If you want to change your registered agent in Georgia, you can do it when you file your annual registration or by filing an amended annual registration.
You can file your annual or amended registration online or by mail, along with the payment for the filing.
Information You Will Need to Change Your Registered Agent
The information you need to change your registered agent depends on your business or organization. If you’re a corporation, you’ll need:
- The name or control number of the corporation
- The name of the person filing the annual registration
- An email address
- The name and address of the new registered agent
- The name and address of the corporation’s officers
- The mailing address of the corporation’s principal office
If you’re changing the registered agent of a Limited Liability Company (LLC), Limited Partnership (LP), Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) or Limited Liability Limited Partnership (LLLP) you’ll need to provide mostly the same (or analogous) information. However, you won’t need to provide the name and address of corporate officers as there won’t be any to identify.
Can I Change My Registered Agent in Georgia Online?
Yes, and it’s probably the best way to make the change as it’ll be the fastest and cheapest way to do so. The processing for changing your Georgia registered agent online begins by going to the Georgia Corporations Division section of the Secretary of State website. From there, you can log into eCorp and provide the information of your new registered agent and pay the necessary filing fee.
| Type of Registration | Online Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Annual registration for a for-profit corporation, professional corporation, LLC, LLP or LLLP | $50.00 |
| Annual registration for a nonprofit corporation | $30.00 |
| Annual registration for a foreign LLP | $25.00 |
| Amended annual registration | $20.00 |
When changing your registered agent online, you’ll have to pay your fee by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover). Also, there’s a $25.00 penalty if you file your initial annual registration late (after April 1). The penalty fee won’t apply for amended annual registration filings, though.
Can I Change My Registered Agent in Georgia By Mail?
If you want to mail in your annual registration form or amended annual registration form, you’ll need to go to the Annual Registration Form website and find your organization. After you’ve done that, you may print out your annual registration form and mail it to:
Office of Secretary of State2 MLK Jr. Drive, 313 West Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
If you’re mailing an annual registration form (and not an amended form), it must be postmarked by April 1. You may pay the filing fee by check or money order, and you cannot send cash. The filing fees when changing your registered agent by mail are as follows:
| Type of Registration | Paper Filing Fee |
|---|---|
| Annual registration for a for-profit corporation, professional corporation, LLC, LLP, or LLLP | $60.00 |
| Annual registration for a non-profit corporation | $40.00 |
| Annual registration for a foreign LLP | $35.00 |
| Amended annual registration | $30.00 |
If mailing the initial annual registration form after April 1, you must include an additional $25.00 as a late fee.
Who Can Be a Registered Agent in Georgia?
Georgia’s requirements for being a registered agent are similar to most other states. The specifics will depend on the type of organization, though.
Domestic Profit and Nonprofit Corporation
The registered agent must be:
- An individual or entity that resides in Georgia;
- A domestic corporation or LLC; or
- A foreign corporation or LLC that’s authorized to do business in Georgia
Foreign Profit and Nonprofit Corporation
The registered agent must be:
- An individual who resides in Georgia and has a business office that’s the same as its registered office;
- A domestic corporation or LLC; or
- A foreign corporation or LLC that’s authorized to do business in Georgia
Domestic LP or LLLP
The registered agent must be:
- An individual that resides in Georgia;
- A domestic corporation or LLC; or
- A foreign corporation or LLC that’s authorized to do business in Georgia
Foreign LP or LLLP
The registered agent must be:
- An individual that resides in Georgia;
- A domestic corporation or LLC; or
- A foreign corporation or LLC that’s authorized to do business in Georgia
Domestic LLC
The registered agent must be:
- An individual that resides in Georgia;
- A domestic corporation or LLC; or
- A foreign corporation or LLC that has a certificate of authority to do business in Georgia.
Foreign LLC
The registered agent must be:
- An individual that resides in Georgia;
- A domestic corporation or LLC; or
- A foreign corporation or LLC that has a certificate of authority to do business in Georgia.
Foreign LLP
The registered agent must be:
- An individual that resides in Georgia;
- A domestic corporation or LLC; or
- A foreign corporation or LLC that’s authorized to do business in Georgia.
Pitfalls You Should Avoid While Changing Your Registered Agent
Changing your registered agent in Georgia is a relatively straightforward process. Still, there are things you should keep in mind when making the switch. One thing to remember is that whoever signs the annual registration form could face criminal penalties if they knowingly make false and material statements when completing the form.
Inform Your Old Registered Agent
After you inform the Secretary of State in Georgia that you changed your registered agent, you’ll want to let your old registered agent know. This is important if you’re paying for a registered agent service and don’t need to pay for services you no longer need.
Check Regulations in Georgia
There are many statutory provisions concerning registered agents in Georgia. Basically, everything you need to know about changing your registered agent can be found on the Georgia Secretary of State Business Division FAQ web page. If you need to look up a specific statute, you can find them identified on that web page.
Conclusion
It doesn’t take much work to change your registered agent in Georgia. You can easily make the change when filing your annual registration statement. If you need to make the change after you file this form, you can file an amended annual registration statement.
Either method you use will require the payment of a filing fee.