The resident agent and registered office for a foreign LLC in Michigan

The LLC statute has each domestic and foreign LLC authorized in Michigan maintain, without a gap, a registered office that can double as its place of business, and a resident agent, who is an individual resident in Michigan whose business office or residence is the registered office, or a domestic or foreign corporation or LLC authorized in Michigan with a business office identical with the registered office.

A statement signed under the home-state rules gives the LLC's name, the then and new registered office, the then and successor agent, a statement that the addresses of the office and agent are identical, and a statement that the change was authorized by the operating agreement or by a vote. The filing is Form 520, the Certificate of Change of Registered Office and/or Resident Agent, for $5, and the fee list shows it can be submitted online. A change can also be made on the annual statement at no extra charge.

If an LLC fails to appoint or keep an agent, or the agent cannot be found despite reasonable diligence, a summons and complaint can be delivered or registered-mailed to the administrator instead. Form 760 builds the same fallback into the application with its Department-as-agent statement.

The Division sends reminders and notices to the agent. Impending loss-of-good-standing notices go out 90 days before the due date, to the email registered with the entity. An agent who does not pass them on can cost you a statement and the $50 that follows.

A foreign corporation also names a registered office and resident agent in its application. A change of registered office or agent costs $5 and a resignation of agent has no fee. See the corporation page.

Tell the agent three things: which entity it serves, which email should receive reminders, and who at the LLC should hear first when papers arrive. A silent agent is an easy way to miss a statement.