As a Massachusetts LLC owner who wants to change their registered agent, you should understand the steps involved and the regulations you must follow to have your amendment request approved and to keep your firm in compliance with Massachusetts state requirements.
To help you, we teamed up with our business specialists with over ten years of experience in the LLC industry.
We spent four weeks researching the Secretary of State's website for the correct registered agent amendment documents and procedures.
Here's everything you need to know about changing your registered agent in Massachusetts.
Quick Summary
- To change your Massachusetts registered agent, you must fill out and submit a Statement of Change of Registered Agent form with the Massachusetts Secretary of Commonwealth.
- You can change your Massachusetts registered agent online, by mail, fax, in person, or through a professional service.
- It costs $25 to change a resident agent in Massachusetts if you file by mail or in person.
Who Can Be A Massachusetts Registered Agent?
Any individual or business entity can be a Massachusetts registered agent if they meet all the state requirements for being a statutory agent.
A Massachusetts registered agent is responsible for communicating with the Secretary of State and handling all legal notices and service of process on behalf of a company.
To be a reliable resident agent in Massachusetts, you must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a resident of Massachusetts
- Must have a registered physical street address in Massachusetts
- Must be authorized to provide registered agent services and handle legal papers
- Must be permitted to transact business in Massachusetts
- Must be available throughout normal business hours
- Must be 18 years or older
How To Change Your Massachusetts Registered Agent?
To change your Massachusetts registered agent, you must fill out and submit a Statement of Change of Registered Agent form with the Massachusetts Secretary of Commonwealth.
As a business owner, you can change your resident agent online, by mail, fax, in person, or through a professional service.
Here's how to change a registered agent:
1. Changing Your Registered Agent Using a Professional Service
Using a professional service is a simple approach to submitting a Statement of Change of Registered Agent form if you're a busy business owner.
Once you've chosen the expert firm you want to work with, register for an account on their website and ask to have your registered agent service changed.
You must submit information about your company, including its name, address, and previous and current registered agents' contact data.
The qualified staff will file and deliver your registered agent paperwork to the Massachusetts Secretary of Commonwealth.
You'll only pay the $25 filing cost plus their service fee and wait for your amendment request to be approved.
2. Changing Your Registered Agent Online
You can change a resident agent on the Massachusetts Corporations Online Filing System [1].
If you're a new business, you must contact the Secretary of the Commonwealth (SOC) and register for a Customer ID Number (CID) and a PIN that you can use to log into the website.
For an existing business, visit the Secretary of the Commonwealth website, enter your Customer ID number and PIN, and log in.
Once logged on, click the "Change of Registered Agent" option and fill out the correct details of your entity and new registered agent.
Once you verify all the details, submit the form and complete the process by paying the filing fee using a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover).
3. Changing Your Registered Agent by Mail
The Massachusetts Secretary of Commonwealth accepts physical delivery of the Statement of Change of Registered Agent form [2].
Once you download the form from the official Secretary of Commonwealth website, please fill out all the correct details, print it, and mail it.
For the SOC to approve your amendment document, you must ensure you file it correctly and include the following details:
- The exact name of your limited liability company
- Office address of the current LLC resident agent
- New resident agent office address
- Name of the new Massachusetts resident agent service
- Correct filing date
- Official signatures from the authorized filer and the new registered agent service
Note that if you’re using the same registered agent with a different address, you’ll provide the same name with a new office address.
Attach the correct filing fee amount ($25) as a cashier check, money order, or personal check.
Mail your completed form to the following address:
Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
Corporations Division
McCormack Building
One Ashburton Place, 17th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
4. Changing Your Registered Agent by Fax
The SOC also allows businesses to change their Massachusetts registered agents by fax.
To fax your form, visit the SOC official website, click "Fax Filing," and create a Fax Voucher Cover Sheet. Proceed to fill out the correct information and complete the process by paying the filing fee using a credit card or E-check.
Note that there’s an additional $5 for faxed documents to expedite the process. Fax filings will be processed by the next business day.
Print and fax the completed cover sheet to 617-624-3891.
5. Changing Your Registered Agent In-person
The Secretary of the Commonwealth lets you change your Massachusetts registered agent service in person. You must access the PDF form online, download it, and complete the correct details.
Submit the completed form to the SOS and pay the correct filing fee.
Note that the filing fee is non-refundable, and you can pay via cash, check, money order, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express). These are payable to the State of Massachusetts.
Once you submit a physical resident agent form, the SOC will process it within 1-2 business days, excluding weekends and holidays.
In-person filings can be directed to this address:
Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth
Corporations Division
McCormack Building
One Ashburton Place, 17th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
FAQs
How Much Does It Cost To Change a Registered Agent in Massachusetts?
It costs $25 to change a registered agent in Massachusetts if you file by mail or in person. Fax filing costs an additional $5 for the expedited service.
How Long Does It Take To Change a Registered Agent in Massachusetts?
It takes 3-5 business days to change a registered agent in Massachusetts by mail. In-person submissions are processed within 1-2 business days, while faxed filings are within 1 business day.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Massachusetts?
Yes, you can be your own registered agent in Massachusetts if you meet all the state's requirements for being one. You must be a resident of Massachusetts, have a physical address, be 18 years or older, and be authorized to handle legal papers.
Do You Want To Change Your Massachusetts Registered Agent?
Changing a Massachusetts registered agent can be tasking if you don't know what documents to file, where to submit them, and how much to pay.
This is why we recommend hiring the best registered agent services in Massachusetts to handle the bureaucracies of paperwork filing with the SOS.
Apart from filing the amendment form for your business, these Massachusetts registered agent services will also provide ongoing tax reporting and compliance filing to keep your business entity in check with Massachusetts state rules.
References:
- https://corp.sec.state.ma.us/corp/loginsystem/login_form.asp?FilingMethod=I
- https://www.sec.state.ma.us/cor/corpdf/c156cfdllcagentoffice.pdf
