Can You Be Your Own Registered Agent in California?

The short answer

Yes. You can be your own registered agent in California if you live in California and give a physical California street address. California's term for the role is agent for service of process. The tradeoffs: the address you give goes on the public record, and legal papers for your business can be delivered to you there in person.

Who can be a California registered agent?

California allows two kinds of agent: an individual who lives in California and gives a complete street address in California, or a corporation registered with the Secretary of State as a 1505 corporate agent. A P.O. Box is not allowed. The business itself cannot act as its own agent, but a person in it can.

An owner, officer, director, member or manager: yes, if they live in California. Small corporations often name an officer or director.
A friend, relative or employee: yes, on the same terms, if they agree to do it.
Your accountant or attorney: yes, if they qualify the same way.
Someone who lives outside California: no. The agent must live in California, unless it is a registered 1505 corporation.

What goes on the public record?

The agent's name and street address are public record, open to anyone on the Secretary of State's bizfile Online search. If you name yourself at your home, your home address is on that record.

The agent line is not the only address on file. Your Statement of Information also lists your business addresses and the names and addresses of your officers, or of your managers or members for an LLC. The state lets officers and managers give either a business or a home address. Those details are on the filed statement too, which anyone can view on bizfile Online.

What a professional agent changes, and what it doesn't

When a 1505 corporate agent is your agent, the state lists the agent by name only, with no address. So your home address is not on the agent line of new filings. Statements filed earlier may still be viewable in your entity's filing history. It does not change the other addresses on your Statement of Information. It is also not a business address: Corpgate, Inc. does not provide a business or mailing address. Our guide to what a registered agent does covers the job in full.

What being your own agent involves

Being findable at the address. Legal papers are delivered in person to the agent at the listed address. If the agent cannot be found there with reasonable effort, a court can allow service through the Secretary of State instead, which then mails the papers to your business's principal office. That can mean you hear about a case later.
Papers delivered in front of others. A process server may hand you the papers at the listed address, in front of family, customers or employees.
Keeping the record current. If you move within California, file an updated Statement of Information with your new street address. If you leave California or stop serving, your business needs to name a new agent right away, the same way. A change filed between your regular filing periods has no state fee.

How to name yourself, or switch later

You name your agent on your formation papers and on each Statement of Information. To change it later, file an updated Statement of Information on bizfile Online; our page on how to change your registered agent walks through it. If you switch to a 1505 corporate agent, sign up with it first, then enter its name exactly as registered and leave the agent address blank. What a professional agent costs is in our cost guide.

Common questions

Can I be my own registered agent in California?

Yes, if you live in California and give a physical California street address. A P.O. Box is not allowed. The business itself cannot be its own agent, but an owner, officer, member or manager who lives in California can be.

Will my home address be public if I am my own agent?

Yes. The agent's name and street address are public record on the Secretary of State's bizfile Online search. Naming a 1505 corporate agent keeps your home off the agent line of new filings only. Earlier filings may still be viewable, and the other addresses on your Statement of Information stay on the record.

Can my LLC or corporation be its own registered agent?

No. The Secretary of State says a business entity cannot act as its own agent for service of process. A person in the business who lives in California, or a registered 1505 corporate agent, can serve.

What happens if I move out of California?

You can no longer serve as the agent. Your business needs to name a new agent right away by filing an updated Statement of Information. There is no state fee when you file between your regular filing periods only to make that change.

Sources: California Corporations Code sections 1502, 1503, 1504, 1505, 1702, 17701.13, 17701.15 and 17701.16; Government Code section 12186; the Secretary of State's Form LLC-12 instructions and business entities questions and answers. This guide is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.

More guides: What does an agent do? · What does an agent cost? · What happens without one? · Statement of Information guide · Out-of-state companies in CA · The 1505 corporate agent · Statutory agent vs registered agent · How service of process works