What Is a Registered Agent for a Connecticut LLC?
A registered agent is the individual or entity that a Connecticut LLC appoints to receive service of process, legal notices, and official state correspondence on the company’s behalf. The Connecticut Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, codified in Connecticut General Statutes §§ 34-243 through 34-283d, defines a registered agent as “an agent of a limited liability company or foreign limited liability company which is authorized to receive service of any process, notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served on the company.” The agent accepts delivery of lawsuits, subpoenas, tax notices, annual report reminders from the Secretary of the State, and other time-sensitive documents, then promptly forwards them to the LLC.
The registered agent’s function is limited to this receiving-and-forwarding role. The agent does not manage the LLC’s business, prepare its tax returns, or provide legal advice. Connecticut treats the designation as an affirmation by the LLC that the agent has consented to serve — the act of filing the agent’s name with the Secretary of the State itself constitutes that affirmation under CGS § 34-243n(a).
Is a Registered Agent Required for a Connecticut LLC?
Yes — every domestic LLC and every registered foreign LLC must designate and continuously maintain a registered agent in Connecticut. Section 34-243n(a) imposes this obligation without exception: the LLC must have a qualifying agent from the moment the Certificate of Organization is filed and throughout the entity’s existence. A foreign LLC that registers to transact business in the state through a Foreign Registration Statement faces the same ongoing requirement.
“Continuously maintain” means there can be no gap in agent coverage. If the current agent resigns, the LLC must appoint a replacement promptly. The Secretary of the State may dissolve a domestic LLC by forfeiture under CGS § 34-267g for noncompliance with statutory requirements, and may revoke a foreign LLC’s registration under CGS § 34-275g. Connecticut also recognizes Professional Limited Liability Companies (PLLCs) under CGS § 34-243h(с), and the registered-agent requirement applies to PLLCs in the same way.
Who May Serve as a Registered Agent for a Connecticut LLC?
Connecticut offers an unusually broad range of eligible agent categories. Under CGS § 34-243n(b), a domestic LLC may appoint any of the following as its registered agent: a natural person who is a Connecticut resident, a Connecticut-formed corporation, a foreign corporation authorized to do business in the state, a domestic or registered foreign LLC, a domestic or authorized foreign limited liability partnership, or a domestic or registered foreign statutory trust. The LLC filing to appoint itself may not name itself as its own agent — the Certificate of Organization instructions state plainly that “the Limited Liability Company may not be its own agent.”
For foreign LLCs, the list is identical but adds one option: the Secretary of the State may serve as the registered agent for a registered foreign LLC under CGS § 34-243n(с)(1). This option is unavailable to domestic LLCs.
Option A — A Natural Person. The individual must be a resident of Connecticut and at least eighteen years old. The person must provide a Connecticut business address (no P.O. box), a Connecticut residence address, and a Connecticut mailing address on the formation filing. The agent must sign the appointment, accepting the role.
Option B — A Business Entity. The entity must be on record with the Secretary of the State and must have a Connecticut address. A foreign entity serving as an agent must hold a certificate of authority to transact business in Connecticut.
The table below summarizes address rules for the agent’s Connecticut addresses.
| Address Type | Permissible |
| Physical Connecticut street address (business) | Yes |
| Connecticut residential address | Yes (required for individual agents) |
| P.O. box as mailing address | Yes |
| P.O. box as business or residence address | No |
| Out-of-state address | No |
| Virtual office without physical presence | No |
Note — The agent must sign the appointment. On both the paper Certificate of Organization and the online filing, the appointed agent must provide a signature accepting the designation. For an entity agent, an authorized person signs on behalf of the entity and prints their name and title.
Can an LLC Member or Manager Serve as Registered Agent in Connecticut?
Yes. The Certificate of Organization instructions confirm that “any individual who is a resident of Connecticut, including a member or manager of the LLC,” may serve as the registered agent. There is no requirement that the agent be independent of the company’s ownership or management — the same person who organizes the LLC can also accept the agent appointment, provided they reside in Connecticut.
Appointing a member or manager keeps costs low and document handling simple, but it does expose the individual’s home or office address on the public filing record. The table below compares the practical implications of self-appointment versus engaging a professional registered agent service.
| Factor | Member or Manager as Agent | Professional Registered Agent |
| Privacy | Personal address on public record | Commercial address shields personal data |
| Availability | Must be reachable at the Connecticut address during business hours | Staffed office handles walk-in service |
| Cost | No additional fee | Annual service fee |
| Relocation risk | Moving out of Connecticut forces an immediate agent change | Stable Connecticut address |
| Document handling | Must monitor and forward documents personally | Centralized intake and forwarding |
How to Designate a Registered Agent on Your Connecticut LLC Certificate of Formation
The registered agent is designated directly on the LLC’s initial filing with the Secretary of the State. For a domestic LLC, that document is the Certificate of Organization; for a foreign LLC, it is the Foreign Registration Statement. Both filings can be submitted online through Business.CT.gov or by mailing a paper form to the Business Services Division.
