How to Change Registered Agent in Missouri

There are a number of reasons you might need to change your Missouri LLC’s registered agent. Maybe your designated registered agent moved out of state, left the company, or no longer wants the responsibility. Maybe you had assigned the job to yourself, and you no longer want your address on public record. Maybe (hopefully) your business has expanded so much that you no longer have time to handle the registered agent responsibilities.

Whatever your reason may be, changing a registered agent in Missouri might seem like a daunting task, with a mountain of paperwork and legal proceedings involved. However it’s actually quite simple, and this guide will help make the process quick and painless.

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What the State of Missouri Says about changing a Registered Agent

The state of Missouri has certain requirements for changing your LLC’s registered agent. Any business entity operating in Missouri can change its registered agent, provided it submits proper documentation with the Secretary of State’s office, either on paper or electronically. An LLC is required to change its registered agent any time the position becomes vacant.

The Secretary of State’s FAQ page offers some general information about registered agents, and the Revised Statutes, Section 347.030 gives specifics on how/when to file.

Who can be a Missouri Registered Agent

You can’t pick just anyone to be a registered agent for your LLC. The state of Missouri puts certain restrictions on who can serve as one. If you’re choosing or changing your registered agent, keep these requirements in mind. The registered agent in Missouri must:

• Be an individual Missouri resident or a business entity located in Missouri
• Have a Missouri street address (P.O. boxes are not allowed)

* If your registered agent is a foreign business entity, it must be authorized to transact business in Missouri

How to Change Your Missouri Registered Agent

No matter why you need to change your registered agent in Missouri, you have multiple options for how to do so.

If efficiency is your goal, filing online is the route for you. SImply go to the Corporations Online Portal and log in (or create an account if you haven’t already). Then, select the option to amend your Articles of Organization, and make the change there. There is a $25 fee to file this amendment, which is greater than the $10 fee for a paper form. However, online filings are processed quicker, within one day. Pay this fee with a debit or credit card.

But for some, nothing beats a nice, crisp paper form. If this is you, download the “Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office.” After you’ve filled it out, mail it – along with a check for $10 – to:

Secretary of State, Corporations Division

P.O. Box 778

Jefferson City, MO 65102

Live near Jefferson City? Feel free to hand deliver your form and fee to 600 W. Main St., Rm. 322, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

Last option: you can change your registered agent directly on your annual report, but only if you file it on paper. You cannot make this change in online annual reports. Since you need to file your annual report each year anyway, this could be a nice way to cut down on paperwork.

If you’re too busy, or if you’d feel more comfortable letting someone else take the reins, you have the option of hiring a company or individual to file your paperwork for you. It’s a great way to save time and stress.

Submit your form? Pay your fee? Your new registered agent will be on file soon! Online forms are usually processed within 24 hours, while mailed ones can take 4-7 business days.

Consider a Registered Agent Service

Think of your registered agent as a mediator between you and the state of Missouri, the person or business entity that handles some of your most important paperwork.

In case you thought the registered agent was just a formality, look at the documents they handle:

• service of process notices
• tax information
• lawsuits
• and other Secretary of State correspondence.

A lot of important stuff. Which is why a reliable registered agent is essential to every Missouri business owner.

By handling high-priority and sensitive documents on your behalf, your registered agent takes care of your communications with the state, so you can spend more time building your business.

Plus, if you operate a Missouri small business from out of state, a trustworthy registered agent is especially important, as the state requires a local contact for your LLC. Having this contact ensures your company will receive and respond to time-sensitive documents, so you won’t miss filings and get hit with penalties.

If you’re unsure where to find a good Missouri registered agent, consider using a registered agent service. These companies provide you a reliable, professional registered agent so you can have peace of mind knowing you won’t ever miss a filing, tax deadline, or state correspondence.

Sure, you can jump online, search “registered agent service,” and get a ton of results. But the truth is that not all of these services are trustworthy. So, we’ve done some research for you. If you want to know you’re getting a top-quality registered agent, take a look at our comparison guide on the top registered agent services. Many of these providers can also form an LLC for you if you’re needing a fresh start. ZenBusiness and LegalZoom are two very well known options.

