Common Causes/Issues:
A business’s actual address may be different from the address found on its advertising materials or other documents and media. This can make serving legal documents on a business problematic.
Solution Overview:
If you're suing a business that is a corporation, limited liability company, or limited partnership, you'll need to follow a two-step process to serve the business properly:
- Identify the business's Agent for Service of Process.
- Deliver the legal documents to this registered agent.
These steps ensure the business is properly served.
What is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent, also known as a statutory agent, is a person or business entity legally designated to receive legal documents on behalf of a corporation, limited liability company (LLC), or limited partnership.
This agent must have a physical address in California and be available during regular business hours to accept legal service of process. Once received, the registered agent is responsible for forwarding the documents to the company's legal counsel or principal officer.
To be considered a registered agent, an individual must meet specific qualifications outlined in California Code of Civil Procedure sections 416.10–416.40.
Locate the Registered Agent:
You can find the registered agent of a business by visiting the California Secretary of State's website: https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business.
By entering the entity's name or file number (see image below) you can retrieve the registered agent’s contact details, including their address.
How to Serve a Registered Agent
Once you've identified the registered agent and the address for service, the next step is to serve the registered agent with the legal documents.
Simply log in to your Rapid Legal account and place a service of process order, including filling in the Registered Agent field, to serve the registered agent on behalf of the entity in your case.
