
Are you unsatisfied with your Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia.

Guru Tip: If you would prefer to have a professional service deal with the paperwork and take over registered agent duties, hire a Virginia registered agent service. It’s just a small annual fee.
What Is a Virginia 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 Virginia 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.
The Virginia Secretary of State dictates that all registered agents in the state are required to have a physical street address in Virginia; P.O. boxes will not suffice. Furthermore, it’s required that the registered agent by physically present at the listed address during standard business hours, should service of process be necessary.
In Virginia, the registered agent may be either an individual resident or another business entity. An individual wishing to serve as a registered agent must be either a member of the Virginia State Bar or a principal of the company. On the other hand, business entities wishing to act as a registered agent must be authorized to transact business within the state.
Although Virginia has no database or search tool for those wishing to find and hire, we’ve reviewed some of the top options and crafted a list of the best options available based on price and overall value. The list may be viewed here.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Virginia
If you would like to change your registered agent for any reason, the process is simple.
Doing so simply requires the filing of the appropriate Statement of Change of Registered Office and/or Agent. Though the form is not available for immediate download, you may request a copy from the State Corporation Commission’s Website. Once the form is obtained, you’ll need to fill it out with the following information:
- Name of the corporation limited liability company
- Name of the previous registered agent
- Name and address of the new registered agent
- Signature of an authorized person
Change of Registered Agent Fee: In Virginia, changing the agent is free of cost.
Should You Hire a Professional Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia registered agent!