Are you unsatisfied with your Illinois registered agent? Or perhaps you’re currently serving as your own registered agent, but would rather hire a professional registered agent service instead?
The state of Illinois makes it rather easy to change your registered agent, but there are some details involved in the process that are worth reviewing.
In this guide, we’ll discuss all the relevant details of changing a registered agent in Illinois.
Guru Tip: If you would prefer to have a professional service deal with the paperwork and take over registered agent duties, hire a Illinois registered agent service. It’s just a small annual fee.
What Is an Illinois Registered Agent?
Why is a registered agent required for every limited liability company (LLC) or corporation? It all comes down to the fact that the state needs to be able to contact an official representative of your business if they need to deliver important documents to you, especially service of process.
Without a registered agent, you could remain unaware of a lawsuit against your business progressing through the court system.
Who Can Be an Illinois Registered Agent?
If you’re looking to change your company’s registered agent, it’s a good idea to know who is eligible to serve as one.
As dictated by the Illinois Secretary of State, all Illinois registered agents are required to have an office with a physical street address, at which they are present during standard business hours.
The agent may be either an individual who is a resident of Illinois or a business entity formed with the purpose of providing registered agent services.
Although the Illinois Secretary of State has no database or search tool for those seeking a reputable registered agent service, we have compiled a list of top options based on price or overall value. To review the list, click here.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Illinois
If you would like to change your registered agent for any reason, the process is simple.
To change your registered agent, you must simply complete the change form designated for your business entity type. For LLCs, this is Form LLC-1.36/1.37, Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Office. For corporations, this is Form BCA 5.10/5.20, Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office.
To complete either document, you should expect to list the following details:
- The name of the former registered agent
- The name and address of the new registered agent
- The name of the business entity
- The signature of an authorized individual
After completion, the document may be submitted either in-person or via mail to the Illinois Secretary of State.
Change of Registered Agent Fee: $25
Should You Hire a Professional Illinois Registered Agent Service?
Hiring a registered agent service like Northwest Registered Agent has some distinct advantages. First and foremost, compared to serving as your own agent, professional registered agent services allow you to keep your personal address private. They’re also much less expensive than hiring a lawyer or accountant to provide registered agent service.
An often-overlooked benefit is how easy it is to expand your Illinois business into other states if you choose a professional registered agent. They typically have offices in all 50 states, so if you begin transacting business in an additional state, your same registered agent service can handle that for you.
If you’re interested in hiring a professional registered agent service, take a look at our guide to the top service providers.
Conclusion
The process for changing a registered agent in Illinois isn’t a complicated one, but it’s certainly advisable to know exactly what you want to do ahead of time. If you know what you want going in, you’ll find that the process is really quite painless.
We hope this article answered your questions about changing your Illinois registered agent!