In Massachusetts, you may change your registered agent, also known as a resident agent, by submitting a Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Registered Office to the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth.
When transferring registered agent services, when an agent resigns or goes out of business, or if they choose to function as their own registered agent, a company owner may opt to change their registered agent.
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Fill out a Change of Registered Agent/Registered Office Statement.
The easiest approach to alter your registered agent is to file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Registered Office with the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth.
This may be done through email, mail, in person, or fax.
Online submission of a Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Registered Office is recommended.
You may utilize the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Corporations Online Filing System to complete and submit a Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Registered Office. This procedure includes the following steps:
Enter your customer ID number and PIN to access the site.
Select “Change Registered Agent” from the list of filings.
Fill out the form
Submit the form and payment.
Send a Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Registered Office through mail, in person, or fax.
To submit a Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Registered Office by mail, in person, or by fax, first download and fill out the form from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth website. There are several forms for various sorts of company structures:
Corporation
Limited Liability Corporation (LLC)
Limited Liability Company (LP)
After your new agent has signed their agreement, send the completed documents and payment using one of the ways listed below:
Whether via mail or in person:
The Commonwealth Secretary
Room 1717, One Ashburton Place
02108-1512 Boston, MA
Fax:
(617) 624-3891 (Note: fax submissions must contain fax voucher cover sheet) (Note: fax filings must include fax voucher cover sheet)
Cost: There is no filing price if you file online; otherwise, the fee is $25.
This charge may be paid by cheque or credit card (online filings only).
Why Should You Change Registered Agents?
A firm may choose to change its registered agent for a variety of reasons, including:
Changing from an Individual Agent to a Registered Agent Service: While people (even a company’s own executives or employees) may operate as registered agents, they will be publicly listed in the state’s database. Some individuals may see this as an invasion of their privacy. Registered agents must also be accessible in their office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, which might be inconvenient. These concerns are resolved by switching to a registered agent service.
Expanding Your Business Into New States: Limited liability companies (LLCs), corporations, and other formal business entities are required to have a registered agent in each state where they do business. Not all registered agents are authorized to act as a registered agent in every state. Some companies would rather have the same registered agent in each state than multiple separate ones.
Customer Satisfaction: Whether it’s about pricing, customer service, or job quality, some changes occur simply because a company is dissatisfied with its present registered agent.