Are you unsatisfied with your New York 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 New York 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 New York.
Guru Tip: If you would prefer to have a professional service deal with the paperwork and take over registered agent duties, hire a New York registered agent service. It’s just a small annual fee.
What Is a New York 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 a New York 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.
By default, the Secretary of State serves as a registered agent for all business entities. However, many choose to appoint an additional registered agent in order to avoid costly fees when purchasing ad space to meet New York’s new business requirements.
According to the requirements set forth by the New York Secretary of State, registered agents may be either a corporation or LLCs that provides registered agent services or an individual who is a resident of the state. Should you choose to appoint an individual (such as a family member, friend, company owner or employee) they must have a physical address in the state; PO boxes are insufficient. It is also required that the individual be present at the listed address during normal business hours, should service of process or any type of in-person delivery be necessary.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in New York
If you would like to change your registered agent for any reason, the process is simple.
The only thing those wishing to change their registered agent must do is complete the appropriate form. For LLCs, you’ll need to fill out this Certificate of Change form. Alternatively, to change the registered agent of a corporation you should complete this Certificate of Change form. To submit either document, you’ll need to print it and mail it to the Division of Corporations, State Records, and Uniform Commercial Code. The form will require the following information:
- The name of the corporation or LLC
- The date of the company’s formation
- The new registered agent’s address
- The new registered agent’s name
- The signature of an authorized person
It should be noted that if so desired, you may draft your own Certificate of Change document. However, those wishing to do so should use the official forms as a resource regarding which information is necessary.
Change of Registered Agent Fee: $30
Should You Hire a Professional New York 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 New York 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 New York 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 New York registered agent!