In Ohio, How Do I Change My Registered Agent?

Fill out a Statutory Agent Update form with the Ohio Secretary of State to alter your registered agent, also known as a statutory agent.

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.

Fill out the Statutory Agent Update Form.

The easiest approach to replace your registered agent is to file a Statutory Agent Update form with the Ohio Secretary of State.

This may be done online or in the mail.

Recommended: Fill out an online Statutory Agent Update Form.

The Ohio Secretary of State website allows you to complete and submit a Statutory Agent Update form online. This procedure includes the following steps:

Access the website by logging in.
“Update an Existing Business Record” should be selected.
Enter your business identification number or search for your company name.
Fill out the form and send it in with your payment.

Mail in a Statutory Agent Update Form

To send a Statutory Agent Update form, first download it from the Ohio Secretary of State’s website and fill it out.

After your new agent has signed the document, send it to:

P.O. Box 788 Columbus, OH 43216 Ohio Secretary of State

Fee: $25

This cost may be paid by cheque, money order, or credit card (online filings only). Read the change form for complete instructions.

Please expedite your order.

If you want the Ohio Secretary of State to expedite the processing of your hard copy form, you must indicate this on the cover page of the change form. There are various alternatives available, each with a different charge.

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 at their office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, which might be inconvenient. These concerns are resolved by switching to a registered agent service.
Business Expansion into New States: LLCs, corporations, and other formal business formations must 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 Contentment: Some changes occur simply because a firm is dissatisfied with its present registered agent, whether the issue is one of pricing, customer service, or job quality.