Definition
In Massachusetts, the resident agent is the company's official contact for lawsuits and state notices, with a Massachusetts address on file. The rule is in M.G.L. c. 156C, § 5[2].
One option in Massachusetts: Mainstay Filing, $149 a year as resident agent, renewing at the same price[1].
- Statute
- M.G.L. c. 156C, § 5
- Common name
- Registered agent
- Change fee
- $0
- Filed with
- Massachusetts Secretary of State
- Mainstay Filing
- $149 a year
Updated October 29, 2026. Statute and fees from official sources; prices from providers' own pages.
01One role, several names
"Resident Agent" is used by 5 of the 50 states, Massachusetts among them. Most others say "registered agent," and a few say "agent for service of process." The legal function does not change with the name.
You will see it on the Limited Liability Company Statement of Change of Resident Agent/Resident Office, the form used to replace one[3].
02Terms used next door
| State | Term | Change fee |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | resident agent | $0 |
| Connecticut | registered agent | $50 |
| New Hampshire | registered agent | $15 |
| New York | agent for service of process | $30 |
| Rhode Island | resident agent | $20 |
| Vermont | registered agent | $35 |
Terms and fees from each state's statute and fee schedule, verified August 12, 2026.
Rhode Island also uses "resident agent". A company registered in several of these states names an agent in each, under each state's own label.
03The duties
Process servers deliver lawsuits to the resident agent's address, during business hours, and the resident agent gets them to the company. That is the legal heart of the job.
That requires a person at the address during normal business hours, not just a mailbox.
A stale address is the main risk: a company can miss a court deadline without learning a case exists.
04The text of the rule
The rule is in M.G.L. c. 156C, § 5[2]. Under it, the agent can be a Massachusetts resident, a Massachusetts corporation, or a corporation from another state authorized to do business in Massachusetts. State regulations (950 CMR 112.13) also allow other business entities authorized in Massachusetts.
The address rule is separate. The address has to be a street address in Massachusetts. A post office address is not sufficient.
05Choosing a resident agent
Owners who live in Massachusetts qualify as individuals and can take the resident agent role themselves. Businesses can also serve if they fit the statute's categories above[2].
A paid option is Mainstay Filing at $149 a year, with no increase at renewal[1]. Other services charged $89 to $249 for the first year in Massachusetts as of October 20, 2026.
06Questions
Is a resident agent the same as a registered agent?
Yes. Massachusetts uses "resident agent" for the role other states call a registered agent.
Does every Massachusetts LLC need a resident agent?
Yes. M.G.L. c. 156C, § 5 requires one[2].
What does it cost to change a Massachusetts resident agent?
$0 with the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Corporations Division[3].
Can a service be my Massachusetts resident agent?
Yes. A service fills the resident agent role the same way a person would. Mainstay Filing charges $149 a year for it in Massachusetts[1], and when you switch it files the $0 change of agent for you.
Sources
- Mainstay Filing pricing, registered agent and FAQ pages. Updated October 29, 2026.
- M.G.L. c. 156C, sec. 5 (resident agent requirement); sec. 5A (change of resident agent); implemented by 950 CMR 112.13. www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/corporations/pdf-html/950_cmr_112_limited_liability_companie. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Corporations Division: Limited Liability Company Statement of Change of Resident Agent/Resident Office fee. www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/corporations/download/Fee_Schedule.pdf. Updated October 29, 2026.