Registered Agent Services

Every Florida corporation and LLC must name a registered agent: a person or business with a Florida street address who accepts lawsuits, subpoenas, and official notices for the company. Jimerson Birr serves as registered agent and registered office for Florida businesses. When a lawsuit or legal notice arrives for your company, an attorney reviews it, identifies the deadlines it triggers, and sends it to you the same day.

To appoint Jimerson Birr as your registered agent, contact our office or call (904) 389-0050.

What Our Florida Registered Agent Service Includes

• Serving as the designated registered agent and registered office for business entities on all Florida Secretary of State business filings
• Accepting and receiving official, regulatory, legal and tax notices for business entities
• Ensuring registered agent availability for service of process in accordance with all statutory requirements
• Receiving and accepting service of process on behalf of your entity
• Providing immediate notice of any tax and legal documents received
• Same-day mail forwarding on all documents received
• Creating digital copies for all documents and providing secure electronic storage
• Providing you copies of your documents upon request
• Conducting matter analysis and identifying discernible response deadlines
• Providing value-add counsel to address matter at issue

Florida Registered Agent Requirements

Florida law sets out who must have a registered agent, who can serve, and what the role requires.

• Who must have one. Every Florida corporation, LLC, limited partnership, and limited liability partnership, and every out-of-state entity registered to do business in Florida, must designate a registered agent and registered office (Section 48.091, Florida Statutes).
• Who can serve. The agent must be either a Florida resident or a business entity authorized in Florida, and its business address must be the registered office address. A P.O. box does not qualify (Section 607.0501 for corporations; Section 605.0113 for LLCs).
• Office hours. The registered office must be open, with someone present who can accept service, from at least 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every weekday except legal holidays (Section 48.091(3)).
• Forwarding. The agent must promptly forward any process, notice, or demand to the company (Section 48.091(5)).
• Written acceptance. The agent must file a statement accepting the appointment and confirming it understands the obligations of the role.
• Consequences of a lapse. A company that does not maintain a registered agent cannot bring or maintain a lawsuit in a Florida court until it complies, and a court can order a penalty.

How to Change Your Registered Agent to Jimerson Birr

Changing your registered agent in Florida takes one filing with the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz).

1. Contact us to confirm the engagement. We provide the registered agent name and registered office address to use.
2. File the change with Sunbiz. The state filing fee for a change of registered agent is $25 for an LLC and $35 for a corporation.
3. We accept the appointment. The new registered agent signs its acceptance as part of the filing.
4. Confirm the record. Once the state processes the filing, your Sunbiz record shows Jimerson Birr as registered agent, and documents served from then on come to us.

We can prepare and submit the filing for you.

Why Use a Law Firm as Your Registered Agent

A lawsuit served on your company starts a response clock. In Florida state court, a defendant generally has 20 days after service to respond. A missed deadline can lead to a default judgment, even when the company had a good defense.

When Jimerson Birr is your registered agent, an attorney reads what was served, tells you what it is, and identifies the deadline before it reaches your inbox. If you want us to handle the matter, we already have the papers in hand.

Related reading: What Happens If You Ignore a Lawsuit Against Your Business and Missed the Answer Deadline? How a Late Answer Can Still Stop a Default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be my own registered agent in Florida?

Yes. Any Florida resident with a Florida street address can serve, including a business owner. You, or someone who can accept papers for you, must be at that address during the required hours every weekday, and the address becomes part of the public record on Sunbiz.

Can a law firm be a registered agent?

Yes. Florida allows a business entity authorized in the state to serve as registered agent, as long as its business address is the registered office address.

How quickly will I receive documents served on my company?

We notify you immediately and forward documents the same day we receive them.

What happens when my company is served with a lawsuit?

We accept the papers, an attorney reviews them, and we send them to you with the response deadline identified. You decide whether to engage us, or other counsel, on the matter itself.

Does a registered agent change my company’s mailing or principal address?

No. The registered office is only the address for service of process and official notices. Your principal and mailing addresses stay the same unless you change them separately.

How much does it cost?

Contact our office for current registered agent fees.

Ready to name Jimerson Birr as your Florida registered agent? Contact our office or call (904) 389-0050.

Contact Jimerson Birr Today