If you are making a change to your registered agent in Massachusetts, you’ll need to inform the Massachusetts Secretary of state. It costs $35 to do it yourself. Read this guide to learn how.
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Step 1: Check Your Company’s Articles of Organization Before you can change your registered agent, you need to make sure you’re authorized to do so. The Articles of Organization for your company will outline the rules and regulations that apply to your specific company. Check your company’s Articles of Organization to see if there are any specific rules or requirements you need to follow when changing your registered agent.
Step 2: Choose Your New Registered Agent The Massachusetts Secretary of State requires that all corporations and LLCs in the state have a registered agent. Your registered agent is responsible for receiving legal notices and other official documents on behalf of your company. You can choose to hire a professional registered agent service or designate an individual within your company to serve as your registered agent.
Step 3: Fill Out the Appropriate Forms To change your registered agent, you’ll need to fill out the appropriate forms. If you’re an LLC, you’ll need to fill out the Limited Liability Company Change of Registered Agent/Office form (Form LLC-108). If you’re a corporation, you’ll need to fill out the Change of Registered Agent/Office form (Form 401).
Step 4: Submit Your Forms to the Massachusetts Secretary of State Once you’ve filled out the appropriate forms, you’ll need to submit them to the Massachusetts Secretary of State. You can do this either online or by mail. To submit your forms online, visit the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Corporations Division website and create an account. Once you’ve created an account, you can upload your forms and submit them electronically. If you prefer to submit your forms by mail, you can download the forms from the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s website and send them to the address listed on the form.
Step 5: Pay the Appropriate Fee There is a fee associated with changing your registered agent in Massachusetts. The fee for changing your registered agent is $60 for corporations and $50 for LLCs. You can pay this fee online using a credit card or by including a check or money order with your mailed forms.
Step 6: Wait for Confirmation After you’ve submitted your forms and paid the appropriate fee, you’ll need to wait for confirmation from the Massachusetts Secretary of State. Once your request has been processed, you’ll receive confirmation that your registered agent has been changed.
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:
All businesses, domestic and foreign, that register with the Massachusetts Secretary of State must maintain a registered agent. This includes all:
It does not include:
A registered agent is a person or a business entity that is designated by a corporation, LLC or other business entity to receive important legal and tax documents on its behalf.
To change your registered agent in Massachusetts, you need to file a Change of Registered Agent form with the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office. You can file the form online or by mail.
No, you cannot change your registered agent in Massachusetts without notifying the old one. The old registered agent must be formally notified of the change in writing and must provide written consent to the new registered agent.
Failing to maintain a registered agent in Massachusetts can result in serious consequences, including fines, penalties, and even loss of business license. It is important to ensure that your registered agent is up-to-date and always available to receive legal and tax documents on behalf of your business.