What is a registered agent, and why does your LLC need one?
Last verified: 4 min read
A registered agent is the person or company that receives official mail and legal notices for your LLC, at a physical address in the state. Every LLC in New Mexico (NM), a U.S. state, must keep one at all times. With EXNNA, our registered agent is included for the first 12 months, and the public record shows us instead of you.
What does a registered agent do?
It's your company's official contact point in the state. The agent receives State correspondence, legal notices and service of process, which is the formal delivery of a lawsuit. Its address in the state is the registered office, and that's the address the public record shows.
You don't need to live in the U.S. or rent an office. The agent covers that for you.
Why does every LLC need a registered agent?
Because the State needs a reliable place to reach the company. Under the New Mexico Limited Liability Company Act, an LLC must keep a registered agent and a registered office in New Mexico at all times. It's the main thing a New Mexico LLC has to keep up: there's no annual report and no annual State fee.
How much does a registered agent cost?
| With EXNNA | |
|---|---|
| First 12 months | Included in the $200 |
| After that | $99 a year, only if you renew |
| How to renew | From your dashboard, or automatic renewal |
| Basic mail | 3 letters a year, scanned to your dashboard |
| Paper originals | Forwarded for a fee |
We remind you before the term ends. The full cost picture is in what an LLC really costs.
How does a registered agent keep your name private?
We sign your Articles of Organization as organizer and act as your agent, so the public filing shows EXNNA and our New Mexico address. Your name and address aren't on it. That's how an anonymous LLC in New Mexico works.
Can you be your own registered agent or use another one?
You can name your own agent, as long as they're eligible in New Mexico. The price is the same, you just don't get our 12 months. Your agent signs their acceptance, and you give a principal address of your own. You can switch between our agent and yours for free until we file.
What happens if your registered agent lapses?
The LLC can lose its good standing, face administrative revocation by the State, and run into trouble with banks and contracts. Worse, you could miss a lawsuit or an official notice entirely. Renew from your dashboard, or turn on automatic renewal and forget about it.
Is the registered agent address a business address?
It's the official address for legal mail, not a mailbox for everyday use. See what a U.S. business address for non-residents covers, and how mail reaches you.
Our pricing shows every option.
Start
FAQ
- What is a registered agent?
- The person or company that receives official mail and legal notices for your LLC, at a physical address in the state where it's formed.
- Do I need a registered agent in New Mexico?
- Yes. A New Mexico LLC must keep a registered agent and a registered office in the state at all times.
- How much does the EXNNA registered agent cost?
- The first 12 months are included in the $200. After that it's $99 a year, only if you renew.
- Can I use a different agent?
- Yes, if they're eligible in New Mexico. Same price, without our 12 months, and you can switch between the two options for free until we file.
- What happens if the agent lapses?
- The LLC can lose its good standing and be revoked by the State, and you could miss lawsuits and official notices.
Sources
- New Mexico: Secretary of State, Business Services; NMSA 1978 ch. 53 art. 19, official text (checked )
General information, not legal or tax advice.