‹ Alabama Filing Guide
·
All Change-Agent Guides
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Alabama
The form, the fee, and how to file it.
Filing details
- Form name
- Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office by Entity
- Filing fee
- $100
- Online filing
- Yes
- Processing time
- 3-5 business days for emailed/faxed filings; longer for mail; expedite available for an additional $100
- Filing agency
- Alabama SOS ↗
Note: Alabama charges $100 to change the registered agent - one of the highest fees in the country. Per the Alabama SOS official fee schedule, "Agent Changes: $100." Submit the Change of Registered Agent form by mail (in duplicate) to PO Box 5616, Montgomery AL 36103, or by email to
[email protected], or by fax to 334-240-3138. The form must be typed - handwritten forms are returned without review. The new registered agent must sign the consent box on page two before filing. Credit card payments add a 3% + $2.00 convenience fee.
Open online filing portal ↗
How to change your registered agent in Alabama
-
Choose your new registered agent first.
Do not file the change form until you have a new agent lined up. The new agent has to consent to the appointment, and most states will not process the change without that consent in hand. If you let coverage lapse, the Alabama SOS can administratively dissolve your LLC.
Two ways to go. Name yourself or someone you know. Nothing to pay beyond the state filing fee above, but your address goes in the public record and somebody has to be there during business hours to accept legal mail.
Or use a service at $125/year. That keeps your address private and prepares the change form for you. If you are here because your current agent resigned, missed a delivery, or raised its price, this is usually the reason. See what Northwest charges, or compare what the major agents cost first.
-
Get the Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office by Entity. Download the form ↗
You can file this online through the Alabama Secretary of State portal. The form requires your LLC name, the new agent name and address, and a signature. The new agent must consent to the appointment.
-
Pay the $100 filing fee.
Pay by credit card during the online filing. A small processing surcharge usually applies. Mail filings accept check or money order; confirm the exact payee on the form before you send it, because it is not the Secretary of State in every state.
-
Notify your old agent.
Once the change is processed, your old agent's responsibility ends. If you are paying them an annual fee, cancel that subscription so it does not auto-renew. Most agents do not refund the unused portion, so time the cancellation against your renewal date.
-
Verify the change in state records.
Search your LLC name on the Alabama SOS business search and confirm the new registered agent is listed. Processing typically takes 3-5 business days for emailed/faxed filings; longer for mail; expedite available for an additional $100, so check back after that window.
Important to know about Alabama
- Alabama charges $100, the highest change-of-agent fee in the country. Ten states charge nothing and most of the rest fall between $5 and $25.
- Form must be typed, not handwritten. Handwritten or illegible forms are rejected without review.
- Alabama eliminated the LLC annual report requirement under Act 2024-213 (effective October 1, 2024), so this change cannot be bundled with another filing - the $100 fee is unavoidable.
- Some third-party sources cite $25 for this filing - this is incorrect. The official Alabama SOS Fee Schedule confirms $100.
Have a service handle the change for you
Northwest will prepare and file the Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office by Entity for you when you sign up. The state filing fee is yours to pay. The change is usually filed the same business day.
Get Northwest Registered Agent ↗
$125/year · All 50 states · Privacy included
Harbor Compliance
$99 first year, then $149/year · Full-service compliance option
Registered Agents Inc
$200/year · Report filing included, state fees extra
Choosing a replacement agent? Our full Northwest Registered Agent review and Harbor Compliance review compare pricing, renewals, and service before you file.
This page provides general information based on publicly available Alabama Secretary of State requirements. It is not legal advice. Forms, fees, and procedures can change. Verify with the Alabama SOS before filing.