Are you unsatisfied with your Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri.
Rocket Tip: If you would prefer to have a professional service deal with the paperwork and take over registered agent duties, hire a Missouri registered agent service. It’s just a small annual fee.
What Is a Missouri 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 a Missouri 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 outlined by the Missouri Secretary of State, any qualifying individual or entity wishing to serve as a registered agent must have a physical street address which is identical to the business entity’s registered office. Your agent can be either an individual resident of the state of Missouri or a corporation that is authorized to do business in the state.
In Missouri, many businesses choose to hire the services of a pre-existing registered agent for an annual fee. For the convenience of those wishing to hire a pre-existing registered agent, the state of Missouri keeps this list of commercial registered agents in the state that you may access at any time.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Missouri
If you would like to change your registered agent for any reason, the process is simple.
First, you must complete the Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Office, which is a straightforward, single-page document that requires the following information:
- The name of the business entity
- The name and address of the current registered agent
- The name and address of the new registered agent
- An authorized signature of the new registered agent
- The signature of an authorized person
The form may be completed online using the state of Missouri’s online business filing system, or you may complete and print the PDF version and mail it to the Missouri Secretary of State at the following address:
Missouri Secretary of State
Corporations Division
PO Box 778
Jefferson City, MO 65102
In order for the change to take effect, you must include either the signature of the new registered agent certifying his/her consent to the appointment on the Statement of Change document itself, or include a separate document containing a signature and statement of consent when you submit the Statement of Change to the Secretary of State.
Lastly, it should be noted that while it is possible to change your registered agent by completing and submitting an annual report form by mail, there is a higher fee for doing so.
Change of Registered Agent Fee: $10
Should You Hire a Professional Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri registered agent!