Updated on February 15, 2024
A Maryland registered agent is an individual or corporation authorized to receive legal documents on behalf of a corporation. Every corporation must have one. State law refers to registered agents as “resident agents.”[1][2]
Top Registered Agents (7)
| Company | Price ($) | Document Scanning | Agent Change Fee | Annual Renewal Fee | Mobile App? |
*ZenBusiness 4.7 out of 5 – 13,467 reviews | $99/year | Yes | $0 | $0 | iOS | Android |
| Incfile 4.7 out of 5 – 15,944 reviews | $119/year | Yes | $0 | $0 | – |
Harbor Compliance 4.0 out of 5 – 17 reviews | $99/year | Yes | $50 | $0 | – |
Northwest Registered Agent 3.5 out of 5 – 62 reviews | $125/year | 15/year | $0 | $0 | – |
CSC Global 2.4 out of 5 – 17 reviews | Request a quote | Yes | $0 | $0 | – |
| InCorp Services 2.2 out of 5 – 16 reviews | $129/year | Yes | $0 | $49 | iOS |
Maryland Registered Agent 0 reviews | $49/year | Yes | $0 | $0 | – |
*We collect affiliate fees from this company. Pricing is $99 for the first year and $199 for renewal.
Registered Agent Search
Step 1 – Visit the Maryland Business Express Business Entity Search page.
Step 2 – While there is no option to search by a registered agent’s name, it’s possible to search for agents by the name of the businesses they represent. Enter the entity name associated with the agent, then click “Search.” Click on the appropriate entity.
Step 3 – Clicking on a company’s name leads to further information about the company, including its address, status, and agent’s name.
Who can be a Registered Agent?
Can I be a Registered Agent?
Yes, if you have a Maryland street address.
The most common way to designate an agent is to include the agent’s name and address in the forms filed to register an entity. To register a corporation, foreign corporation, LLC, foreign LLC, nonprofit corporation, or general partnership in Maryland, click the “Start a New Filing” button on the homepage of Maryland Business Express. Select the registration type from the drop-down menu.
Online registrations are processed within seven business days.
For a corporation, the fee is $120. Nonprofit corporations pay an additional $50. Foreign corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and limited liability partnerships pay a $100 filing fee.[4]
Changing a Registered Agent
A corporation can change its registered agent by filing a resolution signed by the board of directors with the Department of Assessments and Taxation.[5]
A sample resolution might look like this:
“The Board of Directors of [NAME OF CORPORATION], a corporation organized in Maryland on [DATE] duly approved a resolution as follows:
RESOLVED: The corporation’s resident agent is changed to [NEW AGENT’S NAME]. I, [NAME AND TITLE OF OFFICER], certify under the penalties of perjury that to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief the foregoing resolution is true in all material respects.
SIGNED: [OFFICER’S SIGNATURE]
I hereby consent to my designation in this document as the resident agent for this corporation.
SIGNED: [AGENT’S SIGNATURE]”
Mail the signed resolution and payment for the filing fee to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation Corporate Charter Division, 301 W. Preston St. Room 801, Baltimore, MD 21201. The fee to file a resolution changing a resident agent is $25.
Resolution to Change Principal Office or Registered Agent
Download: PDF
Resigning as a Registered Agent
To resign as a resident agent, file with the Department of Assessments and Taxation a photocopy of a signed resignation letter.
If the corporation has already appointed a new successor agent, then the resignation becomes effective when filed. If not, then the resignation becomes effective 10 days after filing.[6]