A process agent is a representative upon whom court papers may be served. It is a requirement under US State law and is also known as a registered agent, resident agent or statutory agent. The role is especially important for institutions or companies involved in international transactions who do not have a physical presence or registered office within the jurisdiction of the governing law of the transaction documents.
Trusting Your Process: The Importance of a Reliable Service of Process Agent
When choosing a process agent to work with, it is vital to choose one that has a proven track record of excellence. The company should have dedicated employees and operate legitimate commercial offices in each state it covers. It should be able to provide a variety of services related to the transport industry, and it must be available to assist clients with legal matters 24/7.
In the US, motor carriers, brokers and freight forwarders must choose a process agent in every state they do business or transport through. The FMCSA requires these process agents to be listed in Form BOC-3, a document filed through the agency’s Unified Registration System. To file this form, the company must pay a fee to a service provider and must provide the name and address of each process agent it has selected, along with any other relevant information.
It is recommended that you select a process agent that has national coverage, as this will allow you to save money by not having to pay for multiple individual processes agents in each state you need coverage. Additionally, it’s a good idea to select a company that offers what’s known as blanket agent, where you only pay one annual fee for the entire country and are provided with a single, nationwide process agent.