Every New Jersey LLC and corporation must keep a registered agent with a New Jersey street address on file with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES). Changing your registered agent, office or both costs $25 as of October 2026 and can be done online. Our recommendation is Mainstay Filing at $149 a year, with New Jersey Registered Agent.co as a lower-cost alternative.
Updated October 2026.
Go to:
Best Registered Agents in New Jersey (2026)
Our ranked picks for registered agent service in New Jersey are below, starting with Mainstay Filing. Each entry lists the yearly price and what the service covers.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Registered agent service with a flat renewal price | $149/year (renews at $149) | Registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost) |
| 2 | New Jersey Registered Agent.co | New Jersey registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Registered Agent NJ.org | New Jersey registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in New Jersey. It costs $149/year (renews at $149) and covers registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost). The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. New Jersey Registered Agent.co
New Jersey Registered Agent.co is a New Jersey registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Registered Agent NJ.org
Registered Agent NJ.org is a New Jersey registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
New Jersey registered agent at a glance
| Item | New Jersey (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| State office | Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES), NJ Treasury |
| Who needs one | LLCs, corporations, nonprofits, LPs and LLPs registered in New Jersey |
| Address | New Jersey street address; a P.O. box can be added only alongside it |
| Change of Registered Office or Agent or Both (LLC) | $25 |
| Agent resigns and names a successor | $25 certificate, plus $10 per affected LLC |
| LLC certificate of formation | $100 (per the DORES fee schedule) |
| LLC annual report | $75, due by the last day of the anniversary month |
| LLC name reservation | $50 |
| Where to file | Annual Reports and Change Services |
Source: DORES Registry Fee Schedules.
What is a registered agent in New Jersey?
A New Jersey registered agent is the person or company listed in the state’s public records to receive legal process and official notices for your business. When someone sues your LLC, the summons goes to the agent at the registered office. When the state needs to reach you formally, it uses the same address.
The registered office is simply the agent’s address on file, and New Jersey insists on a real one. DORES’s change-of-agent instructions require a New Jersey street address and allow a P.O. box only if the street address is listed as well. That rule exists so a process server can deliver documents in person.
Who can serve as your New Jersey registered agent?
New Jersey’s LLC Act (N.J.S.A. 42:2C-14) says the agent for service of process must be an individual who is a New Jersey resident or another person with authority to transact business in the state. In practice you have three options:
- Yourself or another owner, if you have a New Jersey street address where legal papers can be delivered during business hours.
- Someone you trust, such as an employee, family member, attorney or accountant with a New Jersey address who agrees to take on the job.
- A commercial registered agent service with an office in New Jersey, which handles deliveries for many companies.
Whoever you choose, make sure they understand the role. If they miss a summons, your company may not learn about a lawsuit until a judgment has already been entered.
Should you be your own registered agent in New Jersey?
It can make sense if your business has a storefront or office in New Jersey that is open during normal hours. You save the annual fee and see legal papers the moment they arrive.
It makes less sense if:
- You live in New York, Pennsylvania or elsewhere and have no New Jersey address
- You work from home and want to keep that address out of the public business record
- You are often out on jobs or traveling during business hours
- You would rather not be handed a lawsuit in front of customers or staff
An agent service also simplifies moving. Your registered office stays put even if your business relocates within the state.
How much does it cost to change a registered agent in New Jersey?
For an LLC, a Change of Registered Office or Agent or Both costs $25, according to the DORES Registry Fee Schedules as of October 2026. Corporations, nonprofits and LLPs pay the same $25.
When an agent resigns and appoints a successor at the same time, the filing is $25 for the certificate plus $10 for each affected LLC. If no one can be served, the state’s own service of process fee for an LLC is $75, which is paid by whoever is suing.
To estimate everything a New Jersey LLC pays the state and its service providers, see Mainstay’s New Jersey LLC cost guide.
A note on 2026 formation fees The DORES homepage links to a 2026 New Jersey law that reduces business formation fees for certain businesses. The DORES fee schedule we checked still lists $100 for an LLC certificate of formation, so confirm the amount at checkout if you are forming a new company.
How to change your registered agent in New Jersey
New Jersey handles agent changes online through the same DORES service used for annual reports.
- Arrange your new agent and confirm its New Jersey street address.
- Go to Annual Reports and Change Services and choose “Change Registered Agent/Office.”
- Enter your business name and ten-digit business ID exactly as they appear in the state’s records.
- Enter the current agent and office as shown on record, then the new agent’s name and New Jersey street address.
- Pay the $25 fee. DORES issues a certificate as proof of filing, which can be validated online.
Paper filing is still possible: LLCs use Form L-122, filed in duplicate with a check to the Treasurer, State of New Jersey. Online filing is usually simpler.
Protecting your New Jersey business record
Because anyone can file certain changes online, it is worth watching your company’s public record. DORES offers free CorpWatch alerts by text or email whenever a filing is added for your business, which makes an unexpected registered agent change hard to miss. The Division also warns about private companies that send official-looking solicitations offering to file annual reports and similar documents for a fee; check who you are paying before you respond.
If your agent resigns without naming a successor, the company should file its own change right away. A business with no reachable agent risks a lawsuit proceeding without its knowledge, and staying current on filings protects your standing with the state.
Related New Jersey guides
- How to start an LLC in New Jersey
- New Jersey business name search
- How to start a business in New Jersey
- Brainstorm with the business name generator, then check domains and social handles on namechk
FAQs
Do I need a registered agent for a New Jersey LLC?
Yes. Every New Jersey LLC and corporation must keep a registered agent and registered office on file with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. The registered office must be a New Jersey street address where legal documents can be delivered. A P.O. box can be listed only together with a street address.
How much does it cost to change a registered agent in New Jersey?
Changing the registered office, the registered agent or both costs $25 for an LLC, according to the DORES fee schedule as of October 2026. Corporations and nonprofits pay the same $25. The change can be filed online through the state’s Annual Reports and Change Services, which issues a certificate as proof of filing.
Can I be my own registered agent in New Jersey?
Yes, if you have a New Jersey street address where you can accept legal papers during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record. Owners who live in New York, Pennsylvania or elsewhere without a New Jersey address need a New Jersey agent or an agent service.
Can a New Jersey registered office be a P.O. box?
Not on its own. New Jersey’s instructions for changing an LLC’s registered agent require a New Jersey street address and allow a P.O. box only if the street address is also listed. The street address is where a process server delivers lawsuits and other legal documents.
What does the New Jersey LLC annual report cost?
The New Jersey LLC annual report costs $75, according to the DORES Registry Fee Schedules as of October 2026, and is due by the last day of the LLC’s anniversary month. Missing two consecutive years can lead to revocation. It is filed online through the state’s Annual Reports and Change Services, the same service used to change a registered agent. DORES also offers free annual report filing reminders.
What happens if my New Jersey registered agent resigns?
A resigning agent files with DORES. A resignation without a successor is part of the $25 change filing, while a resignation that appoints a successor costs $25 plus $10 for each affected LLC. If your agent resigns without a replacement, file your own $25 change promptly so the company always has someone to receive legal papers.
Is a New Jersey registered agent service worth the cost?
For many owners it is. Mainstay Filing costs $149 a year with renewals held at $149, and New Jersey Registered Agent.co costs $99 a year flat. In exchange you get a New Jersey street address for legal papers and keep your own address off the public record. If you are switching from another agent, the state’s change filing adds $25.
CHK_ YOUR NAME RIGHT NOW
Use our engine to quickly check your content right now!
Disclosure: We may earn a commission from services recommended on this page.
