Resident Agent Info

Wisconsin Resident Agent Information

Where to file, who to call and what the state expects of the agent who receives legal papers for a Wisconsin business entity.

The Wisconsin filing office.

Every business entity formed or registered in Wisconsin must appoint a resident agent and keep the appointment on file with this office. The statute, the forms and the fees are the office's; confirm them there.

Street address

Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
201 W Washington Ave
Madison, WI 53703

Mailing address

Division of Corporate and Consumer Services
Corporations Bureau, Suite 300
PO Box 7846
Madison, WI 53707

Phone and website

Voice
(608) 261-7577
Fax
(608) 267-6813
Website
dfi.wi.gov

Office hours

Monday through Friday
7:45 AM - 4:30 PM
Central Time (CT)

Office details as published in our directory; offices move and renumber, so check the website before you mail or visit.

What a resident agent must do in Wisconsin

The basics are the same here as in every other state. The agent must:

  • keep a physical street address in Wisconsin (not a post office box) that appears on the entity's public record;
  • be available at that address during normal business hours to accept service of process;
  • accept lawsuits, subpoenas and official notices from the state on the entity's behalf and forward them promptly;
  • stay on the record: if the agent moves, resigns or is replaced, a change must be filed with the office above.

An entity that lets its appointment lapse falls out of compliance and can lose its good standing. The requirements page explains the rules in more detail, and what is a resident agent explains the role itself.

Other states.