Are you unsatisfied with your Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Arizona.
Rocket Tip: If you would prefer to have a professional service deal with the paperwork and take over registered agent duties, hire a Arizona registered agent service. It’s just a small annual fee.
What Is an Arizona 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 Arizona 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.
In Arizona, the state’s Corporation Commission dictates the laws and requirements regarding registered agents (which are otherwise referred to in the state as “statutory agents”). According to their guidelines, a statutory agent may be either a corporation or limited liability company that is authorized to operate and do business in the state of Arizona, or an individual who is the resident of Arizona.
If you meet the requirements necessary, it is possible for you to serve as your own statutory agent, although it means that your name and address will be on public file. In all cases, the statutory agent must have a physical address within the state of Arizona; no PO boxes as permitted.
Corporations or LLCs that are in need of a statutory agent have three options: they may seek out and designate a resident of Arizona who meets all necessary requirements, they may designate a qualifying corporate entity, or they are permitted to hire the services of a pre-established statutory agent. Hiring a statutory agent from a service relieves you of the need to find a qualified company or individual at the cost of an annual fee.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Arizona
If you would like to change your registered agent for any reason, the process is simple.
It includes three straightforward documents. First, as with all documents submitted to the Corporation Commission, you must complete a cover sheet which can be found as a PDF at this link or downloaded as a PDF under the “Forms” page of the Arizona Corporation of Commission’s website.
Next, you must fill out either the Statement of Change form for LLCs or the Statement of Change form for corporations, depending on the type of entity involved. To change the statutory agent of a corporation, no fee is needed. However, to change the statutory agent of an LLC, there is a $5.00 standard processing fee. Whether you’re filling out the Statement of Change for an LLC or for a corporation, the following information is necessary:
- The entity’s name
- The company’s known place of business as a physical street address
- The name of the existing statutory agent
- The name of the new statutory agent
- The signature of the new statutory agent
Next, the new statutory agent must fill out a Statutory Agent Acceptance form to accompany the cover letter and Statement of Change. This is a simple document asking only for the entity name, the statutory agent’s name, and a signature. No fee is required.
When all three documents have been completed (the cover sheet, the Statement of Change form, and the Statutory Agent Acceptance form) they may be printed and mailed along with any necessary payments to the following address:
Arizona Corporation Commission
1300 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Alternatively, they may be faxed to the Arizona Corporation Commission at 602-542-4100.
Change of Registered Agent Fee: No fee required
Should You Hire a Professional Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Arizona registered agent!