Statutory Agents

All business entities are required to appoint and maintain a statutory agent. This agent will be served any legal documents regarding your business entity and is responsible for sharing this information with you. As such, the agent should be chosen carefully. The statutory agent may be a natural person who is a resident of this state or may be a domestic corporation or a foreign corporation holding a license as such under the laws of this state, that is authorized by its articles of incorporation to act as such agent and that has a business address in this state.

The business entity’s appointment must be filed with the Secretary of State’s Office. The filing should include a written acceptance of the appointment signed by the statutory agent along with his or her street address and zip code. A P.O. Box is not an acceptable address. This appointment must be filed at the same time as the articles of incorporation. There is no fee associated with the original appointment of a statutory agent.

In the event of a death, resignation or change of the statutory agent, the business entity must appoint a new one. The statutory agent’s address must again be registered with the Secretary of State’s office. Failure to do so may result in a cancellation of the business entity’s articles or its license to conduct business in Ohio.

Banks, trust companies, insurance companies and any business entitiy defined under Ohio law as a public utility for taxation purposes are not required to appoint a statutory agent.

Multiple Statutory Agents

Business Services offers one form filing services for individuals and business entities that serve in the capacity of Statutory Agent and wish to:

1. Change the name and/or address with the Secretary of State`s Office for all their clients with one form and at a discounted price; and/or
2. Standardize the Statutory Agent name and address listed in our records used for future correspondence and filing records (to eliminate inconsistencies, misspellings, abbreviations, etc.).

A final report listing all entities for which you are Statutory Agent of record with the Secretary of State is included in these services. These services are automated and can be accomplished by completing one form at a cost lower than completing individual forms ($25 fee for each form submitted). This process can provide a cost savings for Statutory Agent changes involving as few as six (6) entities.

Name and/or Address Change:

• Create file to identify all entities affected  
• Identify entities requiring the change (SOS provides list for verification)
• Submit approved list with payment of $3 per change
• Alters name and/or address from what is currently in records to new name and/or address
• NOT for appointing new agent
• Click here for the Statutory Agent Form: Fee $25 (PDF format)
• Click here for the Multiple Statutory Agent Form: Fee $125 (PDF format)

Name and Address Standardization:

• Create file to identify all entities affected
• Alters all name and address variations to standard name & address format
• Agent number assigned for future filings (to maintain standard)
• NOT for appointing new agent
• Click here for the Statutory Agent Form: Fee $25 (PDF format)
• Click here for the Multiple Statutory Agent Form: Fee $125 (PDF format)

Report of Entities for a Statutory Agent

• Process for Name and/or Address Change or Name & Address Standardization produces a printed report
• Details include: Business Name, Type of Entity, Date of Last Agent Update, Original Date and Current Statutory Agent Name & Address
• Verify information and authorize changes
• Final report reflects approved updates (no additional fee for this final report)