Deal alert! Northwest will form your LLC for $39 (60% discount). See details.
Yes, you can be your own Statutory Agent in Arizona as long as you meet the state requirements.
(Unfortunately, most Registered Agent Services and LLC filing companies hide this information.)
We explain the pros and cons below so you can make your own decision.
What is a Statutory Agent in Arizona?
A Registered Agent is a person or a company who receives legal documents and notices from the state for your LLC.
If your business is involved in a lawsuit, the Arizona Registered Agent will accept Service of Process for your LLC. This is when legal documents are delivered to or “served on” your business.
Note: The term Statutory Agent and Registered Agent mean the same thing. Statutory Agent is the official term used in Arizona, while Registered Agent is the more commonly used term in the industry. We may use these terms interchangeably.
Special offer: Hire Northwest to form your LLC ($39 + state fee), and you'll get a free year of Registered Agent service.
(Why is Northwest the best? Read our Northwest Registered Agent review)
Who can be a Statutory Agent in Arizona?
There are three options for who can be your Arizona Statutory Agent:
- You can be your own Registered Agent
- A friend or family member can be your LLC’s Registered Agent
- You can hire a professional Registered Agent Service for your LLC
What is an Arizona Registered Agent Service?
An Arizona Registered Agent Service is a company that you pay to be your LLC’s Registered Agent in Arizona.
(A Registered Agent Service is also called a Commercial Registered Agent or Statutory Agent Service.)
The Arizona Statutory Agent Service receives Service of Process for your LLC and forwards it to you electronically or by mail. Some Registered Agent Services also offer additional LLC services, like forming your LLC for you.
Arizona Registered Agent Requirements
All Arizona Registered Agents are required to be available at a physical street address in the state during normal business hours.
(Note: The Statutory Agent’s address is called the Registered Office. The Registered Office address and the name of the Registered Agent will go on your LLC paperwork.)
If the Registered Agent is a person, they must be over 18 years old and have a physical address in Arizona. PO Boxes aren’t allowed.
If the Registered Agent is a company (a Registered Agent Service), it must be authorized to do business in Arizona.
Should you be your own Statutory Agent in Arizona?
It depends. While being your own Registered Agent can save you money, there are some potential risks.
Let’s discuss the pros and cons of being your own Statutory Agent in Arizona.
Pros of being the Statutory Agent for your LLC:
- You save money.
- It’s one less online account to keep track of if you don’t hire a Registered Agent Service.
- Documents go directly to you. You don’t have to wait for someone to forward or email them.
Cons of being the Statutory Agent for your LLC:
- You might miss an important notice or legal document. This could happen if you travel often or forget to check your mail.
- Statutory Agent information is public record. Companies can use public records to send you junk mail, or post your physical address online.
If you aren’t bothered by your street address being public, being your own Statutory Agent is a great way to save money.
Should I hire an Arizona Registered Agent Service?
You should hire a Registered Agent Service if:
- You don’t live in Arizona
- You don’t have a friend or family member who lives in Arizona
- You live in Arizona, but don’t want to list your physical street address, or don’t want to be your own Registered Agent
Our recommendation for Arizona Statutory Agent Services
We recommend Northwest Registered Agent.
Northwest has been the best Registered Agent Service in the business for over 20 years, and they have excellent customer service. They’re also the service we use for our own LLCs.
Hiring Northwest Registered Agent will also keep your physical address off of public records. This is our favorite Northwest feature. And no other Registered Agent Service offers this.
How to keep your address off public records
Northwest is a national Registered Agent Service, and lets you use their Arizona business address throughout your entire LLC filing in all 50 states and D.C. This can keep your street address off public records.
For example, you can list Northwest’s Statutory Agent address for any or all of the following:
- Principal office address
- Mailing address
- LLC Members or Managers address
- LLC Organizer address
(Note: The list above is an example. Some states have more address fields than others. Wherever there is an address field on the LLC filing, you can list the Northwest address if you’d like. This can keep your address off public records.)
Any mail that Northwest receives gets scanned and uploaded to your online account.
Need to save time? You can also hire Northwest to form your LLC.
Special discount for LLC University® readers
Northwest usually charges $100 + state fees to form an Arizona LLC. But they offer a special price (60% off) for LLC University® readers.
Special offer: Hire Northwest to form your LLC ($39 + state fee), and you'll get a free year of Registered Agent service.
(Why is Northwest the best? Read our Northwest Registered Agent review)
Arizona Statutory Agent FAQs
What should I look for in a Registered Agent Service?
| Service of process: | Do they forward documents by mail? Do they scan and email them? |
| General business mail: | Will they accept general business mail sent to your LLC? Most Registered Agent Services will only accept Service of Process. |
| LLC Formation: | Will they form your LLC with the state? How much do they charge beyond the state filing fee? |
| Annual Report or other services: | Do they offer Annual Report filing or other services you can buy? How much do they charge for these? |
| Cost: | How much do they charge for the stand-alone Registered Agent Service? Most Registered Agent Services charge $100 to $300 per year. |
| Customer Support: | Do they have great customer support? Read some online reviews of the service or call and ask a few questions. |
Is an Arizona Statutory Agent liable?
No, an Arizona Statutory Agent is not liable for any of the LLC’s lawsuits or debts.
Accepting documents on behalf of the LLC does not bring the Statutory Agent into a lawsuit.
If you are the Statutory Agent and someone sues your LLC, they are still only suing the business. The Statutory Agent does not get sued. That’s true even if you are the Statutory Agent and the owner of the LLC.
And only the LLC gets sued – not you, as the individual owner. That’s because an LLC protects your personal assets.
How do I choose a Registered Agent?
Choosing the right Registered Agent for your LLC depends on your specific business needs.
We’ll guide you through your options and how to choose a Registered Agent, so you can confidently pick the best one for your LLC.
Where do I list myself as the Statutory Agent?
The name and address of the Arizona Statutory Agent goes in the LLC filing paperwork.
Every state requires an LLC to list a Statutory Agent and Statutory Agent’s mailing address. This information goes on public record, so that a process server, if needed, can serve your LLC.
Is a Statutory Agent a Member of an LLC?
No, an Arizona Statutory Agent is not automatically an LLC Member (aka owner).
Meaning, just listing someone as a Statutory Agent doesn’t make them a Member of your LLC.
Learn more: Registered Agent vs LLC Member
Registered Agent Services:
If you hire an Arizona Registered Agent Service, they won’t be a Member of your LLC.
You:
If you are a Member of an LLC and you want to be your own Statutory Agent, then that is totally okay. In that case, you are both a Member of the LLC and the Statutory Agent for the LLC.
Friend or family:
If a friend or family member is your LLC Statutory Agent, they can be a Member of your LLC (if you make them one). But they aren’t automatically a Member just because you list them as the Statutory Agent.
Who can be an Arizona Statutory Agent and an LLC Member?
| Who: | Can they be the Registered Agent? | Can they be a Member of the LLC? |
|---|---|---|
| You | Yes, if you live in the state where you formed your LLC | Yes, always |
| Friend or family | Yes, if they live in the state where you formed your LLC | Yes, if they co-own the LLC with you |
| Registered Agent Service | Yes | No, never |
Do I need a Registered Agent for an LLC in Arizona?
Yes, a Registered Agent (also called a Statutory Agent in Arizona) is necessary. State law requires someone to be available to accept Service of Process for your LLC.
You must list a Statutory Agent on your LLC paperwork. And then you must continuously maintain (keep) one on file with the state as long as your LLC exists.
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
Hello, and thank you for this insightful information. Just for clarity is a registered agent also a substitute to receive packages? Or should that be exclusive to a post office box?
Hi Michael, you’re very welcome! Typically no, but it depends on the Registered Agent (if they offer mail and package forwarding). You’ll want to check with the Registered Agent company in question. However, it’s more common to have a mailbox rental address or virtual address nearby for packages and other mail.