How To Change Your
Registered Agent
Changing your LLC or corporation's registered agent requires filing a change with the state. Below, you'll find a general guide covering the steps, forms, fees, and state-specific requirements for updating your registered agent.
Ready to make the switch? Hire Northwest and let us take care of the paperwork. We’ll file your registered agent change for free, and ensure the transition is handled correctly from start to finish. Get better service, greater privacy, and a team that's focused on helping your business stay compliant.
When You Want More
- Free Change of Agent Service
- $125 a Year Registered Agent Service
- Business Address & Mail Scanning
- Free Domain, Website, Email & Phone Service
- Automatic Brand Protection
- Privacy By Default®
Why Do I Need A Registered Agent?
Most states require LLCs and corporations to have a registered agent in each state where it conducts business. A registered agent is the person or business designated to receive service of process (legal notices), along with other official state documents, on behalf of your company. Without a registered agent, your business would not have a reliable way for the state to deliver important legal and compliance communications.
Registered Agent Requirements:
Most states require registered agents to be at least 18 years old (if an individual), maintain a physical address in the state where they serve, and be available during normal business hours to receive legal and government documents on behalf of the business. States may also refer to this role as an agent for service of process, resident agent, or statutory agent, but the responsibility is the same: keeping an open, dependable line of communication between your business and the state.
Check out our registered agent page to learn more about specific requirements.
Common Reasons To Change Your Registered Agent
Many business owners initially serve as their own registered agent or appoint a trusted associate, accountant, or attorney to fill the role. While that arrangement may work at first, circumstances often change over time. As a result, it’s common for LLCs and corporations to need to change their registered agent after a few years in business.
Here are some of the most common reasons businesses change registered agents:
1. You Appointed Yourself or Someone Close to the Business
Serving as a registered agent can seem simple, which is why many business owners choose to act as their own registered agent when they first form an LLC or corporation. However, registered agents must maintain a physical address in the state and be available there during normal business hours to receive legal notices and official documents.
For busy business owners, consistently meeting those requirements can become difficult. Running a business, attending meetings, traveling, and managing daily operations often make it impractical to remain available at one location throughout the workday. When that happens, many business owners choose to hire a professional registered agent service instead.
2. Your Registered Agent Resigned or the Relationship Ended
Many businesses appoint an accountant, attorney, or other trusted individual as their registered agent. However, people retire, relocate, change careers, or simply decide they no longer want the responsibility.
Likewise, if your professional relationship with that person ends, they may no longer be willing to serve as your registered agent. When a registered agent resigns or becomes unavailable, you’ll need to appoint a new registered agent and file the appropriate change with the state.
3. Your Business Is Expanding to Additional States
As your business grows, you may register to do business in multiple states. Because every state requires a registered agent with a physical address in that state, relying on an individual registered agent can become complicated.
Many businesses simplify compliance by switching to a national registered agent service with offices nationwide. A professional registered agent service can provide coverage in every state where your business operates, making it easier to manage compliance requirements and future registered agent changes from a single provider.
Why Switch To Northwest Registered Agent
Choosing a registered agent isn’t just about meeting a legal requirement—it’s about protecting your privacy, staying compliant, and making sure nothing important slips through the cracks. Northwest Registered Agent provides registered agent service designed to keep your business organized and make sure your personal information stays off public records.
At Northwest, we use our business address instead of yours on state filings, handle service of process and official state mail, scan and upload your documents, and notify you promptly so you never miss an important deadline. You’ll also get instant brand protection, plus domain and website services for no additional cost. Our focus is simple: reliable compliance support without upsells, hidden fees, or unnecessary add-ons.
How To Change Your Registered Agent
1. Choose Your New Registered Agent
Your first step is to decide on your new registered agent. You can find a list of available registered agent services on most secretary of state websites to get a sense of the number of providers available and their size.
At Northwest, registered agent service is available in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and we offer registered agent service for $125 a year. That’s a price that never changes, and it includes a secure online account, access to our expert Corporate Guides®, a host of useful online filing tools, and stable, transparent prices.
And when you hire Northwest, WE serve as your business’s registered agent instead of hiring a third-party registered agent service provider. That means you’ll deal with one company, one customer support staff, one phone number, one website, and one personalized, reliable service.
2. Submit Your Filing and Fee to the State
Some states require special forms to change your registered agent, some states allow you to change your registered agent by filing an amendment, and some states do both. In any case, you will file your change of registered agent paperwork with the agency in charge of business formations in your state (usually the office of the secretary of state), and you can expect to include the following information:
- Your company name
- The name & address of your current registered agent
- The name & address of your new registered agent
However, the filing requirements, forms, fees, and other details are determined by each state and vary widely. It costs $25 to file a Statement of Change in Alaska, for instance, $20 in Rhode Island, and $10 in North Dakota. Similarly, some states allow only online filing, some states will only accept your paperwork through the mail, and some states will do both.
To determine those state-specific details, scroll down to the next section (“Change Your Registered Agent By State”) and select your state.
3. Inform Your Current Registered Agent of the Change
States typically don’t require you to inform your former registered agent that you have appointed or hired someone new, but it is wise (and also polite!) to do so. If you neglect to inform your previous agent of the change, you might get billed for services you no longer need or use.
Ready to make the switch and hire Northwest to be your company’s registered agent? We’ll file your change of registered agent paperwork for you for free and even pay your required state filing fee.
Change Your Registered Agent By State
Click on the state name for more detailed information about changing your registered agent in each state, or switch to our registered agent service and let us handle the change of registered agent process for you.