of State. The fee is $25, rising to $30 on October 1, 2026 under Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Session. RS 12:1309 governs the change, and it takes effect when the Secretary of State accepts the filing. You can file online through geauxBIZ.
Keep the appointment current whenever your agent moves, resigns, or is replaced. If a commercial agent resigns, appoint a successor promptly so the LLC is never without an agent. The fee table below summarizes the amounts involved.
| Action | Form | Fee (now) | From Oct 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name initial registered agent | Initial report with #365 | $0 (included) | $0 (included) |
| Change of registered office or agent | #983 | $25 | $30 |
| Change of members and/or managers | #983A | $25 | $30 |
| Annual report (keeps agent info current) | geauxBIZ filing | $30 | $35 |
What Happens Without a Registered Agent
Losing your registered agent has real consequences. First, the LLC may miss service of process - if a lawsuit is served and no one receives it, the LLC can suffer a default judgment without ever knowing it was sued. Second, the LLC risks losing good standing with the Secretary of State.
Under RS 12:1308.2, the Secretary of State shall revoke the articles of organization of a domestic LLC that fails to file an annual report for three consecutive years, after at least 30 days' notice - and a lapsed or unreachable agent is a common reason those notices go unanswered. Reinstatement generally requires filing the delinquent reports and paying the required fees. See the Louisiana annual report guide for the revocation and reinstatement details.
Registered Office Requirements
The registered office is the physical Louisiana address tied to your registered agent. It must be a real street address where the agent is available to accept service during business hours. The registered office does not have to be the LLC's place of business; it can be the agent's office. What it cannot be is a bare P.O. box, because the statute contemplates that a process server can physically reach the agent there.
When you form the LLC, you list the registered office in the initial report. If the office address changes - even to a new suite for the same agent - file form #983 to keep the record accurate. Compare Louisiana's rule with, for example, Texas's registered agent rule, which similarly requires a physical in-state office.
A registered agent must maintain a physical street address in the state of formation - a post office box alone does not satisfy the requirement - and must be available at that address during normal business hours to accept service of process and official mail. If a lawsuit is filed against the LLC, the court papers are delivered to the registered agent, so a missed delivery can lead to a default judgment entered without the owner's knowledge.
You can serve as your own registered agent, appoint a member or manager, or hire a commercial registered agent service. Owners who move frequently, operate from home, or want to keep a home address off the public record often prefer a commercial service, which lists its own address in the state records and forwards documents. The trade-off is an annual fee in exchange for privacy and reliable availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Louisiana LLC need a registered agent?
Yes. RS 12:1308 requires every LLC to continuously maintain a Louisiana registered office and at least one registered agent to receive service of process and official notices. See how to form an LLC in Louisiana.
Who can be a registered agent in Louisiana?
A Louisiana resident citizen, a partnership or professional law corporation authorized to practice law here, or a domestic or qualified foreign corporation or LLC authorized to act as agent for service of process (RS 12:1308).
Can I be my own registered agent in Louisiana?
Yes, if you are a Louisiana resident citizen with a physical street address in the state. It costs nothing, but your address becomes public and you must be available during business hours.
How do I change my registered agent in Louisiana?
File form #983, Change of Registered Office or Agent, with the Secretary of State for $25 (rising to $30 on October 1, 2026). It takes effect when accepted.
What happens if my Louisiana LLC has no registered agent?
The LLC can miss lawsuits and suffer default judgments, and missed filings can lead the Secretary of State to revoke the articles under RS 12:1308.2 after three years.
Can a PO box be a registered office in Louisiana?
No. The registered office must be a physical Louisiana address where the agent can be served in person during business hours. A PO box alone does not qualify.
Related
- Registered agent overview (cluster hub)
- How to form an LLC in Louisiana
- How much does a Louisiana LLC cost?
- Louisiana LLC annual report
- How to dissolve an LLC in Louisiana
- Business licenses in Louisiana
- How to form an LLC in Texas (sibling)
Sources
- Louisiana Legislature - RS 12:1308, Registered office and registered agent (continuous maintenance; agent qualifications).
- Louisiana Legislature - RS 12:1309, Change of registered office or agent.
- Louisiana Legislature - RS 12:1308.1, Annual report (anniversary date).
- Louisiana Legislature - RS 12:1308.2, Failure to file annual report; revocation and reinstatement.
- Louisiana Legislature - RS 12:1305, Articles of organization; initial report (naming the agent).
- Louisiana Secretary of State - Forms & Fee Schedule ($25 Change of Registered Office or Agent #983).
- Louisiana Secretary of State - 2026 Fee Changes (Act 921), effective Oct 1, 2026 (change of agent $30; annual report $35).
- Louisiana Secretary of State - File Business Documents (geauxBIZ).
- Louisiana Secretary of State - Service of Process (role of the registered agent).
- IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal classification background).
- Legal Information Institute - Registered agent (Wex legal definition).
- Legal Information Institute - Service of process (Wex legal definition).
LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current requirements with the Louisiana Secretary of State before acting.