New Jersey Registered Agent
Order $89 to $99 New Jersey registered agent service online for immediate access to our address and state forms. No additional charges.
Your business must appoint a New Jersey registered agent to receive documents in legal matters, including notice of lawsuit. Our reliable registered agent service fulfills this requirement. You get:
- Same-day documents from our local office in Branchburg
- Immediate online access to state forms with our address and, where required, our signature
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Starting at $99 for new customers per state, renewing at $149 annually.
Registered Agent in New Jersey—A Complete Guide
A registered agent in New Jersey serves as an intermediary between your organization and the state, responsible for receiving and timely passing on legal communications such as lawsuit notices, subpoenas, and court summons. By doing so, registered agents play a vital role in your ability to promptly react to any legal or regulatory issues your organization might be facing in the state.
Beyond being a beneficial asset, appointing and maintaining a registered agent is a legal requirement for establishing and operating a business or nonprofit in the state. Whether you’re forming a legal entity for the first time or expanding into the state from another jurisdiction, you must first appoint a registered agent with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury—Division of Revenue.
In this guide, we’ll outline the primary duties and qualifications of registered agents in New Jersey and walk you through the process of appointing an agent for your organization. You'll also discover how Harbor Compliance performs the duties of a New Jersey registered agent to help you stay on top of any legal challenges.
Responsibilities of New Jersey Registered Agents
According to New Jersey laws, the primary responsibility of a registered agent is to accept service of process and other legal and government notices on behalf of the represented organization. The agent is also required to promptly forward the received correspondence.
To effectively fulfill these duties, the agent must maintain a physical address in New Jersey, referred to as a registered office, where legal documents like court summons and subpoenas will be delivered. Additionally, the agent must be present at this location during regular business hours, as that is the time when process servers will attempt to deliver notices. Remember that a P.O. Box or mailbox service does not qualify as a registered office, as the agent must personally sign off on your documents.
The agent’s failure to receive or forward important notices can have costly consequences for your organization. For instance, if your organization is facing a lawsuit and your agent doesn’t receive the notice, you might not even be aware of the litigation and miss a court hearing. This could lead the court to issue a decision in favor of the plaintiff due to the defendant’s absence or inaction, known as a default judgment. This ruling effectively eliminates your opportunity to defend the case and might result in severe consequences like losing the right to operate in New Jersey.
New Jersey Registered Agent Requirements
In New Jersey, both individuals and other organizations can serve as registered agents. The former group entails your friends, family members, attorneys, employees, or even yourself, as long as the following requirements are met:
- Your chosen individual must be a resident of New Jersey older than 18.
- They must be willing to provide their name and physical street address, which will go into the public record as part of your registered agent details.
- The individual must be present at the registered office during regular business hours. This ensures they can personally receive and sign off on important documents on your behalf.
Alternatively, you can appoint another organization with the right to operate in New Jersey. In practice, this choice boils down to so-called commercial registered agents, i.e., businesses that specialize in providing registered agent services. They are widely regarded as a more reliable solution than individuals—they have developed systems and ample experience to ensure your notices are handled efficiently and securely.
How To Appoint and Change a Registered Agent in New Jersey
If you’re forming an organization in New Jersey for the first time, you’ll have to designate your registered agent in your formation documents. They will depend on the structure of your legal entity:
| Entity Type | Formation Documents |
|---|---|
| For-Profit Corporation | Articles of Incorporation |
| Nonprofit Corporation | Articles of Incorporation |
| LLC | Articles of Organization |
Appointing an agent follows a similar process if your organization is already active in a different state but you want to expand into New Jersey. You'll need to include your agent’s details in your foreign qualification filings, which are necessary for obtaining the right to operate in the state.
You can change your agent at any point in your organization’s lifecycle by submitting the Change of Registered Agent/Office form to the Division of Revenue. This can be done online, through mail, or in person.
Refer to the list below to see what the process of changing a registered agent online looks like:
- Go to the New Jersey Division of Revenue website.
