How to Change Your Registered Agent in Louisiana (2026)
Louisiana charges $25 to change your registered agent. You file it on the Notice of Change of Registered Office and/or Change of Registered Agent (Form #983), with the Secretary of State's Commercial Division. A credit card payment adds a $5 convenience charge on top of that. File online, by mail, by fax, or in person in Baton Rouge.
Louisiana asks for one thing most states skip. Your new agent has to sign the form's acceptance section in front of a notary, not just sign it. That signature is what tells the state your new agent actually agreed to take the job, and it has to happen before you submit anything.
Quick Summary
- Paying by card adds a small convenience charge on top of the base fee, so budget a bit more if you're not mailing a check.
- Line up your new agent's notarized signature before you submit. Skip it and the state bounces the filing back.
- The fee climbs higher once October arrives, so file soon if the cost matters to your timeline.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Form | Notice of Change of Registered Office and/or Change of Registered Agent (#983) |
| Filing fee | $25 (rises to $30 on Oct 1, 2026) |
| Card payment total | $30 ($25 fee + $5 convenience charge) |
| Statute | R.S. 12:1308 |
| Notarized signature required | Yes, from the new agent |
| Filing address | Commercial Division, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125 |
| Online portal | geauxBIZ |
| Expedite options | $30 (24-hour), $50 (while-you-wait, walk-in only) |
Who Can Be a Louisiana Registered Agent
Louisiana gives you two options for who can hold the job. The first is an individual who is a Louisiana citizen and actually lives in the state.
The second is an entity. A partnership or a professional law corporation authorized to practice law in Louisiana qualifies. So does a domestic or foreign corporation or LLC that can transact business there.
But only if that entity has already filed a certificate with the Secretary of State. That certificate must name at least two people at its Louisiana address who can accept legal papers on its behalf [1].
Either way, the registered office needs a real Louisiana street address. The statute doesn't list a minimum age for a self-serving individual agent, so don't take a fixed number at face value if you see one elsewhere.
How to Change Your Louisiana Registered Agent
Once you've picked a new LLC registered agent, Louisiana's registered-agent statute spells out the mechanics. A manager signs the form if your LLC is manager-managed. A member signs it if management sits with the members instead.
That signature alone isn't enough, though. Your new agent must also sign a notarized affidavit accepting the appointment, right on the same form. Louisiana law requires the notary to type or print their own name and bar-roll number on it. Skip the notarization and the state will reject the filing.
The change becomes official the moment the Secretary of State accepts your paperwork for record, not the day you mail it.
1. Filing Online Through geauxBIZ
Filing online means logging in to geauxBIZ and submitting the change as an amendment. Bring the same notarized signature you already lined up, since that requirement doesn't change online. The state fee applies here too, and paying by card adds the same convenience charge as any other channel.
2. Filing by Mail
Download the Form #983 and fill it out by hand or by typing. Have your new agent complete the notarized affidavit section, then mail the form with your $25 check or money order to Commercial Division, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125.
Want it processed faster? Add $30 for 24-hour turnaround, or $50 for the same-day option, both on top of the check you already wrote. Louisiana doesn't publish a standard turnaround for routine, non-expedited filings through any channel, so pay for one of those tiers if timing matters.
3. Filing in Person or by Fax
The Secretary of State's Commercial Division sits at 8585 Archives Avenue in Baton Rouge, open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Arrive by 4 p.m. so staff has time to log your form that same visit. Getting it actually processed on the spot costs the $50 while-you-wait fee. Skip that and pay $30 instead for next-day turnaround.
Faxing works too. Send the completed, notarized form to (225) 932-5314 with a cover sheet listing your name, phone number, mailing address, and whether you want expedited handling.
4. Using a Professional Registered Agent Service
Hiring a registered agent service to handle the switch means someone else chases the notarization, files the paperwork, and confirms the new agent's acceptance for you. You still owe the state's base filing fee, plus whatever the service charges for its own work.
That trade makes sense if the notarization step is the part you'd rather not manage yourself. It also helps if you're already comparing registered agent services in Louisiana for other reasons.
Whichever route you pick, keep your agent's name and address current. A lapsed or unreachable agent means legal notices can go unanswered. Louisiana law even lets the Secretary of State's own office stand in as your registered office if you leave a vacancy unfixed for 30 days.
Still forming the company itself? Our guide to the best LLC services in Louisiana covers that step, and our broader guide to changing a registered agent walks through what other states require.
FAQs
What's the Filing Fee for a Louisiana Registered Agent Change?
It costs $25 to change your registered agent in Louisiana, the same fee for every method. Paying by credit card adds a $5 convenience charge, for $30 total. The base fee rises to $30 on October 1, 2026, under a Secretary of State fee update.
Does Louisiana Require a Notary for a Registered Agent Change?
Yes, Louisiana does require a notary. The new agent's signature on Form #983 needs notarization, a distinctly Louisiana requirement that not every state's version of this filing shares.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Louisiana?
Yes, you can be your own registered agent in Louisiana if you're a citizen who actually resides in the state, with a real street address for the registered office.
Does Louisiana Publish a Turnaround Time for This Filing?
No. Routine filings here don't come with a promised turnaround time. Louisiana only publishes speed for its two paid tiers: $30 for 24-hour processing, or $50 for while-you-wait service at the Baton Rouge office.
Can I Change My Registered Agent Online in Louisiana?
Yes, you can change your registered agent online in Louisiana through the geauxBIZ portal, filed as an amendment to your business record.
References:
- https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=76255
