Definition
A Maryland resident agent is the person or business, named in the company's state filings, that receives service of process and official notices for it in Maryland. The requirement comes from Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-101(x)[2].
Mainstay Filing serves as Maryland resident agent for $149 a year, the same at renewal[1].
- Statute
- Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-101(x)
- Common name
- Registered agent
- Change fee
- $25
- Filed with
- State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT)
- Mainstay Filing
- $149 a year
Updated October 29, 2026. Statute and fees from official sources; prices from providers' own pages.
Why Maryland says "resident agent"
States use different labels for the same role. Maryland's statutes use "resident agent". Among the 50 states, 5 use that exact term. Providers usually advertise "registered agent" service, and in Maryland that service fills the resident agent role.
The term appears on Maryland's forms. The change filing, for example, is the Resolution to Change Principal Office or Resident Agent[3].
What a resident agent does
The core duty is to be reachable. When someone sues the company, the papers are delivered to the resident agent at the address on file, and the resident agent forwards them. State agencies use the same address for notices.
In practice that means someone is at the Maryland address during business hours, every business day.
If the resident agent moves or resigns and no replacement is filed, papers may not reach the company, and a default judgment can follow.
What the statute says
Under Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-101(x)[2]. It allows a Maryland resident, or a Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership.
As for the address, the rule is this. The address has to be a Maryland address on file with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation; P.O. boxes are not accepted. The LLC also keeps a principal office in Maryland.
Who fills the role
Owners who live in Maryland qualify as individuals and can take the resident agent role themselves. Businesses can also serve if they fit the statute's categories above[2].
Mainstay Filing acts as Maryland resident agent for $149 a year, the same at renewal[1]. 6 other services published first-year prices from $99 to $596 for Maryland on October 20, 2026.
What the neighbors call it
| State | Term | Change fee |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | resident agent | $25 |
| Delaware | registered agent | $50 |
| Pennsylvania | registered agent | $5 |
| Virginia | registered agent | $0 |
| West Virginia | agent for service of process | $15 |
Terms and fees from each state's statute and fee schedule, verified August 12, 2026.
None of Maryland's neighbors uses "resident agent"; they say "registered agent" or "agent for service of process". A company registered in several of these states names an agent in each.
Questions
Is a resident agent the same as a registered agent?
Yes. Maryland uses "resident agent" for the role other states call a registered agent.
Does every Maryland LLC need a resident agent?
Yes. Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-101(x) requires one[2].
What does it cost to change a Maryland resident agent?
$25 with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, Charter Division[3].
Can a service be my Maryland 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 Maryland[1], and when you switch it files the $25 change of agent for you.
Sources
- Mainstay Filing pricing, registered agent and FAQ pages. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Md. Code, Corporations & Associations sec. 4A-210 (principal office and resident agent required; change procedure) with 'resident agent' defined at sec. 1-101(x). mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gca§ion=4A-210. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, Charter Division: Resolution to Change Principal Office or Resident Agent fee. dat.maryland.gov/businesses/Documents/FEES.pdf. Updated October 29, 2026.