- Log in using your New Jersey business ID number, business type, and date of formation.
- If you don't have this information, you can contact the Division of Revenue or do a Business Entity Status Search for your New Jersey corporation or LLC.
- Look for the "I WANT TO" section and select "Change My Registered Agent" from the drop-down menu.
- When changing your registered agent online, you’ll have to pay an appropriate filing fee depending on your entity’s structure.
For the offline process, fill out the Certificate of Change of Registered Office or Agent and either mail it or submit it in person to the New Jersey Division of Revenue.
Alternatively, you can change your registered agent while filing your New Jersey annual report online. Note that there is an additional $25 fee for this service.
New Jersey Registered Agent Services by Harbor Compliance
For years, Harbor Compliance has been a top choice for New Jersey organizations looking to outsource their registered agent duties. Our Registered Agent Service is meticulously designed to ensure you’ll never miss an important notice again. When you choose us, you benefit from:
- Constant availability—Our local office in Marlton is open during business hours, and an agent will always be there to receive your notices.
- Swift notice delivery—We will scan time-sensitive notices and deliver them to you electronically on the same day.
- Phone call in case of lawsuits—In the event of legal action, we'll contact the person associated with your account to help you react as soon as possible.
- Secure Client Portal—Access a secure online portal to manage your notices and easily retrieve state forms with our authorized signatures.
On top of the Registered Agent Service, we offer a wide range of services to help you meet your organization’s every legal and regulatory need in New Jersey and beyond. Here are some of our most sought-after service categories:
| Service Category | Overview |
|---|---|
| Nonprofit formation | We provide complete incorporation or charitable registration services, including securing your 501(c) tax exemption. |
| Beneficial ownership information reporting | We can submit the initial beneficial ownership information report to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network on your behalf. On top of that, our Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Service includes any updates and corrections to the submitted beneficial ownership information to help you meet the requirements set by the Corporate Transparency Act. |
| Tax registration and management | Harbor Compliance specializes in streamlining tax-related tasks, including obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN), payroll tax registration, and sales and use tax registration. |
| Document filing and retrieval | Our drop-off filing service delivers your time-sensitive documents directly to the Division of Revenue with priority. We also obtain certificates of good standing, reinstatement, or authority, as well as certified copies of relevant documents. |
| Entity lifecycle management | We can assist you with every step of starting an organization, including name reservation, DBA management, formation document amendments, obtaining a business license, and filing initial and annual reports. |
Individual NJ Registered Agent vs. Harbor Compliance
Opting for an individual as your registered agent might seem like the most straightforward solution. Still, it has its drawbacks, namely an increased risk of missing important notices and facing corresponding legal consequences.
A friend or a family member can agree to take on this responsibility, but they might be away from the registered office and miss a notice due to personal commitments, travel, emergencies, or other reasons.
You might consider enlisting an employee to address this availability issue, as they're typically in the office during business hours. While this might seem convenient, it could expose you to the risk of receiving service of process in front of your investors, partners, or clients.
Another viable option is to act as your own registered agent, which might appear as the most cost-effective solution. However, this means your personal information becomes part of the public record, and you'd have to be present at the registered office during standard business hours, five days a week.
On the other hand, partnering with Harbor Compliance comes with many benefits, such as:
- Increased privacy—Our information will enter the public record instead of yours, benefiting your privacy
- Flexibility—Outsourcing the registered agent duties to us means not having to be constantly present at the registered office during business hours. This allows you to manage your organization regardless of your physical location.
- Top-notch security—Your data is protected with advanced measures like data encryption and cloud monitoring, providing a level of protection beyond what a typical individual agent can offer.
- Nationwide reach—You can appoint us in as many states as your organization operates in. Manage all official correspondence from different jurisdictions through our Client Portal.
