How to Change Your Registered Agent in North Dakota (2026)
To change your registered agent in North Dakota, file a Statement of Change with the Secretary of State. The fee is $10. North Dakota only accepts this filing through the FirstStop online portal.
The change filing is separate from your LLC's annual report. Updating one does not update the other. The Quick Facts below cover the exact statute and the filing steps.
This guide walks through the filing itself, the statutory duties your agent takes on, and what sets a commercial agent apart from a noncommercial one.
Quick Summary
- North Dakota only takes this filing online through the FirstStop Portal. There is no mail, fax, or in-person paper option.
- Naming a new agent counts as your affirmation that they agreed to serve. You don't file separate proof of their consent.
- If your agent resigns or drops its North Dakota registration, replace it quickly. Waiting risks Not Good Standing or an involuntary dissolution.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Form | Commercial or Noncommercial Registered Agent/Office Statement of Change |
| Filing fee | $10 |
| Statute | N.D.C.C. § 10-01.1-08 |
| Filing channel | FirstStop Portal only (online); no mail, fax, or in-person option |
| Agent requirement | North Dakota resident individual, or a domestic/foreign corporation or LLC registered with the Secretary of State and keeping a North Dakota business office |
| Commercial vs. noncommercial | Commercial agents are listed with the state and skip disclosing an address; noncommercial agents must list a full North Dakota street address |
| Filing agency | North Dakota Secretary of State |
| Annual report (context only) | Due November 15 every year, $50 fee, does not itself update the registered agent |
How to Change Your North Dakota Registered Agent
North Dakota changes a registered agent through a statement of change filed with the Secretary of State [1]. The filing states your entity's name and the new agent information, and it takes effect the moment it's filed. Your LLC's members or governors don't need to sign off on it.
Naming a new agent works as a built-in promise. By listing someone as your agent, you're affirming that they already agreed to serve [2]. You still need the agent's approval before naming them, but you don't attach proof of it to the filing. Skip that approval, and the state can move to dissolve your business.
Your current agent can also step away first. They resign by filing a signed statement with the Secretary of State. That resignation takes effect on the earlier of thirty-one days later, or the date you appoint a replacement [3]. Either way, you're the one who has to name the next agent.
1. Changing Your Registered Agent Using a Professional Service
Filing through FirstStop still requires a North Dakota address for a noncommercial agent. That's where a registered agent service earns its keep if you run your LLC from out of state. The service handles the paperwork and keeps that address current for you.
You still cover the state's filing fee on top of what the service charges, so compare what each one includes before you sign up. Our best registered agent services in North Dakota ranking breaks down pricing and coverage side by side.
For a provider licensed across multiple states, try our national registered agent service roundup instead. To skip the service fee altogether, the change-of-agent overview walks through the DIY route.
2. Changing Your Registered Agent Through FirstStop
Filing it yourself takes five steps in the FirstStop Portal:
- Log in to the FirstStop Portal and pull up your business record.
- Choose File Amendment.
- Select the Registered Agent/Office Statement of Change form.
- Enter the new agent's name, plus their address if they're a noncommercial agent.
- Pay the state filing fee. The change takes effect immediately.
Who Can Be A North Dakota Registered Agent
Your registered agent can be an individual who lives in North Dakota. It can also be a domestic or foreign corporation or LLC, registered with the Secretary of State and keeping a business office in the state. Your business itself can't act as its own agent, though an owner or officer can serve personally if they're a North Dakota resident.
A commercial registered agent has filed its own listing with the state, so its address is already public record and you skip listing one yourself. A noncommercial agent hasn't made that filing, so your paperwork needs their full North Dakota street address instead. Check the Registered Agents page to confirm which list an agent is on before you file.
The agent's job stays narrow either way. Its only duty is to forward any process, notice, or demand served on your business and keep its own information current with the state [4]. North Dakota law doesn't set fixed office hours the agent has to keep.
FAQs
How Much Does a North Dakota Registered Agent Change Cost?
A North Dakota registered agent change costs $10, filed through the FirstStop Portal.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in North Dakota?
Yes, you can serve as your own registered agent in North Dakota if you're a resident with a real street address there. Your business can't name itself, but an owner or officer can serve personally.
What Happens If My North Dakota Registered Agent Resigns?
A registered agent's resignation in North Dakota starts a clock. You need to name a replacement fast, or notices about your business can lapse into an involuntary dissolution risk.
Is a Commercial Registered Agent Different From a Noncommercial One?
Yes, a commercial registered agent is already listed with the state, so its address stays off your filing. A noncommercial agent isn't on that list, so your paperwork has to include theirs instead.
References:
- https://codes.findlaw.com/nd/title-10-corporations/nd-cent-code-sect-10-01-1-08/
- https://codes.findlaw.com/nd/title-10-corporations/nd-cent-code-sect-10-01-1-05/
- https://codes.findlaw.com/nd/title-10-corporations/nd-cent-code-sect-10-01-1-11/
- https://codes.findlaw.com/nd/title-10-corporations/nd-cent-code-sect-10-01-1-14/
