How to Change Your Agent for Service of Process in California

Changing your California agent for service of process is a straightforward filing with the Secretary of State. Whether you are replacing an individual agent, switching from another commercial service, or updating your agent after a move, the process follows the same steps.

When to Change Your Agent

Common reasons businesses change their agent for service of process:

• Current agent is unreliable — missed documents, slow forwarding, or unresponsive
• Cost — your current provider charges more than necessary
• Agent relocated — your agent moved out of California or closed their office
• Privacy concerns — you were using your own home address and want to switch to a commercial service
• Agent resigned — agents can resign by filing with the Secretary of State, leaving you without coverage

If your entity currently has no agent on file — whether due to resignation, suspension, or oversight — updating this should be a priority. Operating without a valid agent puts your entity at risk.

How to File the Change

For California LLCs: File a Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) with the California Secretary of State. This form includes a field for your agent for service of process name and address. Update that field with your new agent's information.

The LLC Statement of Information can be filed online through the Secretary of State's bizfile portal or by mail. Online filing is faster and confirmation is typically immediate.

For California Corporations: File a Statement of Information (Form SI-550 for domestic stock corporations, SI-200 for domestic nonprofit corporations). List the new agent for service of process in the appropriate section.

For Foreign-Qualified Entities: File an amended Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation or the equivalent form for your entity type.

Filing Details

• Where to file: California Secretary of State — Business Programs Division
• Online filing: Available at bizfile.sos.ca.gov
• Filing fee: Check the current fee schedule on the SOS website (fees change periodically)
• Processing time: Online filings are typically processed immediately; mailed forms take longer

Always verify current forms, fees, and procedures directly with the Secretary of State before filing.

What We Provide When You Switch to Us

When you sign up with California Registered Agent.ai:

1. We provide our California address and agent details for your filing
2. You file the Statement of Information (or applicable form) with the Secretary of State
3. Once processed, we begin accepting documents on your behalf immediately
4. All documents are scanned same-day and available through your secure portal

We do not charge a setup fee, transfer fee, or any amount beyond the $99/year service rate.

Avoiding a Coverage Gap

To prevent any period without agent coverage:

• Sign up with your new agent before filing the change
• File the Statement of Information promptly
• Do not cancel or notify your old agent until the new filing is processed and confirmed
• Verify the change appears correctly on the Secretary of State's business search

Get Started — $99/year

Questions about the switch? Contact us.