How to Change Your Registered Agent in Illinois (2026)
To change your Illinois LLC's registered agent, file Form LLC-1.36/1.37 for a $25 fee. You can file it online or by mail.
File online through the state's agent-change tool, or mail the paper form to the Limited Liability Division. Here's what trips up a lot of filers: this change does not ride your LLC's Annual Report. It has to go in on its own. Every step below traces back to the Secretary of State's own instructions for Form LLC-1.36/1.37.
Quick Summary
- Form LLC-1.36/1.37 is the correct form, and the online tool files the same statement, just electronically.
- Your LLC's Annual Report cannot update the registered agent. File that separately, even if you're also filing an annual report the same month.
- Miss the 60-day window after your registered agent's resignation notice is filed, and Illinois adds a $100 penalty.
| Item | Illinois Detail |
|---|---|
| Form | Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office (Form LLC-1.36/1.37) |
| Filing fee | $25, or $75 with 24-48 hour expedited processing |
| Filing agency | Illinois Secretary of State, Limited Liability Division |
| Online filing | apps.ilsos.gov/llcagentchange/ |
| Mail filing | 501 S. Second St., Rm. 351, Springfield, IL 62756 |
| Annual Report fee/deadline | $75 flat, due before the first day of your LLC's anniversary month ($100 late-filing penalty after 60 days) |
What a Registered Agent Does in Illinois
A registered agent is the person or business your Illinois LLC names to receive official mail. That includes lawsuits and state notices. The agent needs a physical Illinois street address. They have to be there during business hours. That's when they accept documents in person.
The state sends annual reports and legal notices to whoever is listed as your agent. An outdated listing means those documents can land at the wrong address. Or they sit unclaimed. That's the real reason to update the filing the moment your agent or their address changes.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Illinois
Pick your new registered agent before you file anything, since the form needs their name and Illinois street address. Let your current agent know about the switch too, especially if they're a professional service you're leaving.
This guide is Illinois-specific. For other states, our national changing your registered agent guide breaks down the rules state by state.
1. File Online Through the LLC Agent Change Tool
Go to the Secretary of State's LLC Agent Change tool. Enter your LLC's file number to pull up your record. Then follow the on-screen steps to submit the change and pay the $25 filing fee.
A few things to know before you start:
- Routine processing runs $25 and typically clears in about ten business days.
- Pay $50 more for 24-48 hour expedited processing, for $75 total.
- No P.O. boxes for the registered office (see the eligibility rules below).
2. File the Paper Form by Mail or In Person
Download Form LLC-1.36/1.37. Fill in your LLC's current agent information. Add the new agent's name and address too. Have an authorized member or manager sign it. Submit the form in duplicate. Include a $25 check payable to the Illinois Secretary of State.
Mail it to the Limited Liability Division, Illinois Secretary of State, 501 S. Second St., Rm. 351, Springfield, IL 62756. You can also drop it off in person at that same Springfield office.
3. Keep the Change Separate From Your Annual Report
Illinois handles this differently than a lot of states. Your Annual Report form has no field for updating the registered agent. An LLC with a pending agent or office change can't even file that report online.
File the agent change first, through the online tool or Form LLC-1.36/1.37. Then file your Annual Report as its own filing, indicating no further changes [1].
4. Hire a Professional Registered Agent Service
A registered agent service in Illinois will prepare and file the change for you. They then take over as your new agent once the state processes it.
You're mostly paying for that service's ongoing annual fee. They stay on as your registered agent well past this one filing.
If you're still setting up the company, our guide on Illinois LLC formation services covers the earlier steps. Our roundup of registered agent services compares options nationwide.
Who Can Be an Illinois Registered Agent
An Illinois registered agent has to be an individual who lives in the state. Or it can be a business entity already registered with the Secretary of State. The LLC itself cannot fill that role.
But an individual member or manager can serve personally. They just need to live in Illinois with a qualifying street address [2].
An Illinois registered agent must:
- Keep a physical Illinois street address that matches the registered office. A P.O. Box alone doesn't qualify, though one can sit alongside a street address.
- Be available at that address during regular business hours, to accept legal documents.
- Be registered with the Secretary of State, if the agent is a business entity rather than an individual.
Many businesses hire a professional registered agent service instead of using an owner's home address. The agent's address becomes part of the public record once the filing is processed.
FAQs
Is There a Deadline for Appointing a New Registered Agent if My Current One Resigns?
Yes. State law requires a new registered agent on record within 60 days of the old one's resignation notice, and skipping that window adds a $100 penalty.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Illinois?
Yes, if you're an Illinois resident whose address matches your registered office. The LLC itself can't serve as its own agent, but a qualifying individual can.
What Does an Illinois Registered Agent Change Cost?
An Illinois registered agent change costs $25 through Form LLC-1.36/1.37, by mail or online. Choose the faster 24-48 hour option and the total comes to $75.
Does the Registered Agent Change Ride My LLC's Annual Report?
No. File the agent change on its own, either online or on Form LLC-1.36/1.37. Illinois blocks online Annual Report filing for any LLC with a change like this still pending, so get it processed first.
What's the Turnaround for an Illinois Registered Agent Change?
An Illinois registered agent change typically takes about ten business days for routine filing. Pay the $50 expedite fee and that drops to 24-48 hours.
References:
- https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=080501800K50-1
- https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=080501800K1-35
