Are you unsatisfied with your Alaska registered agent? Or perhaps you’re currently serving as your own registered agent, but would rather hire a professional registered agent service instead?
The state of Alaska makes it rather easy to change your registered agent, but there are some details involved in the process that are worth reviewing.
In this guide, we’ll discuss all the relevant details of changing a registered agent in Alaska.
Rocket Tip: If you would prefer to have a professional service deal with the paperwork and take over registered agent duties, hire a Alaska registered agent service. It’s just a small annual fee.
What Is an Alaska Registered Agent?
Why is a registered agent required for every limited liability company (LLC) or corporation? It all comes down to the fact that the state needs to be able to contact an official representative of your business if they need to deliver important documents to you, especially service of process.
Without a registered agent, you could remain unaware of a lawsuit against your business progressing through the court system.
Who Can Be an Alaska Registered Agent?
If you’re looking to change your company’s registered agent, it’s a good idea to know who is eligible to serve as one.
The state of Department of Commerce asserts that a registered agent can be either an individual who is a permanent resident of Alaska or a company that has the legal rights to operate a business in the state. In Alaska, a business can never serve as its own registered agent. Regardless of if the selected entity is an individual or a company, Alaska registered agents must have a physical street address within the state; PO boxes do not qualify.
Additionally, non-corporate entities are disqualified from serving as registered agents in Alaska. This does not include attorneys and incorporated law firms.
Those in need of a registered agent in Alaska can choose from one of three options: they can either designate a qualifying individual, designate a qualifying company, or hire a pre-existing registered agent. Those wishing to hire a pre-existing registered agent can find a partial list of registered agents under the tab,“Where can I find a registered agent?” in the FAQ section found at this link. Keep in mind that this is an incomprehensive list of registered agents and they are in no way officially endorsed by the state of Alaska.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Alaska
If you would like to change your registered agent for any reason, the process is simple.
First, you must complete and submit a Statement of Change form. You will need to select the appropriate document, depending on if the entity is an LLC or corporation. In either case, the appropriate documents can be easily located on the Alaska Department of Commerce’s website under the “Forms & Fees” tab.
To change the registered agent of an LLC you’ll need to fill out the Statement of Change form found here. To switch the registered agent of a corporation, you’ll want to print the form specified for corporations which can be found at this link.
Both documents ask for much of the same information, such as:
- The company’s name
- The company’s entity number
- The name and address of the previous registered agent
- The name and address of the new registered agent
- The signature of a member or manager of the company
After completing all information, the form must be printed and mailed to the Corporation Section of the Alaska state government along with a filing fee of $25.00.
If the forms are completed and mailed correctly, the standard processing time should be around 10-15 business days.
Change of Registered Agent Fee: $25
Should You Hire a Professional Alaska Registered Agent Service?
Hiring a registered agent service like Northwest Registered Agent has some distinct advantages. First and foremost, compared to serving as your own agent, professional registered agent services allow you to keep your personal address private. They’re also much less expensive than hiring a lawyer or accountant to provide registered agent service.
An often-overlooked benefit is how easy it is to expand your Alaska business into other states if you choose a professional registered agent. They typically have offices in all 50 states, so if you begin transacting business in an additional state, your same registered agent service can handle that for you.
If you’re interested in hiring a professional registered agent service, take a look at our guide to the top service providers.
Conclusion
The process for changing a registered agent in Alaska isn’t a complicated one, but it’s certainly advisable to know exactly what you want to do ahead of time. If you know what you want going in, you’ll find that the process is really quite painless.
We hope this article answered your questions about changing your Alaska registered agent!