How to Change Registered Agent in Tennessee (Complete Guide)

As an entrepreneur in Tennessee, you might need to change your registered agent while running your business.

When you do so, it's best to know where to start.

We partnered with our LLC specialists with 13+ years of hands-on experience to make this process easier for you.

We extensively searched the Tennessee Department of State website to find out what it takes to change a registered agent and compiled this article.

Here's what you need to know.

Quick Summary

Who Can Be a Tennessee Registered Agent?

Any individual or business entity can be a Tennessee registered agent as long as they meet all the requirements stipulated by the state of Tennessee.

The state also allows you to be your own registered agent.

Before changing your registered agent service in Tennessee, make sure that your designated registered agent is:

• A minimum of 18 years of age or older.
• A resident of Tennessee.
• Ready to be at the registered office address during normal business hours.
• Willing to be named as your registered agent.
• With a Tennessee physical address to deliver documents since P.O. boxes are not permitted in most states.
• Open to sharing this physical address in the public state record.

How To Change Your Tennessee Registered Agent?

To change your Tennessee registered agent, you must fill and submit a Change of Registered Agent form to the Division of Business Services under the Tennessee Secretary of State.

The filing fee costs $20 when filed by mail or in person [1].

To change an LLC registered agent, fill out the change of registered agent or registered office per entity type form with the following information:

• Your Tennessee entity identification number.
• The name of your business.
• The name and address of your present LLC registered agent.
• The name and address of your new registered agent.
• Your company's authorized representative's signature.
• Your new registered agent's signature confirming their appointment.
• If filing online, credit card information is required to pay the filing fee to the Tennessee Secretary of State.
• If filing by mail, tick the box if paying by check or fill out the information for charging costs to a prepaid account.

You can change your registered agent using a professional service, LLC annual report, or amendment.

1. Changing Your Registered Agent Using a Professional Service

You can hire a professional registered agent service to fill out and submit a change of registered agent form.

In that case, you must provide your business details and the old and new registered agent services information.

Your registered agent service will fill out the form on your behalf and handle any other legal documents sent by the state.

2. Changing Your Registered Agent Online

You can submit a change of registered agent form online through the Tennessee Secretary of State portal.

Follow these simple steps:

• Visit the Tennessee Business Services online page to change your registered agent online.
• Enter your Secretary of State control number, which is used to identify your business, and click "begin." Use the business information search tool on the page to look up your Secretary of State Control Number.
• Choose "Change by Business Entity" and click the "Continue" button.
• Complete the form and send it in with your payment.

Online filing costs $20 and a $2.50 service fee [2].

Print off the completed form, fill it out, and mail it in with a check if you'd prefer not to pay the $22.50 online filing cost using a credit card.

3. Changing Your Registered Agent by Mail or In Person 

To file a Change of Registered Agent Form by mail, download and complete the form on the Tennessee Secretary of State's website.

You can also use their web service to print a document pre-filled with information about your limited liability company.

Mail the completed form together with the payment in the same envelope to:

Tennessee Secretary of State
ATTN: Corporate Filing
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave FL 6
Nashville TN 37243

You can also print and deliver your paperwork to the Nashville Secretary of State's office.

You'll pay in cash if you do so and wait for your document to be processed.

But if you mail it, your document will be approved within 3-5 business days. Note that Tennessee doesn't have any expedited processing.

4. Changing Your Registered Agent Through Annual Report

If you're approaching the deadline for submitting your Tennessee annual report, you can file for a change of registered agent services without filling out additional paperwork. 

Include your new registered agent's information on the report and pay the $20 registered agent change fee on top of the annual report fee.

5. Changing Your Registered Agent by Amendment 

You can change your Tennessee LLC's registered agent by filing Tennessee Articles of Amendment to your Corporate Charter or Articles of Organization.

This is the most straightforward way to modify your business registration and registered agent services.

We don't recommend this approach if changing a registered agent is your only business change.

FAQs

Do You Want to Change Your Tennessee Registered Agent?

It’s sometimes nearly impossible to juggle running your business and acting as a mediator between your business and the state of Tennessee.

You might miss a lot of important paperwork.

That's why we recommend these best Tennessee registered agent services.

These registered agent services ensure that important legal and other papers, such as regulatory notices, arrive on time.

They will keep your company compliant and up to date by sending the required papers and accepting formal letters on the company's behalf, such as tax forms, legal notices, and business mail.

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References:

1. https://tnbear.tn.gov/Ecommerce/RAChangeInstr.aspx
2. https://tnbear.tn.gov/Ecommerce/RAChangeID.aspx