Michigan Registered Agent: Requirements & Cost (2026)

Q: Who can be a Michigan resident agent?

A resident agent can be an individual who resides in Michigan, or a domestic or foreign corporation or LLC authorized to do business in Michigan. The agent must have a Michigan street address for the registered office; a post office box alone is not sufficient.

Q: How do I change my Michigan resident agent?

File a Certificate of Change of Registered Office and/or Resident Agent, Form CSCL/CD-520, with the Corporations Division at LARA. The filing fee is $5. The change takes effect when LARA accepts the certificate.

Q: Can I be my own registered agent in Michigan?

Yes. You may serve as your own resident agent if you are a Michigan resident with a Michigan street address available during business hours. Many owners instead hire a commercial resident agent for privacy and to avoid missing service of process.

Q: What happens if my Michigan LLC loses its resident agent?

If your LLC fails to maintain a resident agent or falls out of good standing, LARA can administratively dissolve the company. A dissolved LLC loses the right to conduct business until it is reinstated by curing the default and filing the required documents and fees.

Q: Is a resident agent the same as a registered agent?

Yes. Michigan's statute uses the term resident agent, while most other states say registered agent. They serve the same function: receiving service of process and official state notices at a physical in-state registered office.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

Michigan calls it a resident agent. Every Michigan LLC must continuously maintain a resident agent and a Michigan registered office under MCL 450.4207. You name the initial agent on your Articles of Organization, and you change agents by filing Form CSCL/CD-520 with LARA for a $5 fee. Losing your agent can lead to administrative dissolution.

Quick Answer

Michigan term: Resident agent (the same role other states call a registered agent)
Required?: Yes - every LLC must continuously maintain one (MCL 450.4207)
Agency: Corporations Division, CSCL, at Michigan LARA
Who qualifies: A Michigan-resident individual, or an authorized MI/foreign entity, with a Michigan street address
Change of agent: Form CSCL/CD-520, $5 filing fee
If it lapses: LARA may administratively dissolve the LLC

What a Michigan Resident Agent Is

A resident agent is the person or entity your Michigan LLC designates to receive service of process (lawsuit papers), tax notices, and official correspondence from the state. Michigan's statute uses the term "resident agent," but the role is identical to what most states call a registered agent: a reliable, in-state point of contact available at a fixed street address. The physical location where the agent can be reached is the registered office. Every Michigan LLC must have both, and you designate them on the Articles of Organization when you form the company. For the national picture, see our overview of the registered agent role and what a registered agent is.

The Legal Requirement Under MCL 450.4207

The Michigan Limited Liability Company Act (1993 PA 23) requires it. Under MCL 450.4207, every domestic and foreign LLC must continuously maintain in Michigan both a registered office and a resident agent whose business office is identical with the registered office. "Continuously" is the operative word: the requirement never lapses for the life of the LLC. The resident agent is the company's agent for service of process, meaning a plaintiff can validly serve the LLC by delivering papers to the agent. This is why Michigan - like every state - insists on a real, staffed address rather than a mailbox: legal notice has to reliably reach the company. The requirement applies from formation through dissolution.

Who Can Serve as a Michigan Resident Agent

Michigan law is specific about eligibility. A resident agent must be one of the following:

An individual who resides in Michigan and has a Michigan street address; or
A domestic corporation or domestic LLC; or
A foreign corporation or foreign LLC authorized to transact business in Michigan.

In every case the registered office must be a physical Michigan street address - a post office box alone does not satisfy the registered-office requirement. The agent should be available during normal business hours to accept delivery. An LLC cannot serve as its own resident agent, but a member, manager, employee, attorney, or a commercial resident agent service may serve if they meet these criteria.

Being Your Own Agent vs. a Commercial Service

You may act as your own resident agent in Michigan if you are a state resident with a qualifying address. Doing so is free, but it has trade-offs. Your registered-office address becomes part of the public record, you must be reliably present during business hours, and being served with a lawsuit at your place of business - sometimes in front of customers - can be awkward. A commercial resident agent charges an annual fee but provides a stable address, keeps your home address off the public filing, forwards documents promptly, and covers you if you travel or move. Owners who form in Michigan from out of state generally must use a commercial agent because the agent must be in-state. Compare the trade-offs on the national registered agent hub before deciding.

Option	Cost	Best for
Yourself / a member	$0	Michigan residents with a staffed street address who want no ongoing fee
Attorney or accountant	Varies	LLCs that already work with an in-state professional
Commercial resident agent	Annual fee	Out-of-state owners, privacy, and reliable document handling

How to Change Your Michigan Resident Agent

To change your resident agent or registered office, file a Certificate of Change of Registered Office and/or Resident Agent, Form CSCL/CD-520, with the Corporations Division at LARA. The filing fee is $5. You can file online through LARA's Corporations Online Filing System (COFS) or by mail. The change is effective when LARA accepts the certificate. You should also update the agent whenever the agent resigns, moves, or is no longer willing to serve - an agent may resign by filing its own statement, after which the LLC must promptly appoint a replacement to stay compliant. Keep the resident agent on your filings consistent with the name and address in your operating agreement and internal records.

Consequences of Letting the Agent Lapse

Failing to maintain a resident agent is not a minor oversight. If an LLC does not keep a valid resident agent and registered office - or falls behind on its annual statement and loses good standing - LARA can administratively dissolve the company. A dissolved LLC loses the authority to carry on business, may be unable to bring a lawsuit, and can find its name available for others to take. Just as damaging, if you cannot be served because your agent address is stale, a plaintiff may still obtain a default judgment against the LLC without your knowledge. Reinstatement is possible but requires curing the default, filing the outstanding documents, and paying the associated fees. Keeping a current agent - and filing the Michigan annual statement (Form CSCL/CD-2700, $25, due February 15) - is far easier than reinstating. See Michigan annual report/statement.

The Resident Agent in Formation and Taxes

You first name your resident agent on the Articles of Organization (Form CSCL/CD-700, $50) when you form the LLC - see Michigan LLC cost for the full fee picture. The resident agent handles legal and state mail but does not handle your taxes: you still obtain a federal EIN (free from the IRS), and you handle business tax obligations separately. The agent's job is narrow but critical - making sure nothing served on the company falls through the cracks. If you later restructure or elect S-corporation status, your resident agent requirement is unchanged; the agent designation follows the LLC regardless of its tax treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Michigan LLC need a registered agent?

Yes. Michigan calls it a resident agent. Under MCL 450.4207, every LLC must continuously maintain a resident agent and a registered office in Michigan. You name the initial agent on the Articles of Organization.

Who can be a Michigan resident agent?

An individual who resides in Michigan, or a domestic or foreign corporation or LLC authorized to do business in Michigan. The agent must have a Michigan street address; a P.O. box alone is not enough.

How do I change my Michigan resident agent?

File Form CSCL/CD-520, Certificate of Change of Registered Office and/or Resident Agent, with the Corporations Division at LARA. The fee is $5, and the change takes effect when LARA accepts it.

Can I be my own registered agent in Michigan?

Yes, if you are a Michigan resident with a Michigan street address available during business hours. Many owners hire a commercial resident agent for privacy and reliability instead.

What happens if my Michigan LLC loses its resident agent?

LARA can administratively dissolve the LLC. A dissolved company cannot legally do business until it is reinstated by curing the default and filing the required documents and fees.

Is a resident agent the same as a registered agent?

Yes. Michigan's statute says resident agent; most other states say registered agent. The role - receiving service of process and state notices at a physical in-state office - is the same.

Sources

Michigan LLC Act - MCL 450.4207, Registered office and resident agent (continuous maintenance requirement).
Michigan LLC Act - MCL 450.4208, Change of registered office or resident agent.
Michigan LLC Act - MCL 450.4209, Resignation of resident agent.
Michigan LLC Act - MCL 450.4101, Short title (1993 PA 23).
Michigan LARA - Limited Liability Company (CSCL) (resident agent named on Articles).
Michigan LARA - Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau.
Michigan LARA - Corporations Division (Form CSCL/CD-520 change of resident agent, $5).
Michigan LARA - LLC Annual Statements (Form CSCL/CD-2700, $25, due Feb 15).
Michigan LARA - Corporations Online Filing System (COFS).
Cornell Legal Information Institute - Registered agent (Wex).
Cornell Legal Information Institute - Service of process (Wex).
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC).

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 Michigan LARA before acting. This guide summarizes publicly available requirements and is updated as agencies revise their fees, forms, and deadlines; always confirm the current details on the relevant government website before you file, because published amounts can change between annual review cycles.