The registered agent your Indiana certificate of authority needs

The Code names an individual, a general partnership, a domestic filing entity or a registered foreign entity as eligible. The agent must sit at a street address in Indiana. A commercial agent is defined as a person listed with the Secretary of State as being in the business of acting as agent, and with a business location here.

In the Code's words, the entity must give its agent, and keep current, the name, business address and phone number of an officer, director, employee or designated agent who can receive the agent's communications. If that contact is missing, the agent may resign. Send a real person's details and update them when staff change.

Revocation can follow when there is no registered agent, or when the entity lets a changed agent name or address go unreported past the thirty-day limit. Notice in writing comes first, and revocation is not effective until 60 days after the notice arrives, which gives the entity time to cure each ground. Report a new agent name or address within thirty days. Resignation happens when the agent files a statement, and Indiana charges nothing for it. When an entity has no registered agent, the state may revoke the registration after notice, so name a replacement quickly. Papers meanwhile may be served by other routes, which is why a gap is risky even if you notice it late.

A plaintiff serves the registered agent first, then tries certified mail to the principal office, and only then turns to the Secretary of State, who charges $10 for each defendant. A stale agent address sends papers to the wrong place.

A friend or colleague must stay at the address, remember to forward papers and agree to remain in the role for years. Whichever you pick, put the agent's name, address and your contact person in one place and review them each year when you check the business entity report date.