Change in California Registered Agent: If you want to change the registered agent in California, then you need to file the statement of change of registered agent with the California Secretary of State. You can file it by mail or online after paying the state filing fee. Any California LLC can change the registered agent if they cancel the former one or the registered agent goes out of business.
Here on this page, you will read about how to change the registered agent in California and why you need to change the registered agent. Read this guide to know how to change a registered agent in California.
On this page, you’ll learn about the following:
How to Change A California Registered Agent
To change a registered agent in California, one has to file the statement of change of the registered agent. You have to pay the filing fee of $20 to complete your application. To file for the Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office Address with the California Secretary of State, you can opt for any of the following methods:
Online Filing
If you wish to file for the change of registered agent online, follow the below-given instructions:
- Visit the California Secretary of State’s website.
- Search for your business by entering the name in the search box.
- Search results will contain a list of companies having the name you searched for.
- Click on your company’s name.
- You will get the statement of change form. Complete the form, and the new registered agent will need to sign it.
- Submit the completed form along with the payment.
Filing Through Mail or In-person
For in-person or mail filings, you need to download the Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office Address (PDF) from the official website of the California Secretary of State. Complete the form by filling in all the required information about the LLC as well as both (new and existing) registered agents. The form has to be signed by the new registered agent. This will provide the consent of the new agent. Once completed, submit it to the below-mentioned address:
| Important Links | Submit Offline Form |
|---|---|
| Change of Registered Agent – Online Change of Registered Agent – PDF California Secretary of State California Registered Agent – Requirement | Secretary of State Business Programs Division – Statement of Information P.O. Box 944230 Sacramento, CA 94244-2300 In-person submit, Secretary of State 1500 11th St. Sacramento, CA 95814 |
Fee: The filing fee charged for changing the California registered agent is $20. This fee is to be paid through check or credit card to the California Secretary of State.
If you hire a Registered Agent service, then it would be much easier for you to file the Statement of Change. Also, the registered agent will help you with the consent letter the new registered agent has to sign. There are several best LLC services that offer standalone registered agent services.
Recommended: You can get the best registered agent service at a reasonable price with online LLC service providers. We recommend using –
ZenBusiness Registered Agent – $99 Per Year
Registered Agent Consent Letter in California
Some states have a provision for submitting the consent letter from the new registered agent. In California, there is no need to submit such a letter. The Statement of Change form is completed by the signature of the new registered agent and this is enough to prove the consent.
Why Do You Need to Change a California Registered Agent
There can be several reasons why LLCs want to change their registered agent in California. Some of the main and most important reasons are listed below,
Be Your Own Registered Agent
A very common reason is that if anyone wants to be his/her own registered agent. Any LLC owner can be the registered agent himself/herself as per the California Secretary of State. So, you may want to change the registered agent and become one yourself for your LLC. In that case, you have to submit the change form with your details.
Want to Hire a Professional Registered Agent
You may have designated yourself or someone from the family as the registered agent for your LLC in the initial phase. But with expansion in business, your roles and responsibilities also expand. You may not be present at the office during working hours. And a registered agent is required to be available in the office. So, you will need to hire a registered agent who could replace you.
Existing Registered Agent Resigns
If your current registered agent resigns or your service provider is out of business, then you can change your Registered Agent in California. You would need to change the registered agent if the existing one is resigning or going out of service.
Forming foreign LLC
This is to be noted that a person is eligible to be a California registered agent only if he/she is a California resident. So, if you are forming a foreign LLC in California, you might need to change your registered agent, because not all registered agents are eligible to work in different states.
FAQ
To become a registered agent, one should meet the state requirements. These include that the person should be 18 or above years of age, should be a resident of the state within which the business operates, and must sign the Consent form.
A registered agent for LLC in California can be removed by submitting a Statement of Change of Registered Office and/or Registered Agent with the California Secretary of State.
The California Secretary of State charges $20 to change a registered agent.
In Conclusion
In the course of your business, you may arrive at a point where you need to change the registered agent. The need may arise when the existing agent wants to quit, or you are expanding your business. The procedure to change the California registered agent is quite simple. It can be done online as well as through mail filing.