A registered agent is an individual or a business entity located at a physical street address in Oregon, whose sole responsibility is to accept physical delivery of legal documents (service of process, lawsuits, liens, subpoenas, etc.) on behalf of the business. An entity cannot designate itself as its own registered agent, but an individual owner can be the registered agent for their business.

The registered office is the physical street address where the registered agent is located during normal business hours. The registered office address may be the same as the business' place of business. The registered office address must be a physical street address located in Oregon.

The registered office address is where the Corporation Division mails correspondence, renewal and late notices, unless a separate mailing address for the business is provided.​​

​Any individual or registered business with a physical street address in Oregon can consent to serve as the registered agent. Most Oregon businesses list an officer, owner or employee and the business street address for their registered agent and registered office. Frequently the business' attorney or accountant will serve as the registered agent. Another business entity can serve as the registered agent, or you can contract with an agent service company to provide the registered agent service. The individual or business named must have consented to serve as the registered agent.​​​​​​

​No, the registered agent address must be a physical street address where the registered agent maintains a business office and can accept or sign for legal service on behalf of the business. Because legal process must be physically served on a person, a process server cannot physically serve the registered agent at a PO Box or a mail forwarding business.

Failure to maintain a proper registered agent and registered office may prevent a company from receiving notice of pending legal action, and could result in a default judgment against the company as a result of failure to appear to defend against a claim.​​​​​

​There are businesses that will agree to serve as registered agent and accept legal service for an out-of-state business. We recommend an Internet search for Oregon registered agent service companies. Your Oregon attorney or accountant may also offer this service.​

​No, most Oregon businesses are able to list an officer, owner or employee, and the business street address for their registered agent and registered office address.​

To resign, a registered agent must deliver to the Corporation Division a signed, written statement resigning as agent and also give notice to the business by mailing a copy of the statement to that business.

Deliver to: 

The registered agent resignation date will be recorded as the date the Corporation Division receives the letter of resignation from the registered agent. By law, a registered agent must continue to be available to accept service of process for the business for 30 days after the Corporation Division is notified of the resignation.​​​​

​The business must designate a new registered agent and provide that information to the Corporation Division. Failure to designate a new registered agent will result in administrative dissolution of the business. ​

​A registered agent must consent to serve as registered agent for the business. When individuals have been listed as the registered agent without their consent, they can deliver to the Corporation Division a signed written statement declaring that they are not associated with the business and never consented to serve as registered agent.

Deliver to:

The business must designate a new registered agent and provide that information to the Corporation Division. Failure to designate a new registered agent will result in administrative dissolution of the business.