South Carolina registered agent requirements
Check South Carolina’s rules for receiving legal notices and keeping the public contact record current. The local role may be called a registered agent, resident agent, statutory agent, or agent for service of process.
Open official agency forms and instructions ↗Who can serve in South Carolina?
A South Carolina business entity must maintain a registered agent and registered office for service of process. The agent must be an eligible South Carolina resident or authorized entity and the office must be a physical street address; a P.O. box alone is not sufficient. Agent and office information are public.
South Carolina agent changes: forms and fees
Registered-agent and registered-office changes are filed through South Carolina Business Entities Online at https://sos.sc.gov/online-filings/business-entities/file-and-search-online using the entity-specific change form and current fee. Confirm the replacement qualifies and verify the public record after acceptance.
Resignation, notice, and effective dates
A South Carolina registered agent may resign under the applicable Title 33 provisions by filing the required resignation notice and providing statutory notice to the entity. The effective date and fee depend on entity type and form; resignation does not appoint a successor, so the entity must promptly designate one.
Consequences of a missing agent or address
An entity without a valid South Carolina registered agent or office risks missed service, default judgments, inability to maintain good standing, and administrative suspension or dissolution. In limited circumstances the Secretary of State may accept service by statute, but that is not a substitute for maintaining the appointment.
Confirm the change reached the public record
Keep the accepted filing and confirm the agent or service address shown for the business. Arrange forwarding of legal notices during the change, and check which contact information will be public before supplying a home address.
Look up the South Carolina entity record →