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How to Change Your Registered Agent in Puerto Rico

The form, the fee, and how to file it.

Filing details

Form name
Certificate to designate resident agent
Filing fee
$50
Online filing
Yes
Processing time
not published. Puerto Rico prices speed rather than turnaround: $100 within 24 hours, $200 same day, $500 within two hours
Filing agency
Puerto Rico Department of State ↗
Note: Puerto Rico uses "resident agent" (agente residente), not registered agent. Act 164-2009 sets $50 for filing a certificate designating a resident agent, $50 plus $2 per LLC affected for a resignation certificate with or without a successor, and $50 for a certificate of change of address. THE $60 CHANGE-OF-AGENT PRICE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE LIST IS THE CORPORATION RATE and does not apply to an LLC; that list prices no LLC agent change at all. The $50 is the statutory figure and may be higher in practice.
Open online filing portal ↗

How to change your registered agent in Puerto Rico

  1. 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 Puerto Rico Department of State 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.

  2. Get the Certificate to designate resident agent. Download the form ↗ You can file this online through the Puerto Rico Department of State, Corporations Division portal. The form requires your LLC name, the new agent name and address, and a signature. The new agent must consent to the appointment.
  3. Pay the $50 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Verify the change in state records. Search your LLC name on the Puerto Rico Department of State business search and confirm the new registered agent is listed. Check back after the processing window shown above.

Important to know about Puerto Rico

  • Going 60 days or more without a resident agent or designated office is an independent ground for revoking a foreign LLC authorisation under Act 164-2009.
  • While the LLC is behind on its annual fee, or its agent has died, resigned, refuses to act or cannot be found, service of process can be made through the Secretary of State.
  • The $60 change-of-agent price on the Department of State list is the corporation rate. That list prices nothing for an LLC agent change.

Have a service handle the change for you

Northwest will prepare and file the Certificate to designate resident agent 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
Visit site ↗
Registered Agents Inc
$200/year · Report filing included, state fees extra
Visit site ↗

Choosing a replacement agent? Our full Northwest Registered Agent review and Harbor Compliance review compare pricing, renewals, and service before you file.

Related guides

This page provides general information based on publicly available Puerto Rico Department of State, Corporations Division requirements. It is not legal advice. Forms, fees, and procedures can change. Verify with the Puerto Rico Department of State before filing.