How to Change the Registered Agent for Your Georgia Business

If you are making a change to your registered agent in Georgia, you’ll need to inform the Georgia Secretary of state. It costs $10 to do it yourself. Read this guide to learn how.

Looking for a new registered agent? Our favorite, Northwest Registered Agent, will pay your transfer fees and take care of all the reporting requirements at no additional charge.

Step By Step Guide to Change Your Georgia Registered Agent

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to change your registered agent in Georgia:

Step 1: Select a new registered agent who meets Georgia’s requirements.

Before you can change your registered agent in Georgia, you must choose a new agent who is an individual or a company with a physical address in Georgia. The agent must also be authorized to do business in the state.

Step 2: Draft a Statement of Change of Registered Agent.

You will need to create a statement that includes the following information: your company’s name, your old registered agent’s name and address, your new registered agent’s name and address, and the effective date of the change. You can draft the statement yourself or have an attorney do it for you.

Step 3: Sign the statement.

The Statement of Change of Registered Agent must be signed by an authorized representative of your company, such as a director or officer.

Step 4: File the statement with the Georgia Secretary of State.

File the completed Statement of Change of Registered Agent with the Georgia Secretary of State. You can file the statement online with the Georgia Secretary of State. If filing by mail, you’ll need to include the appropriate filing fee, which is currently $10.

Step 5: Notify your old registered agent.

After filing the statement, you must also notify your old registered agent of the change in writing. This is important so they know not to expect any future service of process on your behalf.

What Do Registered Agents Actually Do?

The minimum requirements of a registered agent are to receive your official state mail and service of process, but a good registered agent can become an essential part of your business’ compliance needs.

An excellent registered agent will:

  • Help keep your address off public documents.
  • Send you same day digital scans of all legal documents and state notifications.
  • Offer services in all 50 states.
  • Provide compliance management like annual report reminders and filing services.

Businesses Structures That Are Required to Have a Registered Agent in Georgia

All businesses, domestic and foreign, that register with the Georgia Secretary of State must maintain a registered agent. This includes all:

  • LLCs
  • Corporations
  • Limited partnerships
  • Limited Liability Partnerships

It does not include:

  • Sole proprietors
  • General partnerships

Frequently Asked Questions

To change your registered agent in Georgia, you need to file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Office form with the Georgia Secretary of State. The form can be filed online or by mail.

Yes, you are required to notify your current registered agent before changing them in Georgia. This is typically done by sending a written notice to the registered agent and providing a copy of the Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Office form.

Yes, there is a fee to change your registered agent in Georgia. The fee for filing the Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Office form is $10 if filed online and $20 if filed by mail.

Yes, you can change your registered agent to yourself in Georgia as long as you are a Georgia resident and have a physical address in Georgia where you can be reached during normal business hours. However, it’s important to note that your registered agent’s address is a matter of public record, so using your personal address could result in unwanted solicitations and other unwanted attention.