Last updated
Wisconsin ties the registered agent to residence in the state. The Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) describes the agent in its business entity FAQ as an individual or existing entity, resident in Wisconsin, that receives legal communications for the company, such as service of process, annual report forms and tax forms. Our Wisconsin LLC guide covers the whole formation, and the Wisconsin business guide covers record searches.
Who may be the agent?
DFI sets few limits on who the person is. The agent can be an officer or employee of the entity, or someone not directly involved, such as an attorney. What you cannot do is name the company itself. The annual report instructions put it in capitals: the entity may not name itself as the registered agent.
If you live in Wisconsin, you can be your own agent as an individual. If not, you need someone who does. Read our guide to being your own registered agent and the overview of registered agent services to compare.
What counts as a registered office?
The physical address of the agent's business office is the registered office. The annual report form says it must be an actual physical location with a street address that serves as the agent's business office, not solely a P.O. Box or mailbox service.
Wisconsin also asks for an email address for the agent. The form says each entity must maintain a registered office and registered agent with an email in Wisconsin. DFI warns that significant consequences could follow if papers sent to the agent go unseen, so keep the details current.
How do you change the agent?
Two routes work. You can note the change on the annual report, or you can file a Statement of Change or Amendment on its own. The fee schedule shows:
| Filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Statement of Change of Registered Agent or Office, paper | $25 |
| Statement of Change, online | $10 |
| Resignation of Registered Agent | $10 |
Changes cover the agent, the agent's email and the registered office. In the record's history, DFI labels such a filing with the code CHG.
Where does the agent show up each year?
The annual report asks for the agent's name and email and the mailing address of the registered office in Wisconsin. The same form asks for the principal office and, for an LLC, the name of a manager or member. Filing it on time keeps the agent details fresh, and an LLC pays $25 online. That makes it the easiest moment to fix an old address without paying for a separate filing.
What if the agent resigns?
The agent files a resignation of registered agent, a $10 filing, and the company then needs a new agent on record. DFI's glossary lists the resignation as a filing made by the agent. The pages we read do not give a waiting period, so ask DFI if timing matters to you.
What happens when no one is watching?
Papers that go to the agent are easy to miss. DFI's administrative dissolution page says that when an entity has not filed its annual report for a few years, the first notice goes to the registered agent at the registered office address. If that comes back, DFI tries the principal office. An entity that fails to file goes delinquent first, and if it stays that way long enough it can be dissolved. Our service of process guide explains what a served lawsuit looks like.
How do you look up an agent?
The corporate records search shows the registered agent and registered office for each entity, along with the ID, status and history. DFI also sells a certificate that expands on a status certificate with the agent and office in Wisconsin.
Ready to form? The start an LLC form is next. Nearby: Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa.