What Is a Registered Agent for a Louisiana LLC?
A registered agent is a person or entity designated to accept service of process, legal notices, and official correspondence on behalf of a Louisiana limited liability company. Under R.S. 12:1308, every LLC organized in Louisiana must maintain at least one registered agent who is authorized to receive legal documents at a physical address within the state. The agent’s core responsibility is to accept delivery of lawsuits, subpoenas, government notices, and other formal demands directed at the LLC and to forward those documents promptly to the company.
The role is strictly procedural. A registered agent does not manage the LLC’s operations, provide legal counsel, or offer tax guidance. Louisiana law requires the agent to be available at the LLC’s registered office — a municipal street address, not a post office box — where in-person service can take place during regular business hours. Under R.S. 12:1308(E), a registered agent may resign by providing written notice to both the LLC and the Secretary of State, at which point the LLC has thirty days to appoint a successor agent. If the registered office has been vacated and no change is filed within thirty days, the office of the Secretary of State may be treated as the registered office by anyone other than the LLC itself.
Is a Registered Agent Required for a Louisiana LLC?
Every Louisiana LLC must designate and continuously maintain at least one registered agent and a registered office in the state. R.S. 12:1308(A) applies this obligation to all domestic limited liability companies organized under the Louisiana Limited Liability Company Law, R.S. 12:1301 et seq. Foreign LLCs that hold a certificate of authority to transact business in Louisiana must also maintain a registered agent and office under R.S. 12:1353. The requirement extends to professional LLCs formed to deliver licensed services, as no separate exemption exists.
The word “continuously” carries real consequences. A domestic LLC that fails to file its annual report for three consecutive years faces revocation of its articles of organization under R.S. 12:1308.2. A foreign LLC that fails to maintain a registered agent or registered office is subject to revocation or suspension of its certificate of authority after sixty days’ written notice from the Secretary of State. These consequences make uninterrupted agent coverage one of the most basic compliance obligations for any LLC doing business in Louisiana.
Who May Serve as a Registered Agent for a Louisiana LLC?
Louisiana restricts registered-agent eligibility to specific categories of persons and entities, and the requirements are more detailed than those in many other states. R.S. 12:1308(A)(2) identifies who qualifies.
Option A — An Individual. A registered agent may be “a citizen of the state who resides in this state.” This means the individual must hold Louisiana citizenship and maintain a Louisiana residence. An out-of-state resident does not qualify, even if the person maintains a business office in Louisiana.
Option B — A Business Entity. A partnership, professional law corporation authorized to practice law in Louisiana, domestic corporation, domestic LLC, foreign corporation, or foreign LLC authorized to transact business in Louisiana may serve as a registered agent. The entity must be “authorized by its articles or certificate of incorporation or organization to act as the agent of a limited liability company for service of process” and must have on file with the Secretary of State a certificate listing at least two individuals at its Louisiana address, each of whom is authorized to receive process served on the entity as agent. The LLC itself may not serve as its own registered agent, because the statute requires the agent to be a separate person or entity capable of receiving process on the LLC’s behalf.
The registered office must be a municipal street address in Louisiana — a post office box alone does not satisfy the requirement. The registered office is considered the LLC’s domicile for all purposes under Louisiana law.
| Address Type | Permissible |
| Municipal street address in Louisiana | Yes |
| Commercial office with in-person reception | Yes |
| The home address of a Louisiana citizen is used as a business office | Yes |
| P.O. Box (alone) | No |
| Virtual office with no physical presence | No |
| Out-of-state address | No |
Note: Louisiana requires the registered agent’s acceptance to be sworn before a notary public. Both the Initial Report (Form 973) filed at formation and the Change of Registered Agent (Form 983) include a notarized agent affidavit of acknowledgment and acceptance.
Can an LLC Member or Manager Serve as Registered Agent in Louisiana?
A member or manager may serve as the LLC’s registered agent, provided that person is a citizen of Louisiana who resides in the state. The Secretary of State’s Frequently Asked Questions page confirms that individuals who can be designated as an agent “include, but are not limited to, an organizer of a business, a member of an LLC, an employee of the business, an attorney, or an accountant.” There is no independence requirement, and no rule prevents an insider from holding this role.
Choosing between self-service and a professional agent involves practical trade-offs that go beyond eligibility. A member or manager who serves as an agent must be personally available at the registered office to accept service of process during normal business hours and must sign the notarized affidavit of acceptance. Missing a service attempt can result in the LLC being unaware of pending litigation, increasing the risk of a default judgment.
| Factor | Member or Manager as Agent | Professional Registered Agent Service |
| Privacy | The member’s personal address appears in the public record | Service’s commercial address appears in filings |
| Availability | Must be present at the registered office during business hours | Staffed office ensures consistent coverage |
| Flexibility | Agent tied to one physical Louisiana location | Service can manage multi-state registrations |
| Document handling | The agent must personally forward all legal documents | The service provides organized tracking and forwarding |
| Cost | No separate fee beyond the $25 change filing | Annual service fee applies |
How to Designate a Registered Agent on Your Louisiana LLC Certificate of Formation
The LLC’s registered agent and registered office are designated on the Initial Report (Form 973), which must be filed together with the articles of organization. Under R.S. 12:1305, the articles of organization set forth the LLC’s name, purpose, and other organizational provisions, while the Initial Report supplies the registered office address, the registered agent’s name and address, and the names of the initial managers or members. The Secretary of State will not accept the articles of organization without an accompanying Initial Report that includes a notarized agent affidavit of acknowledgment and acceptance.
Louisiana accepts formation filings online through the geauxBIZ portal, by mail, by fax, or in person at the Secretary of State’s Commercial Division office. Business owners in fourteen specified parishes — Ascension, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Lafayette, Livingston, Orleans, Ouachita, Rapides, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Terrebonne — are required to file all available business documents online through geauxBIZ.
Follow these steps to designate a registered agent when forming a Louisiana LLC:
- Secure the agent’s notarized consent. The proposed agent must sign the Agent’s Affidavit and Acknowledgement of Acceptance on Form 973 before a Louisiana notary public. Louisiana law requires the notary to print or type their name and notary or bar roll number on the document.
- Prepare the articles of organization. Complete Form 365, including the LLC’s name (which must contain “limited liability company,” “L.L.C.,” or “L.C.”), its purpose, duration, and management structure. The articles must be acknowledged before a notary.
- Complete the Initial Report (Form 973). Enter the registered office’s municipal street address, the full name and municipal address of each registered agent, and the names and addresses of the initial managers or members.
- Verify the address qualifies. The registered office and agent’s address must each be a municipal street address in Louisiana — a P.O. Box alone does not satisfy the requirement.
- Submit the formation package. File online through geauxBIZ, mail the documents to P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125, fax to (225) 932-5314, or deliver in person to 8585 Archives Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809.
- Pay the filing fee. The filing fee for articles of organization is $100, payable by check or money order to the Secretary of State, or by credit card through geauxBIZ. Credit card payments are subject to a $5 statutory convenience fee.
The following table lists the formation-related filing fees for different LLC types, as published on the Get Forms & Fee Schedule page:
| Filing | Form | Entity Type | Fee |
| Articles of Organization + Initial Report | #365 / #973 | Domestic LLC | $100 |
| Articles of Organization + Initial Report | #1L3 / #973 | Low-Profit LLC (L3C) | $100 |
| Application for Certificate of Authority | #972 | Foreign LLC | $150 |
| Change of Registered Agent/Office | #983 | Domestic LLC | $25 |
| Statement of Change | #346 | Foreign LLC | $25 |
| Annual Report | — | All LLCs | $30 |
Note: If the articles of organization are filed within five working days (exclusive of legal holidays) after acknowledgment, the LLC’s existence begins as of the time of acknowledgment. Expedited processing is available for an additional $30 (24-hour) or $50 (2–4 hour priority).
Registered Agent Information in Your LLC Operating Agreement
Louisiana law defines an operating agreement as “any agreement, written or oral, of the members as to … the affairs of a limited liability company and the conduct of its business,” per R.S. 12:1301(A)(16). The operating agreement governs the LLC’s internal management, profit allocation, voting procedures, and member relations. It is a private document and is not filed with the Secretary of State.
The registered agent is not required to appear in the operating agreement. The official agent designation is made on the Initial Report filed with the articles of organization, and any subsequent change is accomplished by filing Form 983 (for domestic LLCs) or Form 346 (for foreign LLCs) with the Secretary of State. The operating agreement does not affect the public record of who serves as the LLC’s agent.
Many LLCs nonetheless choose to reference the registered agent in their operating agreement for internal governance purposes. A provision identifying the current agent, establishing a procedure for selecting a replacement, and requiring prompt notice to all members when the agent changes can prevent misunderstandings among members. Importantly, updating the agent in the operating agreement does not constitute an official change — a separate filing with the Secretary of State, including a new notarized agent affidavit, is always required.
What Happens to a Louisiana LLC Without a Registered Agent?
The Secretary of State may revoke the articles of organization of a domestic LLC that fails to comply with its agent and reporting obligations. Under R.S. 12:1308(E), if the registered agent resigns and the LLC does not appoint a successor within thirty days, the Secretary of State’s office may be treated as the registered office by any person other than the LLC. For foreign LLCs, R.S. 12:1353 authorizes the Secretary of State to revoke or suspend the certificate of authority when the LLC fails to maintain a registered agent or registered office, after providing at least sixty days’ written notice of the grounds for revocation.
The most common path to revocation for domestic LLCs is the annual report. Under R.S. 12:1308.2, the Secretary of State revokes the articles of organization of any domestic LLC that fails to file an annual report for three consecutive years. Before revoking, the Secretary of State must give at least thirty days’ written notice to the LLC’s last designated registered agent. If the LLC has no agent of record, notice is directed to the registered office.
| Consequence | Authority |
| Revocation of articles of organization (domestic LLC) | R.S. 12:1308.2 — failure to file annual report for three consecutive years |
| Revocation or suspension of the certificate of authority (foreign LLC) | R.S. 12:1353 — 60-day notice and cure period |
| Secretary of State treated as the registered office | R.S. 12:1308(F) — if the registered office is vacated for 30+ days without filing a change |
| Loss of good standing and prohibition on state contracts | R.S. 12:1308.2(E) — delinquent LLCs barred from business with state agencies |
| Risk of default judgment | No functioning agent to receive and forward the process |
Reinstatement. A domestic LLC whose articles have been revoked may apply for reinstatement within three years of the effective date of revocation. The application must be signed and acknowledged by a member or manager and filed with the Secretary of State along with the current annual report and the reinstatement filing fee. Upon reinstatement, the Secretary of State issues a certificate, and the articles of organization continue in existence retroactively as though the revocation had not occurred. If three years have passed and the LLC’s original name is still available, reinstatement remains possible under the same procedure. If the name has been taken, an amendment changing the name must also be filed. A foreign LLC whose certificate has been revoked must reapply by filing a new Application for Certificate of Authority (Form #972) and paying the $150 filing fee.
How to Change a Registered Agent for a Louisiana LLC
A Louisiana LLC changes its registered agent by filing a Notice of Change of Registered Office and/or Change of Registered Agent (Form 983) with the Secretary of State. The statutory authority for this filing is R.S. 12:1308(с), which requires the statement to be signed by a manager (if the LLC is manager-managed) or by at least one member (if the LLC is member-managed). Any change of registered agent must include a notarized affidavit of acknowledgment and acceptance signed by the new agent.
The change becomes effective when the Secretary of State accepts the statement for the record. The filing fee is $25. Form 983 can be filed online through geauxBIZ, by mail, by fax, or in person.
Follow these steps to change the registered agent:
- Obtain the new agent’s notarized consent. The new registered agent must sign the Agent Affidavit and Acknowledgement of Acceptance on Form 983 before a Louisiana notary public.
- Complete Form 983. Enter the LLC’s name, the new registered office address (if changing), and the new agent’s full name and municipal address.
- Sign the form. A manager or member, depending on the LLC’s management structure, must sign the form.
- Submit the filing. File online through geauxBIZ, mail to P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125, fax to (225) 932-5314, or deliver in person to 8585 Archives Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809.
- Pay the filing fee. The fee is $25, payable by check or money order, or by credit card through geauxBIZ (plus the $5 convenience fee for card payments).
A registered agent may also independently change its own address by filing a signed statement with the Secretary of State under R.S. 12:1308(D). If the agent’s old and new addresses match the LLC’s old and new registered office addresses, the agent’s statement may include the office change as well, provided the agent has notified the LLC in writing and recites that notification in the filing.
Louisiana LLC Registered Agent Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Louisiana LLC serve as its own registered agent?
No. Under R.S. 12:1308(A)(2), the registered agent must be a Louisiana citizen who resides in the state, or a separate business entity — such as a partnership, professional law corporation, domestic corporation, domestic LLC, foreign corporation, or foreign LLC — authorized to transact business in Louisiana. The LLC appointing the agent and the agent itself must be distinct persons or entities. An LLC that cannot identify a qualifying individual within the company may designate another domestic or foreign business entity that maintains a Louisiana office and has filed the required certificate with the Secretary of State.
Can a single-member LLC owner serve as the LLC’s registered agent?
Yes. A sole owner who is a citizen of Louisiana and resides in the state satisfies the eligibility requirements of R.S. 12:1308(A)(2)(a). The owner must sign the notarized Agent’s Affidavit and Acknowledgement of Acceptance on the Initial Report (Form 973) at formation or on Form 983 if appointed later. The owner’s name and municipal address become part of the public record maintained by the Secretary of State. Owners who prefer address privacy may designate a professional agent service instead.
Does a multi-member LLC need a registered agent separate from its members?
No. Louisiana does not require the registered agent to be independent of the LLC’s membership. Any member who is a Louisiana citizen residing in the state may serve. There is no statutory requirement for a separate third party. However, LLCs with members located outside Louisiana, or those wanting to ensure uninterrupted availability at the registered office, may find a professional agent service more practical.
Is it required to designate a registered agent prior to submitting the formation documents for a business entity?
Yes. The registered agent’s name, municipal address, and notarized affidavit of acceptance must appear on the Initial Report (Form 973), which is filed simultaneously with the articles of organization. Under R.S. 12:1305(E), the Secretary of State will not accept the articles of organization without the accompanying Initial Report. Securing the agent’s notarized consent before preparing the formation package avoids processing delays.
Is the LLC’s registered agent required to be listed in the operating agreement?
No. The operating agreement governs the LLC’s internal affairs and is not filed with the state. Under R.S. 12:1301(A)(16), the operating agreement addresses the “affairs of a limited liability company and the conduct of its business” among its members, but the official registered agent designation is made in the Initial Report and updated through Form 983. Including the agent in the operating agreement is optional and does not affect the public record.
Can I change my LLC’s registered agent online?
Yes. The geauxBIZ portal allows Louisiana LLCs to file a change of registered agent electronically. The filing fee is $25, plus a $5 credit card convenience fee for online payments. The new agent must provide a notarized affidavit of acknowledgment and acceptance, which can be uploaded as part of the online submission. The change becomes effective when the Secretary of State accepts the filing.
Does a Professional LLC (PLLC) have different registered agent requirements?
No. Louisiana does not maintain a separate “PLLC” formation form or a distinct set of registered-agent rules for professional limited liability companies. An LLC organized to provide professional services — such as law, medicine, or accounting — files the same Articles of Organization (Form 365) and Initial Report (Form 973), pays the same $100 filing fee, and must comply with the same agent eligibility and registered-office requirements under R.S. 12:1308. Any additional licensing or regulatory obligations imposed on professional LLCs relate to the practice of the profession, not to the registered-agent designation.
Can the same individual or service act as registered agent for multiple Louisiana LLCs?
Yes. Louisiana imposes no limit on the number of LLCs for which a single individual or entity may serve as registered agent. A professional agent service, an attorney, or any other qualifying person may accept appointments from an unlimited number of entities. When such an agent changes its address, R.S. 12:1308(D) allows the agent to file a signed statement with the Secretary of State that covers the address change for each affected LLC, provided the agent notifies each company in writing and recites that notification in the filing.
What happens if my LLC’s registered agent moves out of Louisiana?
The agent no longer satisfies the statutory requirement of being a Louisiana citizen who resides in the state. The LLC must appoint a successor agent within thirty days by filing Form 983 with the Secretary of State. Under R.S. 12:1308(F), if the registered office has been vacated and no change is filed within thirty days, the office of the Secretary of State may be treated as the registered office by anyone other than the LLC itself — meaning lawsuits could be served at the Secretary of State’s office without the LLC’s knowledge. Prompt appointment of a replacement agent prevents this exposure and preserves the LLC’s good standing.