A Wyoming LLC registered agent is either an individual or a separate company that has agreed to serve your LLC by accepting mail on your LLC's behalf, usually regarding legal issues. This is also referred to as “service of process” and includes subpoenas, court summons, and complaints.

Why Registered Agents Are Needed

Wyoming state law requires all business entities that are formed within the state to appoint a registered agent with a physical registered office within Wyoming state. This is because all businesses must be properly notified of lawsuits. Trying to track down businesses in other parts of the country might be a difficult process, and having a registered agent provides a simple way to notify you when needed.

Your Wyoming LLC is a legal entity that might not have the ability to communicate on its own behalf. Courts and legal systems need to know that an LLC has a registered agent available at all times with a street address that is reliable for the purpose of delivering important documents. 

The legal system also needs to make sure that delivery of all important documents can be tracked through the USPS or another delivery service. In this way, the legal system ensures that your business has been duly notified of any important situations that may arise. A registered agent is a dependable method of notifying LLC owners of any compliance requirements, tax updates, or legal issues that need their attention.

A registered agent in Wyoming must maintain the names and addresses of an LLC's members and managers. They also need to have all details of company contacts, including the individuals who are authorized to receive a registered agent's communications. Registered agents receive mail and legal notices for LLC owners and make sure they are notified when such items are received. They then forward these documents to the LLC owners, maintain their registered office address, and notify you of reminders for annual reports.

A registered agent for an LLC is needed to provide a point of contact between the LLC members and the Wyoming Secretary of State, as well as anything related to litigation. The agent also receives business and taxation notices, reminders for filing annual reports, and many other documents. Most correspondence from the Secretary of State and other agencies is now sent by email, however.

The registered agent also needs to have the LLC's Articles of Organization available at their registered office, or they may face penalties.

Who Can Be a Registered Agent?

In Wyoming, there are professional companies that specialize in service as registered agents; these are called “commercial registered agents.” An individual who lives in the state of Wyoming can also serve this purpose. The requirements for a registered agent are as follows:

  • Individuals must be 18 years of age or older.
  • Individuals must have a business or residential address in the state of Wyoming.
  • Commercial registered agents must have a physical presence in the state, called a registered office.
  • The registered agent must be available during normal business hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and must be available to receive service of process during this time.
  • Registered agents may not use a P.O. box as their registered office address.

You may serve as your own LLC's registered agent. You can also appoint a friend or family member, or hire one.

Commercial Registered Agents

It costs between $100 to $300 annually to contract with a commercial registered agent. They will receive service of process on your LLC's behalf and forward it to you at the address you provide to them. Most will email your documents instead, to make sure you get them faster.

Your commercial registered agent must file a Consent to Appointment by Registered Agent form. It is available from the Wyoming Secretary of State and should be attached to all of the other forms you submit when forming your LLC. The registered agent will need to sign it in black ink and must send an original form, not a copy. LLCs that are formed within the state of Wyoming, however, do not need this form to be submitted on paper; they may file it online.

A commercial registered agent offers many advantages over other options. For one thing, it saves you the trouble of maintaining regular business hours and keeping an in-state address. Commercial registered agents also have the expertise to make sure you stay organized and often provide a website that helps you manage your company details. They will send reminders when needed, so you don't miss deadlines.

If you need more information or help with a Wyoming LLC registered agent, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.