Are you unsatisfied with your Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas.
Rocket Tip: If you would prefer to have a professional service deal with the paperwork and take over registered agent duties, hire a Arkansas registered agent service. It’s just a small annual fee.
What Is an Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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.
According to the requirements dictated by the Arkansas Secretary of State, a registered agent can be either an adult individual who has a permanent, physical address in the state, or a pre-existing commercial registered agent. While it is possible to serve as your own registered agent, doing so means that your home address will be put on public file. Regardless of who you select, your registered agent must have a physical address within the state (P.O boxes do not suffice).
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Arkansas
If you would like to change your registered agent for any reason, the process is simple.
First, you must take note of whether your current registered agent is a commercial or noncommercial agent. If you’ve been using a commercial agent (a business that provides the services of a registered agent for an annual fee) then you will need to complete the Notice of Change of Commercial Registered Agent Information. This straightforward document can be found as a PDF at this link. After completion, it should be printed and mailed to the Business and Commercial Services office of the Arkansas Secretary of State.
Alternatively, if you’re currently using a noncommercial registered agent, you’ll need to complete the Notice of Change of Registered Agent document (form #DO-03). The form can be completed and submitted online at this link, or filled out here as a PDF and printed to be mailed. The document requires the following information:
- The corporation’s name
- If the entity is domestic or foreign
- The street address of the registered agent
- The name of the previous and new registered agent
- The filing date
- A signature
Change of Registered Agent Fee: $0
Should You Hire a Professional Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas registered agent!