How Can I Change My Registered Agent In California

You formed your California LLC. You did the paperwork. You started operating your concern.

And at present, for one reason or another, you demand to change your registered agent. No worries, nosotros've got you covered.

There are a number of reasons y'all might need to change your California LLC's registered agent. Maybe your designated registered agent moved out of state, left the company, or no longer wants the responsibility. Maybe you had assigned the job to yourself, and you no longer want your accost on public record. Mayhap (hopefully) your business has expanded so much that yous no longer have time to handle the registered agent responsibilities.

Whatever your reason may be, changing a registered agent in California might seem similar a daunting task, with a mountain of paperwork and legal proceedings involved. However it'southward actually quite simple, and this guide volition help make the procedure quick and painless.

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What the State of California Says about irresolute an Agent for Service of Procedure

A quick note to avert potential confusion: what California calls the "agent for service of process" on its Secretary of State website and documents, y'all may run into other states call a "registered agent" or "statutory agent." Know that these terms are synonymous and all iii take the aforementioned position and responsibilities.

That said, the state of California has certain requirements about irresolute your LLC's amanuensis for service of process. Your ticket to a new agent is Form LLC-12, otherwise known equally a "Statement of Information." Y'all can find it, along with detailed instructions for its completion on the California Secretarial assistant of State's Forms, Samples, and Fees webpage. Y'all may submit this form online, or by mailing it to the Secretary of Country's office.

There'southward a ton of great data about California'due south agent for service of process procedures on the S.O.South. website'due south FAQ folio.

Who can be a California Registered Agent

You can't pick just anyone to exist a registered agent for your LLC. The country of California puts sure restrictions on who can serve as one. If you're choosing or changing your registered agent, keep these requirements in listen. The registered agent in California must:

Be an private California resident or a business entity located in California
Have a California street accost (P.O. boxes are not allowed)

* If your registered agent is a foreign business entity, it must be authorized to transact business in California

How to Alter Your California Amanuensis for Service of Process

In society to change your registered agent in California, you must file a Argument of Information. This is the same form whether you're a domestic or strange LLC. Information technology's a multipurpose course that California requires all LLCs to file within 90 days of formation and every two years after that. Still, you're also allowed to submit a new one at whatsoever time to notify the state virtually agent for service of process or other changes.

When you practice your required 90-day and biennial Statement of Information filings, in that location is a $20 fee fastened. But whatever time you submit this form to change your LLC information in between required filings, you do then free of charge.

Your filing options are online, by mail, or in person and all 3 have the same fee structure. To submit via postal service, download and complete the form, then ship it to:

Secretarial assistant of State, Statement of Information Unit

P.O. Box 944230

Sacramento, CA 94244-2300

Or, if you're local to Sacramento and feel like getting out and virtually, you can mitt deliver it to the Secretary of Country's function at:

1500 11th Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

If you lot aren't near Sacramento and don't desire to await for your form to go far past mail, you take some other option. Filing online is the quickest and easiest way to get it done. Just click the computer icon next to the Statement of Information form and follow the onscreen instructions.

In certain states, you can change y'all agent for service of procedure by updating your Manufactures of Organisation or annual report. Unfortunately, California does not permit you to make the modify past updating your Articles of Organization. However, your biennial Statement of Information filings serves as your "annual report," and you tin as well alter your agent during that process.

If you're too busy, or if you'd feel more than comfortable letting someone else accept the reins, you take the option of hiring a company or individual to file your paperwork for you. Information technology's a great style to relieve time and stress.

Submit your course? Pay your fee? You're on your way to a new agent for service of process. If yous want to know when to expect the change, the Secretary of State website updates their processing times on a day-to-solar day ground, and y'all can find them here.

Consider a Registered Agent Service

Call up of your registered amanuensis as a mediator between y'all and the state of California, the person or business entity that handles some of your nearly important paperwork.

In case y'all thought the registered agent was just a formality, look at the documents they handle:

service of process notices
tax information
lawsuits
and other Secretary of State correspondence.

A lot of important stuff. Which is why a reliable registered agent is essential to every California concern owner.

By handling high-priority and sensitive documents on your behalf, your registered agent takes intendance of your communications with the state, and so y'all can spend more than time edifice your business.

Plus, if you operate a California small-scale business from out of state, a trustworthy registered agent is especially important, as the state requires a local contact for your LLC. Having this contact ensures your company volition receive and reply to time-sensitive documents, and so you lot won't miss filings and get hit with penalties.

If you lot're unsure where to find a good California registered agent, consider using a registered agent service. These companies provide y'all a reliable, professional person registered agent so you lot can have peace of mind knowing you lot won't always miss a filing, tax borderline, or state correspondence.

Sure, you can jump online, search "registered agent service," and get a ton of results. Just the truth is that not all of these services are trustworthy. And so, nosotros've done some research for you lot. If y'all want to know you're getting a top-quality registered agent, accept a look at our comparing guide on the top v registered agent services.