What is a registered agent?

Business owners rightly choose to protect their personal assets by forming entities, such as limited liability companies,  partnerships and corporations. Upon forming a business entity, or commencing a Washington, D.C. presence by registering to conduct business in the District of Columbia, companies must identify a registered office and agent to receive, for example, important mail sent to them by the government, as well as parties to legal proceedings. It is necessary that the registered agent be located at a physical address within the District, as a post office box is not acceptable. Many companies and individuals are also required to obtain a District of Columbia business license, for which a resident agent is required.

In addition, other entities and individuals - such as estates, companies regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), private detective agencies and private security agencies - must designate agents in the District of Columbia for various reasons. District Registered Agent Services acts as a D.C agent in those circumstances as well.