How to Change Your LLC Registered Agent

Why You Might Change Registered Agents

Owners switch registered agents for a few common reasons: moving out of the state they're serving as their own agent for, wanting to keep a home address off public state records, being dissatisfied with a current registered agent service, or simply consolidating services when switching formation or compliance providers. Whatever the reason, the process itself is largely the same state filing.

The Filing Itself

Most states use a specific form, often called a statement of change of registered agent or a statement of change of registered office and agent, filed with the same agency that handles LLC formation, usually the Secretary of State's business division. Florida, for example, uses a Statement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent or Both, filed with the Division of Corporations for $25. North Carolina uses Form BE-06, a Statement of Change of Registered Office and/or Registered Agent, with a $5 fee. Alabama requires a Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office by Entity form and charges $100, the highest published registered-agent change fee of any state. Across every state's published fee schedule, this filing costs nothing in nine states, including California, Montana, and Washington, and runs up to Alabama's $100 at the high end.

The New Agent Has to Agree to Serve

A registered agent accepts legal responsibility for receiving official state and legal notices on the LLC's behalf, so states require the incoming agent's consent before the change takes effect. Depending on the state, this consent is built into the statement of change form itself, with the new agent's signature, or it's a separate acceptance the new agent signs. If you're switching to a registered agent service, the service typically handles this consent as part of onboarding you as a client.

Your Current Agent's Role Until the State Processes the Change

Until the state formally processes your statement of change, your current registered agent remains the LLC's agent of record, and any lawsuit, subpoena, or state notice sent to that agent is still valid service on your LLC. Don't cancel service with your old registered agent, or assume the switch is complete, until you have confirmation the state has processed the new filing.

If You're Also Changing Your Registered Office Address

Some states combine a registered agent change and a registered office address change on one form, since the two often change together, for example when switching to a registered agent service that uses its own address instead of your home address. If only your registered agent's address changed, without changing who the agent is, that's still usually the same statement-of-change form; check your specific state's instructions for which boxes to complete.

After the Change Is Processed

Once your state confirms the change, update your own records, any registered agent service you use for forwarding mail should already know your correct information, and double-check your state's public business entity search to confirm the new agent now shows as the agent of record. If you also changed your LLC's address, see our guide on changing an LLC address for the related filings that may apply.

Don't Let There Be a Gap in Coverage

Because your old agent stays legally responsible until the state processes the change, time the switch so there's no gap where neither agent is reliably receiving mail for the LLC, for example if you've already stopped paying an old registered agent service before the new filing is accepted.

A Missed Service of Process Can Have Real Consequences

If a lawsuit is served on an outdated or unreachable registered agent, courts can sometimes still treat that as valid service, which risks a default judgment against your LLC that you don't find out about until it's too late to respond. Keeping your registered agent information current isn't just a formality.

Registered Agent Fees Are Separate From a Service's Overall Price

The state's filing fee for changing an agent is different from what a registered agent service itself charges annually to act as your agent going forward. LLC Register's $99-a-year registered agent service includes LLC formation in year one and annual report filing, with state fees, including a change-of-agent filing if one is needed, passed through at cost.

Check Whether Your State Requires a New Signature Every Time

A few states ask for a freshly signed consent from the new agent on every change filing, even if that agent already serves other entities for you; don't assume a blanket consent on file covers a new LLC or a renewed filing without checking your state's current form.

This Is General Information, Not Legal Advice

Exact forms, required signatures, and fees differ by state and can change. Confirm the current form and fee with your state's filing agency before you file, especially if your LLC is registered in more than one state.