Are you unsatisfied with your Montana 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 Montana 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 Montana.
Rocket Tip: If you would prefer to have a professional service deal with the paperwork and take over registered agent duties, hire a Montana registered agent service. It’s just a small annual fee.
What Is a Montana 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 Montana 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.
As stated by the Montana Secretary of State, when it comes to selecting a registered agent you have three options: you may designate an individual resident of Montana, or a business entity (either foreign or domestic) that is in the business of performing the services of registered agent.
Should you decide to hire the services of a pre-existing registered agent, you may wish to consult this list of registered agents compiled on the Montana Secretary of State’s website. Keep in mind that the Secretary of State keeps these on hand for the sake of convenience; none of the agents listed are in any way endorsed by the state.
If you have further questions about what entities qualify to serve as a registered agent in the state of Montana, we suggest you check out our full guide on Montana registered agents.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Montana
If you would like to change your registered agent for any reason, the process is simple.
The only form you need to file to change your registered agent in Montana is the Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office. This form cannot be submitted through mail or in-person, it must be completed online using the state of Montana’s Online Business Filing System. After logging into your business entity’s ePass account, you’ll need the following information to successfully complete the form:
- The name of the business
- The name and address of the current registered agent
- The name and address of the new registered agent
- Your signature or the signature of an authorized person
In Montana, there is no fee to file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered office. Documents are generally processed in between 3 and 7 business days, but you may request to expedite it for an additional $20.00.
Alternatively, you may also choose to change your agent when you file your Annual Report any time between February and April 15th—a process which must also be completed online.
Change of Registered Agent Fee: It is free to change your registered agent in the state of Montana
Should You Hire a Professional Montana 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 Montana 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 Montana 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 Montana registered agent!