‹ California Filing Guide
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How to Change Your Registered Agent in California
The form, the fee, and how to file it.
Filing details
- Form name
- Statement of Information (Form LLC-12)
- Filing fee
- Free
- Online filing
- Yes
- Processing time
- California publishes no fixed turnaround. Its Current Processing Dates page shows the submission date staff are working on for online, in-person and mail filings
- Filing agency
- California SOS ↗
Note: California changes the registered agent through Form LLC-12. Filed between applicable filing periods as an amended statement reporting a change of information, there is no fee. If the change coincides with your required initial or biennial Statement of Information, that filing costs the standard $20 and the agent change rides along at no extra charge. File online at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov, where submissions are reviewed first; a paper Form LLC-12 can still be mailed with the Business Entities Submission Cover Sheet.
Open online filing portal ↗
How to change your registered agent in California
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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 California 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.
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Get the Statement of Information (Form LLC-12). Download the form ↗
You can file this online through the California 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.
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There is no filing fee.
California does not charge a state filing fee for this change. The only cost is what you pay your new registered agent.
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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.
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Verify the change in state records.
Search your LLC name on the California SOS business search and confirm the new registered agent is listed. Check back after the processing window shown above.
Important to know about California
- An amended statement filed between applicable filing periods is free. If the change coincides with your required biennial filing, that filing costs $20 and covers the agent change.
- File online at bizfile Online; the Secretary of State reviews online submissions first. A paper Form LLC-12 can still be mailed with the Business Entities Submission Cover Sheet, and in-person drop-off of most documents carries a $15 special handling fee.
- The registered agent must have a physical California street address. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
Have a service handle the change for you
Northwest will prepare and file the Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) for you when you sign up, and it pays the state filing fee. 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 $159/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.
Sources 4 pages
The official pages behind the figures on this page, with the date we last read each one. How we check.
Fees and costs
Deadlines and processing
Forms and filing
This page provides general information based on publicly available California Secretary of State requirements. It is not legal advice. Forms, fees, and procedures can change. Verify with the California SOS before filing.