Domestic LLC — Certificate of Organization
- Obtain consent from the proposed agent. If the agent is an individual, confirm they are a Connecticut resident; if the agent is a business entity, confirm it is on record with the Secretary of the State and has a Connecticut address.
- Navigate to the Domestic LLC Forms and Fees page and select “Certificate of Organization” to file online, or download the paper form.
- Enter the LLC’s name (must include “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” or another approved designation; PLLCs must include “PLLC” or “Professional Limited Liability Company”).
- Provide the principal office address and mailing address.
- Complete Section 4 — Appointment of Registered Agent. Choose Section 4A for an individual agent (provide the agent’s full name, Connecticut business address, Connecticut residence address, Connecticut mailing address, and the agent’s signature) or Section 4B for a business entity agent (provide the entity’s name as it appears on record, Connecticut business address, Connecticut mailing address, and the signature of an authorized person).
- Provide at least one member’s or manager’s name, title, and address in Section 5.
- Submit the filing and pay the $120.00 fee.
Foreign LLC — Foreign Registration Statement
- Confirm the proposed agent satisfies Connecticut eligibility rules and consents to serve. Foreign LLCs may also designate the Secretary of the State as their agent.
- File the Foreign Registration Statement online or by paper.
- Pay the $120.00 filing fee.
The table below lists the fees associated with registered-agent filings drawn from the official Fee Schedule.
| Filing | Entity Type | Fee |
| Certificate of Organization (including agent appointment) | Domestic LLC / PLLC | $120.00 |
| Foreign Registration Statement | Foreign LLC | $120.00 |
| Change of Agent | Domestic or Foreign LLC | $50.00 |
| Change of Agent’s Address | Domestic or Foreign LLC | $50.00 |
| Resignation of Agent | Domestic or Foreign LLC | $50.00 |
| Annual Report | Domestic or Foreign LLC | $80.00 |
| Certificate of Reinstatement | Domestic LLC | $120.00 |
Paper filings are mailed to: Business Services Division, Connecticut Secretary of the State, P.O. Box 150470, Hartford, CT 06115-0470. Walk-in delivery may be made at 165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1000, Hartford, CT 06106. Expedited service is available only for online filings.
Registered Agent Information in Your LLC Operating Agreement
Connecticut’s LLC Act establishes the operating agreement as the document governing the LLC’s internal affairs — relations among members, fiduciary duties, management structure, and distribution rights — under CGS § 34-243d. The operating agreement is a private contract among the members, and it is not filed with the Secretary of the State. It may be oral, written, implied, or any combination of forms.
No provision of the Connecticut Uniform LLC Act requires the operating agreement to name the registered agent. The official agent designation is the one on file with the Secretary of the State through the Certificate of Organization, the most recent Annual Report, or a Change of Agent filing. The statute goes further: under CGS § 34-243d(с)(3)(A), the operating agreement may not “vary any requirement, procedure or other provision” on registered agents. Any attempt to modify the statutory registered-agent rules through the operating agreement is ineffective.
Referencing the agent in the operating agreement still has practical value for multi-member LLCs — it can document who bears the cost of a professional agent, establish a procedure for notifying members of a change, and describe the steps for selecting a replacement. Any revision to the agent named in the operating agreement, however, does not affect service of process or compliance status unless the LLC also files the appropriate change form with the Secretary of the State.
What Happens to a Connecticut LLC Without a Registered Agent?
The LLC risks forfeiture of its existence. Under CGS § 34-267g, the Secretary of the State may dissolve a domestic LLC by forfeiture when the entity fails to comply with statutory requirements, including maintaining a registered agent and filing its Annual Report. The Secretary of the State issues a notice of intent to dissolve before effecting the forfeiture, allowing the LLC to cure the deficiency. A foreign LLC that falls out of compliance faces revocation of its foreign registration under CGS § 34-275g, which strips it of authority to transact business in Connecticut.
Even without a registered agent, the LLC remains subject to service of process. Under CGS § 34-243r, if a registered agent “cannot with reasonable diligence be served,” service may be made on the Secretary of the State, who then forwards the documents to the LLC at its last known address. The LLC may never learn of the lawsuit in time to respond, opening the door to a default judgment.
| Consequence | Trigger |
| Notice of intent to dissolve by forfeiture | Failure to maintain the agent or file the Annual Report |
| Dissolution by forfeiture (domestic LLC) | Uncured noncompliance after notice |
| Revocation of foreign registration (foreign LLC) | Failure to maintain an agent or comply with filing requirements |
| Service of process on the Secretary of the State | Agent unlocatable or unservable |
| Default judgment risk | LLC is unaware of pending litigation |
To reverse a forfeiture dissolution, the LLC files a Certificate of Reinstatement ($120.00) with the Secretary of the State and satisfies all outstanding filing obligations. Reinstatement is available only if the LLC was not dissolved by court decree. If the LLC’s name is no longer available, a name change by amendment must accompany the reinstatement filing.
Note — Annual Reports are a compliance trigger. Connecticut requires every LLC to file an Annual Report online between January 1 and March 31, with a fee of $80.00. The report includes registered agent information, and failure to file can lead to dissolution by forfeiture.
