Title

• Whether the person or firm chosen is called a registered agent, resident agent or statutory agent depends on the jurisdictional authority where a business is located.
  
  

Requirements

• The requirements for statutory agents are not the same in every jurisdiction. However, most require both the statutory agent's address and the business entity's address to be located within its jurisdiction. Another common requirement is that the statutory agent's address allows service of legal documents during normal business hours.
  
  

Operator

• In sole proprietorships and small businesses, the statutory agent usually is the owner or person operating the business.
  
  

Third Party

• It is common for large businesses to have third parties as their statutory agents.This may be a law firm or management or service company that has been hired to perform the duty of receiving specified legal documents.
  
  

Legal Notice

• Filing notice of a statutory agent with a state's secretary of state normally accompanies the registration of articles of incorporation for the business. Some states require a notarized letter of acceptance from the designated statutory agent. Notice is given if the agent changes, and a yearly report for verification normally is required.