As a South Carolina LLC owner who wants to change their registered agent with the SC Secretary of State, you must know which documents to submit and the correct steps to take.
To help you out, we teamed up with our LLC specialists with over eight years of experience in the business industry.
We spent three 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 South Carolina.
Quick Summary
- To change your South Carolina registered agent, you must fill out and submit a Notice of Change of Designated Office, Agent, or Registered Agent Address form with the South Carolina Secretary of State, Business Filings Division.
- It costs a filing fee of $10 for limited liability companies to change their South Carolina registered agents.
- You can change your registered agent online, by mail, in person, or through a professional service.
Who Can Be A South Carolina Registered Agent?
Any individual or company can be a South Carolina registered agent, provided they meet all state requirements for being one.
To be a registered agent in South Carolina, you must meet the following registered agent requirements.
For an individual you:
- Must have a business address in South Carolina
- Must be available during regular business hours to take on registered agent duties
- Must be 18 years and above
For an entity:
- Must have a principal office address in South Carolina
- Must be permitted to do business in this state
- Must be authorized to handle service of process and other legal documents
You can act as your own registered agent for your South Carolina LLC if you meet all the above requirements.
How To Change Your South Carolina Registered Agent?
To change your South Carolina registered agent, you must fill out and submit a Notice of Change of Designated Office, Agent, or Registered Agent Address form with the South Carolina Secretary of State, Business Filings Division.
It costs $10 to file this document online, by mail, or in person. Alternatively, you can hire a professional service to handle the filing.
Let's look at different ways to change a registered agent in South Carolina.
1. Changing Your Registered Agent Using a Professional Service
If you don't want to go through the difficult procedure of completing the change of registered agent papers, using a professional service provider is a great option.
After registering for a free online account with the professional service you choose, order to alter the registered agent and follow the on-screen instructions.
A professional service will handle all registered agent form filing and notify you once the procedure is completed.
2. Changing Your Registered Agent Online
You can change a registered agent on the South Carolina Secretary of State's Business Entities Online website [1].
To do so:
- Visit the official SOS website and log in with your credentials.
- Select "Search Existing Entities," then enter your South Carolina corporation name and search.
- Once you get your business name, click on it, then select "Add Filing."
- Select "Notice of Change of Designated Office, Agent, or Registered Agent Address."
- Complete the document and submit it after paying the $10 using a credit card.
3. Changing Your Registered Agent by Mail
The South Carolina Secretary of State also allows businesses to change their registered agent services by mail.
After you access the Notice of Change of Designated Office, Agent, or Registered Agent Address PDF form, download it, fill it out, print it, and submit it [2].
When filling out the form, you must provide the following details:
- Name of the limited liability company
- Status of the limited liability company, whether it's a domestic or foreign corporation
- Name and street address of the current LLC registered agent
- New registered agent service name
- New registered agent service address
- Official signature and title of an authorized filer
Note that the new designated registered agents must sign their consent to show their acceptance of the position.
Once you complete it, attach the $10 filing fee as a check or money.
Direct your completed form to this official address:
South Carolina Secretary of State
Attn: Corporate Filings
1205 Pendleton St., Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201
4. Changing Your Registered Agent In-person
To change their registered agents in person, business owners must walk into the South Carolina head office and submit their documents.
Once you download the Notice of Change of Designated Office, Agent, or Registered Agent Address form on the official South Carolina SOS website, please fill it out, print it, and submit it.
All important legal document forms are accepted between 8:00 AM and 4:45 PM.
You can pay the filing fee using cash, check, money order, or credit card.
All payments are made payable to the South Carolina Secretary of State.
In-person submissions can be delivered to the following official address:
South Carolina Secretary of State
Edgar Brown Building
1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525
Columbia, SC 29201
FAQs
Does South Carolina Require a Registered Agent?
Yes, South Carolina requires a registered agent for all business entities transacting there. A registered agent service acts as the middleman between the SOS and the LLC and receives legal notices on behalf of the entity.
How Much Does It Cost To Change a Registered Agent in South Carolina?
It costs $10 to change a registered agent in South Carolina. This amount covers the processing of the Notice of Change of Designated Office, Agent, or Registered Agent Address form.
How Long Does It Take To Change a Registered Agent in South Carolina?
It takes up to 2 business days to change a registered agent in South Carolina by mail. Online submissions can be approved within a few hours.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in South Carolina?
Yes, you can be your own registered agent in South Carolina if you're over 18 years, have a physical address there, and can receive legal documents during normal business hours.
Do You Want To Change Your South Carolina Registered Agent?
If you’re not confident with filing the legal documents on your own and want professional guidance on how to file and submit the correct forms, here's a list of the best registered agent services in South Carolina that you can hire.
Apart from helping you change your registered agent, these professional services also handle new business registration, tax reporting, and annual reports.
They also offer free registered agent services for the first year to keep your entity in the right standing with the SOS.
References:
- https://businessfilings.sc.gov/BusinessFiling/
- https://businessfilings.sc.gov/BusinessFiling/Home/DownloadForms?pdfCategoryId=8&category=Resignation%20or%20Change%20of%20Registered%20Agent%20%2F%20Change%20of%20Address
