How to Change Your Registered Agent in Florida

There are two primary ways to change your registered agent in Florida. The first method allows you to change your registered agent when you file your annual report. The second method requires you to mail in a special registered agent change form, along with the appropriate fee.

Information You Will Need to Change Your Registered Agent

If you want to change corporate registered agent in Florida, you’ll need to provide the following information:

• Signature of the new registered agent (if an individual is the new registered agent) or a signature of the principal of the registered agent (if a business entity is the new registered agent).
• Signature of the corporate officer or director authorized to change the corporation’s registered agent.
• The name of your corporation.
• Your corporation’s principal office address.
• Your corporation’s mailing address (if different from the principal office address).
• The date your company was incorporated.
• Your corporation’s Document Number.
• The name and address of your current/old registered agent.
• The name and address of your new registered agent.

Information needed for changing a Florida registered agent of a Limited Liability Company (LLC), Limited Partnership (LP), Limited Liability Limited Partnership (LLLP) or alien business organization closely parallels what’s needed for a corporate registered agent change.

The primary differences relate to the identity of the individual authorized to sign the registered agent change form. For example, with an LLC, it will be a member (or authorized representative of a member) and for an LP or LLLP it will be a general partner.

Can I Change My Registered Agent in Florida Online?

Yes, but only if making the change when filing an Annual Report or Amended Annual Report. If you formed your business entity after January 1 of this year, you can’t make your registered agent change online. Instead, you’ll need the mail in a special form (more on this process in the following section).

To file an Annual Report or Amended Annual Report online, you’ll need to go to the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations Annual Report-Sunbiz webpage. The process begins after you input your business entity’s Document Number.

You’ll also need to pay the registered agent change fee, which depends on the type of business entity you’re filing as.

Note that in addition to the above fees for registered agent changes, there’s also a fee for filing the initial or amended Annual Report. For corporations and LP/LLLPs, it’s $8.75 and for LLCs, it’s $5.00.

Can I Change My Registered Agent in Florida By Mail?

Yes, but you’ll usually only do so if you can’t file an Annual Report or Amended Annual Report online. To make the registered agent change by mail, you’ll need to use the correct form, depending on if your business entity is a corporation, LLC, LP/LLLP or alien business organization.

If making a registered agent change for an LLC, LP, LLLP or alien business organization, you must mail the form and fee to:

If making a registered agent change for a corporation, you’ll mail the form and fee to:

The registered agent change fee can be paid by check, made out to the “Florida Department of State.”

Who Can Be a Registered Agent in Florida?

For the most part, almost anyone can serve as a registered agent in Florida, as long as they meet the basic requirements. These requirements include residing in the state (or being an authorized entity of the state), as well as having a physical address in Florida to serve as the registered agent address.

If your business entity is an “authorized insurer,” only your insurance company’s chief financial officer may serve as its registered agent, per Florida Statute 48.151(3). An authorized insurer

Pitfalls You Should Avoid While Changing Your Registered Agent

As you can see from the above sections, changing a Florida registered agent is a simple process that requires payment of a nominal fee. The greatest potential for problems comes up if someone knowingly provides false information or makes the change without authorization.

Inform Your Old Registered Agent

After choosing a new registered agent and making the change with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, you’ll want to let your old registered agent know of the change. This is important if you hired a commercial registered agent as it prevents you from continuing to pay for services you no longer need.

Check Regulations in Florida

The above information covers the overall process of changing your registered agent. But there could be slight differences in your situation that could necessitate a slightly different process. Therefore, it’s important to double-check the registered agent change procedures with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations website.

For instance, they have a special instructions page for filing an Annual Report. This may contain additional information that can reduce the chance of your registered agent change request getting delayed.

Conclusion

Changing the registered agent of a Florida business entity is straightforward and affordable. The general procedure is the same no matter what kind of business entity you have. However, there are small differences in the information you’ll need to provide to make the change and whether you formed your business entity after January 1 of this year.