How to Change a Registered Agent for a Connecticut LLC
An LLC appoints a new registered agent or updates its current agent’s address by filing with the Secretary of the State under CGS § 34-243o. Connecticut uses separate filings depending on whether the LLC is replacing its agent with a different person or entity, or simply updating the existing agent’s address.
Replacing the registered agent
- Obtain consent from the new agent (signature required).
- File a Change of Agent online through Business.CT.gov or submit the paper form by mail.
- Provide the new agent’s name, Connecticut business address, and mailing address.
- Pay the $50.00 filing fee.
Updating the agent’s address only
- File a Change of Agent’s Address online or by paper.
- Enter the current agent’s name and the new Connecticut address information.
- Pay the $50.00 filing fee.
The LLC may also update registered-agent information as part of its Annual Report during the January 1 – March 31 filing window, without a separate change filing. If a registered agent wishes to resign, the agent files a notice of resignation under CGS § 34-243p and must give notice to the LLC. The resignation fee is $50.00. Once the resignation takes effect, the departing agent ceases to have responsibility under the Act for any matter thereafter served.
Practical tip. If an agent changes only their name — for example, due to marriage or a corporate name change — a separate Change of Agent’s Name by Registered Agent form exists for that purpose ($50.00).
Connecticut LLC Registered Agent Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Connecticut LLC serve as its own registered agent?
No. Under CGS § 34-243n(b), the registered agent for a domestic LLC may be a limited liability company — but the Certificate of Organization instructions explicitly state that “the Limited Liability Company may not be its own agent.” A different LLC, corporation, partnership, statutory trust, or natural person must be appointed. The restriction ensures that service of process reaches an independent party who can promptly forward documents to the LLC rather than circling back to the entity itself.
Can a single-member LLC owner serve as the LLC’s registered agent?
Yes. A sole owner who is a natural person and a resident of Connecticut qualifies under CGS § 34-243n(b)(1). The owner must provide a Connecticut business address (or state “none”), a Connecticut residence address, and a Connecticut mailing address, and must sign the Certificate of Organization accepting the appointment. The owner’s residence address will appear on the public filing, which is searchable through the state’s online Business Records Search.
Does a multi-member LLC need a registered agent separate from its members?
No. Connecticut does not require the registered agent to be independent of the LLC’s membership. Any member who meets the natural-person eligibility requirements — Connecticut residency and age eighteen or older — may serve. A multi-member LLC may also appoint a qualifying business entity. Engaging a professional agent becomes practical when no member maintains a consistent Connecticut address or when members prefer to keep personal information off the public record.
Is it required to designate a registered agent prior to submitting the formation documents for a business entity?
Yes. Section 4 of the Certificate of Organization is a required field. The Secretary of the State will not accept the filing without a completed agent-appointment section, including the agent’s signature. The same rule applies to the Foreign Registration Statement for foreign LLCs. Consent must be secured before the filing is submitted — the agent’s signature on the form itself constitutes the required consent under CGS § 34-243n(a).
Is the LLC’s registered agent required to be listed in the operating agreement?
No. The operating agreement governs the LLC’s internal affairs under CGS § 34-243d and is not filed with the state. The official agent designation is recorded with the Secretary of the State through formation filings, Annual Reports, or Change of Agent filings. The operating agreement expressly cannot vary registered-agent requirements, so listing the agent in it is optional and carries no legal effect on service of process.
Can I change my LLC’s registered agent online?
Yes. Connecticut accepts Change of Agent filings online through Business.CT.gov. The fee is $50.00. A separate online filing exists for address-only changes at the same fee. The LLC can also update agent information during the Annual Report filing window without a separate change form.
Does a Professional LLC (PLLC) have different registered agent requirements?
No. A PLLC formed under CGS § 34-243h(с) uses the same Certificate of Organization, pays the same $120.00 formation fee, and must appoint a registered agent under the same rules as any other LLC. The distinctions between a PLLC and a standard LLC relate to member licensing requirements and the “PLLC” name designation — not to agent eligibility or filing procedures.
Can the same individual or service act as registered agent for multiple Connecticut LLCs?
Yes. Connecticut places no statutory limit on how many entities a single person or entity may represent as a registered agent. Professional agent companies routinely serve hundreds of Connecticut LLCs from a single qualifying address. Each LLC must individually designate the agent in its own formation or change filing, and the agent must consent to each appointment. If the agent’s address changes, a separate Change of Agent’s Address filing ($50.00) must be submitted for each entity. Connecticut offers a mass agent address update process for agents who need to change the address on multiple entities at once.
What happens if my LLC’s registered agent moves out of Connecticut?
The agent no longer satisfies the residency requirement under CGS § 34-243n(b)(1), and the LLC must appoint a replacement by filing a Change of Agent ($50.00) with the Secretary of the State. If the departing agent files a resignation under CGS § 34-243p, they must give notice to the LLC. Failure to replace the agent promptly leaves the LLC without a valid point of contact for service of process, exposing it to potential dissolution by forfeiture and the risk that court papers will be served on the Secretary of the State, which may result in the LLC learning of litigation too late to mount a defense.