Changing your LLC’s registered agent is a straightforward procedure, but it must be done appropriately to prevent compliance difficulties.
A registered agent is a person or company that receives and transmits legal paperwork on behalf of your LLC. After you’ve formed your LLC, you may alter your registered agent.
How to Change Your Registered Agent
Once you’ve decided on your new registered agent, you may quickly replace your existing one by completing the appropriate form issued by your state’s business services office. Depending on your state, there may be a small cost.
When submitting your new registered agent, make sure to include a signed permission form from your new registered agent, if appropriate. This stage varies by state.
Reasons to Change Your Registered Agent
We all cherish our privacy; if you originally elected to operate as your own registered agent when you started your firm, you may change your mind and choose a professional registered agent service instead.
The address of your registered agent service, not your personal or business address, will be made public. This is particularly crucial to consider if you run your company from home.
A registered agent service protects your privacy by:
Keeping a lawsuit from being served on you in person. You don’t want to be served in front of your family, coworkers, or, worse, clients.
Making their address public rather than yours. As a consequence, you will get fewer unsolicited mail.
What You Should Do Before Changing Your Registered Agent
Before replacing the present registered agent, you should know who you’re selecting as your new registered agent. If you do not have a registered agent for your company, you may face penalties such as fines or even dissolution.
Who May Serve as Your New Registered Agent?
You have many alternatives if you want to change your registered agent. The following conditions must be met by registered agents:
be at least 18 years old, have a physical location in the state where the company is performed, and be accessible during regular business hours
If you or a member of your LLC is not acting as the registered agent, you might think about hiring a professional registered agent service. In addition to having a valid office in the state where your LLC is formed, we recommend that you choose a nationwide registered agent service that has the following features:
Reminders for submitting annual reports and other crucial dates are part of compliance management.
Document management entails scanning all official papers locally so that they may be accessed through your internet account.
Availability: a dependable customer support staff available to address any queries you may have.
Comprehensive coverage includes the capacity to offer registered agent services in all 50 states.
Methods for Changing Registered Agents
When changing registered agents, the simplest option is to file your state’s version of a Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office form. Many states allow this file to be done online, while others require the request to be sent in. More detailed information may be found by looking up your state in the list above.
Submitting your LLC’s Annual Report or filing a legal modification for your firm are two more ways to change registered agents. However, both of these ways are more difficult, time-consuming, and costly to file.
Switching Registered Agents Questions and Answers
Is it Possible for Me to Be My Own Registered Agent?
You may act as your own registered agent. You might also pick a member of your LLC or a trusted acquaintance, as long as they match the following criteria:
is at least 18 years old, resides in the state where the company is done, and is accessible during regular business hours
A professional registered agent service is another alternative. One downside is that it is more costly than acting on your own. Using a service, on the other hand, helps you avoid any costs or further legal difficulty caused by losing or misplacing a crucial document or notification. In the long term, this may save you more time and money.
Who is eligible to be a registered agent?
Anyone may serve as a registered agent as long as the allocated person or organization is accessible during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and at the registered agent location. This is critical in the event of a lawsuit and to stay in compliance with legal paperwork and deadlines.
Although you may be your own registered agent, we suggest that you consider employing a registered agent service such as ZenBusiness, Incfile, or Northwest to manage this aspect of your company requirements.
How much does it cost to hire an LLC registered agent?
A registered agent service might range in price from $50 to $300, but choosing one can save you time and money in the long run.
What is the cost of changing my registered agent?
Changing your registered agent might cost anything from $0 to $50 per state, depending on how many jurisdictions your LLC is registered in.
What exactly is a statutory agent?
A statutory agent is sometimes known as a registered agent, a process server, or a resident agent. Although most jurisdictions use the term registered agent, each state has its own title.
What exactly is a resident agent?
A registered agent, process service agent, or statutory agent is another term for a resident agent. Although most jurisdictions use the term registered agent, each state has its own title.
What exactly is a process agent service?
A registered agent, a resident agent, or a statutory agent is another term for a service of process agent. Although most states use the term registered agent, others use other titles.
What exactly is “process service”?
Receiving legal papers, such as a summons, is referred to as service of process. A summons is an order to appear in court for a pending litigation.
What is the difference between a commercial and a non-commercial registered agent?
When creating an LLC, most states need you to supply the name and address of your LLC’s registered agent. Some states may ask you if you want a commercial or non-commercial registered agent. Some states refer to professional registered agents as commercial agents, whereas individual agents are referred to as non-commercial agents.