Need to Resign your Missouri Registered Agent?

There are numerous reasons you might need to give up your Missouri registered agent role, but only one way to resign.

Registered agents play an important role in the life of an LLC, handling sensitive legal and tax documents, so it’s essential that agents follow proper resignation procedures. Otherwise, you could leave your company with unplanned fines or penalties, and you could be individually liable.

Fortunately, for Missouri LLCs it is easy.

Follow these steps and the hardest part of your resignation won’t be the process itself, it’ll be saying “so long” to your former business.

Notifying the Missouri LLC

You are required to send written notice to your LLC before you submit a resignation to the state. This makes the transition process easier for all parties. It gives the LLC plenty of time to develop a plan for changing their registered agent, thereby avoiding potential penalties. And on your end, it can help your resignation take effect quicker.

After the Secretary of State processes your resignation, you remain on file as the registered agent for 30 days unless the LLC appoints a replacement sooner. If you’ve helped them get someone lined up, you will be off the hook right away.

Submitting Your Resignation

You can’t officially resign without notifying the Secretary of State, so to get started, download the “Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent of LLC” form from the Fees & Forms page. This form is very short; it only requires six things:

• The LLC name
• The registered office address
• Your name
• Name and address of the LLC representative to whom you previously sent notice
• Your signature
• A return address

That wasn’t so bad. And the fee isn’t bad either – $10, payable with a check made out to “Missouri Secretary of State.” When you’re ready, mail the form and payment to:

Secretary of State

Corporations Division

P.O. Box 778

Jefferson City, MO 65102

Or, if you live in Jefferson City and are out on the town, drop it off in person at 600 W. Main St., Rm. 322, Jefferson City, MO 65102. When hand-delivering your form, you may pay the fee via check, cash, money order, or credit card.

As mentioned earlier, your resignation doesn’t take effect immediately. You retain registered agent duties for 30 days after your form is processed (unless your LLC appoints a replacement sooner). So, keep in mind that you may continue receiving mail and/or service of process for up to a month after you resign.

Handing off Your Responsibilities

When you put down your registered agent responsibilities, someone else has to pick them up, or your LLC will lose its good standing with the state. Help your LLC keep its momentum by carefully planning your transition.

This starts with finding a successor who’s ready to take over right away. Even a small gap in registered agent coverage can result in severe penalties. Consider this: you resign and stay on as registered agent for the required 30 days. After that, if your LLC can’t find a replacement for 30 more days, they could be administratively dissolved by the state. All business entities operating in Missouri must keep a valid registered agent on file at all times. A 30+ day gap will result in dissolution.

When your LLC does appoint a successor, that person must meet Missouri’s registered agent requirements. The new registered agent must:

• Be an individual or business entity residing in the state
• Have a physical Missouri address (P.O. boxes aren’t allowed)
• Have a mailing address in Missouri
• Be authorized to transact business in Missouri (if a foreign entity)
• Be present at the registered office during normal business hours

The state allows individual owners or members to serve as their LLC’s registered agent. However, it’s often more productive to let a professional service take over those duties.

We recommend using a registered agent service, which can take over registered agent duties, freeing up more time for the LLC’s managers to focus on running the business.

Finishing Up

You do a lot for your Missouri LLC. You’re essentially the shield that protects it from fines, the filter that catches important documents, the conductor that keeps it on track with compliance.

Because you play such an important role, it’s crucial that you follow the resignation procedures exactly — and potentially provide a replacement agent for the business. Otherwise, you might find yourself and your LLC in hot water.

Follow this guide and you’ll be totally fine. Soon, you’ll be on to your next project, whether that’s starting a new business in Missouri or something completely different.

If you need a fresh start and would like to form a brand new LLC, there are plenty of services that can take care of this for you. ZenBusiness and Northwest are two very popular options.