If you work in litigation or process serving in California, two names come up more than any others when you look up registered agents: CSC Lawyers Incorporating Service and CT Corporation. Together, these two companies represent the vast majority of corporations doing business in the state. But they are not the same company, they are not in the same city, and knowing the difference between them is essential for anyone who needs to serve legal papers on a California corporation.
This guide compares CSC and CT Corporation side by side so you can understand how each one works, where to find them, and what to expect when you need to serve papers through either agent.
The Basics: Two Companies, Two Cities
The most important distinction between CSC Lawyers Incorporating Service and CT Corporation is geography.
CSC Lawyers Incorporating Service – Address: 2710 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 150N, Sacramento, CA 95833 – Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM – Parent company: Corporation Service Company (founded 1899)
CT Corporation – Address: 330 North Brand Boulevard, Suite 700, Glendale, CA 91203 – Hours: Monday through Friday (standard business hours) – Parent company: Wolters Kluwer (a global information services company)
CSC operates out of Sacramento. CT Corporation operates out of the Los Angeles area (Glendale, specifically). If you are a process server based in Sacramento and you need to serve a company whose agent is CT Corporation, you are looking at a trip to Southern California — or more practically, you need to hire a process server in the LA area to handle it.
This geographic split is one of the most common sources of confusion in California corporate service of process. People assume that because both companies are major registered agents, they must be in the same place. They are not.
What They Have in Common
Before diving into the differences, it is worth noting what CSC and CT Corporation share:
Both are registered agent service providers. They perform the same core function: accepting service of process and other legal documents on behalf of the corporations that designate them as agents.
Both serve thousands of companies. Each one represents a massive portfolio of businesses registered in California, from Fortune 500 giants to mid-size companies.
Both comply with California Corporations Code 1505. Each company maintains a physical office in California with staff available during business hours to accept service of process, as required by law.
Both forward documents to their clients. When you serve papers at either office, the agent logs the service and transmits the documents to the corporation’s legal department or designated contact.
Both have national footprints. CSC and CT Corporation operate registered agent offices in all 50 states. Their California offices are just one node in a nationwide network.
Key Differences
### Location and Accessibility
This is the big one. If you are based in Northern California, CSC is the more accessible office — it is right in Sacramento, the state capital, near the Secretary of State’s office and many state and federal courthouses. If you are based in Southern California, CT Corporation in Glendale is more convenient.
For process servers who cover Sacramento and the surrounding area, CSC is a regular stop. CT Corporation is not. The reverse is true for servers working in Los Angeles.
### Office Hours
CSC’s Sacramento office operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. That early 2:00 PM closing time is well known among Sacramento process servers and catches newcomers off guard.
CT Corporation generally maintains longer office hours, closer to a standard business day. However, you should always verify current hours before making a trip, as schedules can change.
### Parent Companies and History
CSC (Corporation Service Company) has been in the registered agent business since 1899, making it one of the oldest companies of its kind. It operates independently as a corporate services company.
CT Corporation is owned by Wolters Kluwer, a Dutch multinational that specializes in professional information services. CT Corporation has a long history as well, but its corporate structure is different — it operates as a division within a larger information services conglomerate.
### Client Base
Both companies serve major corporations, but there is some differentiation in their client portfolios. CSC tends to have a particularly strong presence among technology companies, financial institutions, and Fortune 500 corporations. Companies like Amazon, Google, Wells Fargo, and Meta all use CSC.
CT Corporation also represents a large number of major companies, including many in the insurance, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. Some corporations use CSC in certain states and CT Corporation in others, depending on their historical relationships and service preferences.
The bottom line: you cannot assume which agent a company uses. You must verify the agent designation for the specific entity in the specific state where you need to make service.
When You Would Serve CSC vs. CT Corporation
The determination is simple: look up the defendant entity on the California Secretary of State’s business search database. The filing will identify the designated agent for service of process. If the agent is CSC Lawyers Incorporating Service, you serve at the Sacramento address. If the agent is CT Corporation, you serve at the Glendale address.
You do not get to choose which agent to serve. The agent designation is made by the corporation, not by the person filing the lawsuit. Your obligation is to serve the agent that is currently on file with the Secretary of State.
Here are some common scenarios:
Scenario 1: You are suing a company and the agent is CSC. You (or your process server) deliver the papers to 2710 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 150N, Sacramento, CA 95833, during CSC’s office hours.
Scenario 2: You are suing a company and the agent is CT Corporation. You (or your process server) deliver the papers to CT Corporation’s Glendale office.
Scenario 3: You are suing a company and the agent is neither CSC nor CT Corporation. There are other registered agent companies operating in California — Cogency Global, Registered Agents Inc., National Registered Agents, and others. Check the filing and serve at the address listed for whichever agent is designated.
Scenario 4: The company has no designated agent on file. If the Secretary of State’s records show no current agent designation, California law provides alternative methods of service, including service on the Secretary of State directly under certain circumstances. Consult with an attorney about the proper procedure.
Which Companies Use Which Agent?
There is no master public list that cleanly separates CSC clients from CT Corporation clients. Agent designations are made entity by entity, and a single parent company may use different agents for different subsidiaries.
That said, some general patterns exist. As noted above, many of the biggest names in technology and banking use CSC. CT Corporation has a strong footprint in insurance and certain manufacturing sectors. But these are tendencies, not rules. Always verify before serving.
The California Secretary of State’s website (bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov) is the authoritative source. Search for the exact legal name of the entity and check the agent designation. It takes two minutes and prevents costly service errors.
Why This Distinction Matters
Serving the wrong registered agent — or serving at the wrong address — can result in defective service. Defective service means delays, potential dismissal of your case, and additional costs to re-serve. In litigation where deadlines matter (and they always matter), an error like this can be damaging.
Understanding the CSC vs. CT Corporation distinction is one of the most fundamental pieces of knowledge for anyone involved in California corporate litigation. It is simple once you know it, but it is the kind of detail that creates problems when overlooked.
Let Sacramento Process Server Handle It
Whether your target company uses CSC, CT Corporation, or another registered agent, the process is the same: verify the agent, go to the right address, and serve during business hours. For CSC service in Sacramento, we handle it regularly.
Need papers served on a company that uses CSC as its registered agent? Sacramento Process Server is at Gateway Oaks Drive multiple times per week. Submit your service request here and we will get your papers served promptly and correctly.
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