(1) Each foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state shall designate and continuously maintain in this state:

(a) A registered office, which may be the same as its place of business in this state; and

Terms Used In Florida Statutes 607.1507

  • Authorized entity: means :
    (a) A corporation for profit;
    (b) A limited liability company;
    (c) A limited liability partnership; or
    (d) A limited partnership, including a limited liability limited partnership. See Florida Statutes 607.01401
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Day: means a calendar day. See Florida Statutes 607.01401
  • Department: means the Florida Department of State. See Florida Statutes 607.01401
  • Domestic: means , with respect to an entity, an entity governed as to its internal affairs by the laws of this state. See Florida Statutes 607.01401
  • Entity: includes corporation and foreign corporation; unincorporated association; business trust, estate, limited liability company, partnership, trust, and two or more persons having a joint or common economic interest; and state, United States, and foreign governments. See Florida Statutes 607.01401
  • Foreign: means , with respect to an entity, an entity governed as to its internal affairs by the organic law of a jurisdiction other than this state. See Florida Statutes 607.01401
  • Foreign corporation: means an entity incorporated or organized under laws other than the laws of this state which would be a corporation for profit if incorporated under the laws of this state. See Florida Statutes 607.01401
  • Individual: includes the estate of an incompetent or deceased individual. See Florida Statutes 607.01401
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Proceeding: includes a civil suit, a criminal action, an administrative action, and an investigatory action. See Florida Statutes 607.01401
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
  • Writing: means printing, typewriting, electronic communication, or other communication that is reducible to a tangible form. See Florida Statutes 607.01401
(b) A registered agent, which must be:

1. An individual who resides in this state and whose business address is identical to the address of the registered office;
2. A domestic entity that is an authorized entity and whose business address is identical to the address of the registered office; or
3. Another foreign entity authorized to transact business in this state which is an authorized entity and whose business address is identical to the address of the registered office.
(2) This section does not apply to corporations that are required by law to designate the Chief Financial Officer as their attorney for service of process, associations subject to the provisions of chapter 665, and banks and trust companies subject to the financial institutions codes.
(3) Each initial registered agent, and each successor registered agent that is appointed, shall file a statement in writing with the department, in the form and manner prescribed by the department, accepting the appointment as a registered agent while simultaneously being designated as the registered agent. The statement of acceptance must provide that the registered agent is familiar with, and accepts, the obligations of that position.
(4) The duties of a registered agent are as follows:

(a) To forward to the foreign corporation at the address most recently supplied to the registered agent by the foreign corporation, a process, notice, or demand pertaining to the foreign corporation which is served on or received by the registered agent; and
(b) If the registered agent resigns, to provide the notice required under s. 607.1509 to the foreign corporation at the address most recently supplied to the registered agent by the foreign corporation.
(5) The department shall maintain an accurate record of the registered agents and registered offices for service of process and shall promptly furnish any information disclosed thereby upon request and payment of the required fee.
(6) A foreign corporation may not prosecute or maintain any action in a court in this state until the foreign corporation complies with the provisions of this section, pays to the department the amounts required by this chapter, and, to the extent ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, pays to the department a penalty of $5 for each day it has failed to so comply or $500, whichever is less.
(7) A court may stay a proceeding commenced by a foreign corporation until the corporation complies with this section.