You will need to designate an agent if you are forming a limited liability company or corporation in Alaska.
A registered agent is an individual or business entity that receives legal documents from the State and forwards them to you. Why is this necessary? Who should you designate to be your registered agent in Alaska?
This guide will provide all you need to know about Alaska registered agents.
What is an Alaska Registered agent?
We get many questions from entrepreneurs in Alaska about why a registered agent is necessary to form an LLC/corporation. Although it may seem like a redundant role for a registered agent, this is actually a crucial role.
If your company is sued, the registered agent will provide a reliable means for the state of California to reach you. A lawsuit could be filed against you without your knowledge if you don’t have a registered representative.
Although Alaska doesn’t have a recommended list for registered agent services, we reviewed the best options and compiled a list.
Who can become an Alaska registered agent?
According to the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development of Alaska, an entity’s registered agents must be either a resident of Alaska or a corporation legally authorized to do business in Alaska. To be eligible to register as an agent, an individual must reside in Alaska.
The registered agent must be an Alaska resident, whether an individual or a corporation. It must be a street address. Post office boxes are not eligible. Non-corporation entities are not allowed to act as registered agents, and corporations cannot be its own registered agent. However, lawyers and incorporated law firms are eligible.
Apart from the legal requirements, it is important to discuss who should act as your registered agent. You can declare yourself to be your registered agent. This has pros and cons.
You can save money by not having to pay anyone to be your agent. However, your home address will likely become a public record. This is not ideal. You will also need to be present during normal operating hours (9-5, M-F).
Entrepreneurs often want a friend or family member to act as their registered agent. However, if they don’t have any experience in this role, they may not be able to know what to expect. Although this option is possible, it can be costly.
We prefer to hire a registered agent service. This provides convenience, affordability, and peace of mind unrivaled by any other options.
How Do Alaska Residents Get Served?
Serving summonses is the most important aspect of a registered agent’s role.
To have a summons processed in Alaska, the plaintiff must first create a complaint. This document includes all allegations against the defendant as well as the request for compensation. Next, the complaint must first be filed with the court.
You can file a small claims claim if the claim is about a monetary dispute of less than $10,000. The form number SC-1 can be found at this. Small claims less than $2,500 are subject to a $50 filing fee. The filing fee for claims over $2,500 is $100
Plaintiffs who have claims over $10,000 may file a civil lawsuit. This is a more complex process that usually involves lawyers and a jury. The clerk of the court will provide the form for filing a formal civil lawsuit. It must be accompanied with an envelope addressed to the plaintiff and sufficient postage so that the summonses and envelope can be posted. The filing fee for a formal civil case is $150.
Once the formal civil or small claim has been completed, the document must be filed with the appropriate courts along with the required processing fees. Sometimes, you may need two copies of the document to complete the filing.
If all of these steps have been taken correctly, then the state will serve a summons on the registered agent for the defendant.
How do I designate an Alaska agent?
This question will depend on the type of business that you are starting. However, if you are forming a corporation or LLC, you will need to name your registered agent.
Alaskans will designate their registered agent when they fill out the articles of incorporation and articles of organization forms. These documents can be found on, the Alaska Department of Commerce’s webpage.
For forming a corporation you will need to fill out form number 08-484 titled articles for incorporation. To designate an LLC’s registered agent, fill out form 08-484 entitled articles organization. The form can either be filled out online to receive an immediate response or printed and mailed in hard copy.
Once completed (with the information about your registered agent), the form must then be submitted to Alaska Corporations Section along with the $250.00 filing fee.
How can I change my Alaska agent?
It is easy to modify your registered agent.
Simply submit a statement form of change. You can simply submit a statement of change form to change the registered agent of a corporation, LLC, or other entity. The required documents are available on the Alaska Department of Commerce website under the tab.
Before you submit the submission form, make sure that you have the correct one. You can change the registered agent for an LLC by completing the statement of change form at this link. Alternatively, to change the registered agent for a corporation, complete the statement of Change document.
The documents request the entity’s name, Alaska number, name, and address, as well as the address and name of the new registered agents. The form must be signed by a manager or member and sent along with the $25.00 non-refundable filing fee to the Corporation Section in Alaska. The processing time takes approximately 10-15 business days.
What happens if an Alaska agent decides to resign?
Sometimes, a registered agent might have to quit their position.
Current registered agents must complete a resignation form for the position. This form can be found at the link, or on the Alaska Commerce Department website under “Forms and Fees”. Resignation forms must be submitted with a $25.00 non-refundable filing fee.
The four-page form must include the entity name, Alaska entity number, address, most recent officials, and payment information. You can complete it online and mail it along with the $25.00 filing fee to the address below:
Section State of AlaskaCorporations
PO Box 110806
Juneau, AK 9981100806
Why should you hire a professional Alaska agent service?
A professional registered agent can be a great option. They will act as both your agent and act as an accountant or lawyer.
Privacy
We believe the greatest benefit is privacy protection, which allows you to keep your address private. A registered agent service is almost always cheaper than having an accountant or attorney serve as your agent.
Professional Service
We also like the fact that these companies are specialized in providing high-quality registered agent services. They are well-informed and know what to do.
All over the country
Another benefit to hiring a registered agent is that they operate in all 50 states. This means that you don’t have to hire another registered agent if your business expands into another state. The same registered agent can provide coverage in Alaska and the coverage you require in the new state. A lawyer or accountant would not be able to help you expand in a new state if there was an existing physical office.
Keep Compliant
Most professional registered agents in Alaska offer a compliance calendar. This service is an added benefit that allows your registered agent to help you keep track of the due dates for ongoing LLC maintenance requirements such as annual reports.
Other attractive attributes of top registered agent service providers include access to their vast customer support networks. Many of them offer a year of registered agent services with every business formation package. This can save you a lot of money. A number of registered agent services offer volume discounts for customers who require service in multiple states or prepay for multiple years.
What is the penalty for not designating an Alaska registered agent?
To form a limited liability company in Alaska, you must have a registered agent. However, if your registered agent service lapses, there could be serious consequences.
Failure to register an agent can result in your business losing its good standing before the state of Alaska. The state has the right to dissolve your LLC at any time.
The difficulty of getting served when your business is sued would also be a problem. A court could decide to proceed with the lawsuit against you if it cannot reach your registered agent. This could happen if you fail or neglect to name a registered agent. It can also happen if your agent isn’t available during business hours to receive the document delivery.
Conclusion
You can see that designating a registered agent to represent your Alaska business takes more than just writing your name.
We believe there are some serious drawbacks to all options. However, we recommend that you hire a professional registered agent service as they have the least disadvantages. You don’t have to worry about losing good standing, having your LLC/corporation dissolved, or having a suit filed against you.
You can reach the Alaska Secretary of State if you have further questions.
Anchorage
Department of Commerce
550 W 7th Ave., STE 1500
Anchorage, AK 99501 – 3567
(907) 269-8160
Juneau
Department of Commerce
P.O. P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806
(907) 465-2550
Business808, a renowned consulting organization that aids startups in scaling and growing, is led by Andy Brooks as Editor-in-Chief.
Andy has over 12 years of consulting experience and is a pro at creating and managing profitable businesses. He has experience working with several LLCs and Registered Agent services and has a degree in business management. Andy enjoys providing useful information for Business808.
In addition to writing for Business808, Andy is a well-known author and speaker, and an active contributor to several online business publications, imparting his knowledge on how to grow an LLC.