How To Appoint Harbor Compliance as Your New Jersey Registered Agent Service Provider
Getting started with Harbor Compliance is simple and tailored to three different scenarios:
- Setting up a new legal entity in the state
- Foreign qualifying in New Jersey
- Changing your existing registered agent
Registering a New Entity
If you’re looking to start a new organization in New Jersey but would rather not deal with the paperwork and administration involved in the formation process, Harbor Compliance can do it for you. We offer three types of service according to your legal entity’s planned structure:
Once you choose an appropriate service, we’ll take care of the entire formation process, including appointing Harbor Compliance as your registered agent in New Jersey.
If you prefer a more hands-on approach and only need our Registered Agent Service, you can order it separately in three easy steps:
- Order the service.
- Find the address of our Marlton office in the Client Portal.
- Complete and submit the filings to the Division of Revenue.
Foreign Qualifying in New Jersey
Our Foreign Qualification Service is designed to simplify the process of venturing into a new jurisdiction and meeting the local state requirements. All you have to do is follow an intuitive wizard, and we'll handle all the steps needed to secure your New Jersey certificate of authority. As part of the service, we’ll enlist ourselves as your New Jersey registered agent.
Changing Your Registered Agent
If you're looking to change your agent in New Jersey, we've got you covered. With our Registered Agent Service, we can handle this process for you seamlessly. Just before checkout, you'll find the option to add the “Change of Agent” service. Check it off, finalize your purchase, and we'll take care of the rest.
Located in nearby Branchburg, NJ!
How to Appoint Us as Your New Jersey Registered Agent
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Scenario A:
Formation -
Scenario B:
Foreign Qualification -
Scenario C:
Change Agent -
Scenario D:
Book of Business
Formation
Appoint us as your New Jersey registered agent when you incorporate your business or form your LLC. Sign up for registered agent service and file using the state forms and instructions in your Client Portal. The forms are pre-filled and signed as required by the state.
Foreign Qualification
Appoint us as your agent when you apply for a certificate of authority to transact business in New Jersey. Sign up for New Jersey registered agent service and file using the forms and instructions in your Client Portal. The forms are pre-filled and signed as required by the state.
Change Agent
Changing your registered agent to us is easy. Sign up for New Jersey registered agent service and file using the forms and instructions in your Client Portal. The forms are pre-filled and signed as required by the state.
Book of Business
Harbor Compliance is a provider of nationwide registered agent service. We can help you consolidate your agent representation and achieve cost savings. Our specialists manage the process to change registered agents so that virtually no work is required on your part. We will complete the state filings to appoint us as your registered agent. Additionally, we can extend your subscription term so that you avoid double payment for any portion of your current contract. There’s no reason to wait. Simply contact us for consolidation and we’ll take care of the rest. If you have registered agent appointments spanning multiple states or entities, contact us today.
New Jersey Registered Agent FAQs
Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about registered agents in New Jersey. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can explore our Information Center.
A registered agent in New Jersey is a consenting individual or an organization that receives legal and other official documents on behalf of your organization and ensures they reach you promptly.
Regardless of your legal entity type, you can either choose an individual (yourself, a friend/family member, or an employee) or hire the services of a commercial agent in New Jersey. Your New Jersey registered agent must have a physical street address in the state and be present at it during business hours.
According to New Jersey state laws, every legal entity is required to maintain a registered agent/office at all times. You won’t be able to form your organization in the state without appointing an agent.
Partner With Harbor Compliance as Your New Jersey Registered Agent
When you entrust us with the role of your New Jersey registered agent, you can rest assured your important notices will be handled by professionals and delivered to you on time. Don't miss out on this convenience and the advantages mentioned above. Get our Registered Agent Service today.
If you need additional help in navigating the regulatory requirements of New Jersey and all other U.S. states, you can do the following:
- Inquire about our additional services to explore custom solutions.
- Get a free Harbor Compliance Score™ to ensure there are no hidden regulatory issues.
- Schedule a demonstration of our advanced software solution to see how it can help you stay on top of all your statutory obligations.
To learn more about registered agent service in other jurisdictions Harbor Compliance covers, refer to the following table: