How to change your registered agent
Switching agents is a state filing with a strict order of operations. Get the sequence right and there is never a gap in coverage.
Direct answer
How do I change my registered agent?
Engage the new registered agent first, then file the state's statement of change of registered agent with the office that holds your entity record; several states also accept the update on the annual report. The change takes effect when the filing is accepted, so the old agent remains the agent of record until then. Multi-state companies repeat the filing in every state of qualification.
The change-of-agent sequence
- 1
Engage the new agent first
Sign up with the new registered agent before filing anything, so there is never a moment without coverage. The new agent's name and street address go on the state filing, and some states require the agent's signed consent.
- 2
File the statement of change
File the state's statement of change of registered agent (and registered office, if the address moves) with the filing office that holds your entity record. Several states also accept the update as part of the annual or biennial report.
- 3
Wait for acceptance
The change takes effect when the filing office accepts it, not when you sign the paperwork. Until then the old agent remains the agent of record and can still be served on your behalf.
- 4
Notify the outgoing agent and update records
Tell the outgoing agent the change is complete, and update any licensing, bank, or registration records that list the old agent address. Multi-state companies repeat the filing in every state of qualification.
Cornerstone Licensing prepares and files the change paperwork in every state as part of a registered agent order, so switching providers never creates a coverage gap.
Changing agents: FAQ
- Does changing my registered agent cost anything?
- Most states charge a filing fee for the statement of change, set by the state's filing office and billed at cost. Providers like Cornerstone Licensing prepare and submit the paperwork as part of a registered agent order.
- Will I have a coverage gap while switching?
- Not if the new agent is engaged before the filing goes in. The old appointment stays effective until the state accepts the change, so the sequence matters more than the speed.
- Do I have to notify my old registered agent?
- The state filing is what changes the record, but notifying the outgoing agent avoids surprises with forwarded mail and lets any prepaid term wind down cleanly.
- What if my company is registered in several states?
- Each state keeps its own agent of record, so a statement of change is filed in every state where the entity is formed or qualified. One provider covering every state keeps the renewals consolidated.