Delaware Registered Agent: What It Is and How Non-Residents Get One
What a registered agent does
- Think of the agent as your LLC's official mailbox and legal contact inside Delaware. The role covers three things:
- Accepting service of process β lawsuits and legal notices served on your company.
- Receiving official correspondence from the Delaware Division of Corporations, including franchise-tax notices.
- Maintaining a physical Delaware address and being reachable during standard business hours.
Why non-residents appoint a commercial agent
To act as your own agent you would need a Delaware street address and to be physically present during the workday. For a founder based overseas that is impractical, so you contract a commercial registered agent located in the state. This is standard practice β nearly every non-resident-owned Delaware company does exactly this.
What happens if you don't have one
Let your registered agent lapse and the Division of Corporations can declare your LLC not in good standing and eventually void it. Restoring it then costs reinstatement fees plus any back franchise tax and penalties β far more than the agent renewal. Keeping the agent active is the cheapest compliance you will ever pay for.
How Bastion handles it
- Form with Bastion and we serve as your Delaware registered agent for the first year, scan anything that arrives at the address, and ping you on WhatsApp. We also flag the June 1 franchise-tax deadline early so your LLC never drifts out of good standing.
Delaware registered agent receiving official state mail for a non-resident LLC
Related guides
Get a Delaware registered agent included for year one \u2014 part of formation from $349
Frequently asked questions
- Can I be my own registered agent in Delaware?
- Only if you have a physical Delaware street address and are available during business hours. Non-residents without a Delaware address must appoint a commercial registered agent.
- How much is a Delaware registered agent?
- Standalone agents typically charge $50 to $300 per year. Bastion includes a Delaware registered agent for your first year, then $99 per year.
- What happens if my Delaware registered agent lapses?
- The Division of Corporations can mark your LLC not in good standing and eventually void it. Reinstating costs fees plus any back franchise tax and penalties.
