Where the words come from
Most states have adopted language built around a registered agent or registered office. Ohio's Title XVII speaks of an agent upon whom process may be served, and its forms call that the statutory agent. A few other states use statutory agent too, so you may see the phrase outside Ohio as well.
Other names for the same job
- Registered agent
- Resident agent
- Agent for service of process
- Process agent, loosely
Federal forms and out-of-state lawyers may use any of these. If someone asks for your Ohio registered agent, give them your statutory agent.
When the wording matters
- On Ohio forms. Look for the Statutory Agent section. There is no separate registered agent field.
- In searches. The Secretary of State's record lists the "Agent" for the entity.
- In contracts. A clause calling for a registered agent in Ohio will be read to mean your statutory agent, but a careful drafter should use Ohio's term.
- When entering Ohio. A foreign company's registered agent in its home state does not count here. It needs a separate Ohio statutory agent unless the same provider also qualifies in Ohio.
Why our site uses this term
It's the phrase on the form you will actually file. If you landed here searching either term, you're in the right place, since we fill that role for $49 a year.
Questions
Do I need both a statutory agent and a registered agent?
No. In Ohio they are one role, so one agent covers it.
Can my Delaware registered agent also be my Ohio statutory agent?
Only if that company meets Ohio's rules, including an Ohio business address and a usual place of business here. Being a Delaware agent alone is not enough.
Reviewed by Sean Webb, owner of Ohio Registered Statutory Agent LLC. Updated 2026-11-06. General information, not legal advice.