Change Registered Agent in Connecticut

Read our guide about what changing a Connecticut Registered Agent entails and see why you should use our experts to do it for you.

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There are a number of reasons you might need to change your Connecticut LLC’s registered agent. Maybe your designated registered agent moved out of state, left the company, or no longer wants the responsibility. Maybe you had assigned the job to yourself, and you no longer want your address on public record. Maybe (hopefully) your business has expanded so much that you no longer have time to handle the registered agent responsibilities.

Whatever your reason may be, changing a registered agent in Connecticut might seem like a daunting task, with a mountain of paperwork and legal proceedings involved. However it’s actually quite simple, and this guide will help make the process quick and painless.

What the State of Connecticut Says about changing a Registered Agent

The state of Connecticut has certain requirements for changing your LLC’s registered agent. To enact this change, you must file a “Change of Agent” document either online, by mail, or in person. All three delivery methods will require your new agent to accept the appointment either by signature or email.

The Connecticut Secretary of State has an FAQ page with a wealth of information regarding LLC formation and maintenance, including registered agents.

Who can be a Connecticut Registered Agent

You can’t pick just anyone to be a registered agent for your LLC. The state of Connecticut puts certain restrictions on who can serve as one. If you’re choosing or changing your registered agent, keep these requirements in mind. The registered agent in Connecticut must:

  • Be an individual Connecticut resident or a business entity located in Connecticut
  • Have a Connecticut street address (P.O. boxes are not allowed)

*If your registered agent is a foreign business entity, it must be authorized to transact business in Connecticut.

How to Change Your Connecticut Registered Agent

In order to change your registered agent in Connecticut, you need to file a Change of Agent form with the Secretary of State’s office. You can find it under the Limited Liability Company section of the S.O.S. Forms and Fees page. There are separate forms for domestic and foreign LLCs, so be careful to use the correct one. Find the domestic one here, and the foreign one here.

Paper forms are available, but the fastest way to file is online. Simply click the “file online” option next to the document on the Forms and Fees page and you’ll be directed to the web filing portal. From there, follow the onscreen instructions to complete the form.

But if you prefer to work with hard copies, that’s an option too. To submit via postal mail, send your completed form to:

Commercial Recording Division, Connecticut Secretary of State

P.O. Box 150470

Hartford, Connecticut 06115-0470

Or, if you live nearby and want to hand deliver your form, you can drop it off at:

30 Trinity St.

Hartford, Connecticut 06106

Changing your registered agent, no matter which option you choose, will cost you $50. For mailed forms, you should include a check made out to “Secretary of the State.” Electronic submissions will ask you to pay via credit or debit card as part of the process. If you’re dropping it off in person, you can pay with either check, card, or cash.

Filing a Change of Agent form is the only way to appoint a new registered agent in Connecticut. While some states may allow LLCs to update their Articles of Organization or annual report with a new registered agent, Connecticut does not.

If you’re too busy, or if you’d feel more comfortable letting someone else take the reins, you have the option of hiring a company or individual to file your paperwork for you. It’s a great way to save time and stress.

Submit your form? Pay your fee? Then you’re all set! The Connecticut Secretary of State’s office usually processes documents 3-5 business days after they are received. If you’re in a time crunch, you can request expedited processing for an additional $50 fee by submitting an “Expedited Service Request.”

Consider a Registered Agent Service

Think of your registered agent as a mediator between you and the state of Connecticut, the person or business entity that handles some of your most important paperwork.

In case you thought the registered agent was just a formality, look at the documents they handle:

  • service of process notices
  • tax information
  • lawsuits
  • and other Secretary of State correspondence.

A lot of important stuff. Which is why a reliable registered agent is essential to every Connecticut business owner.

By handling high-priority and sensitive documents on your behalf, your registered agent takes care of your communications with the state, so you can spend more time building your business.

Plus, if you operate a Connecticut small business from out of state, a trustworthy registered agent is especially important, as the state requires a local contact for your LLC. Having this contact ensures your company will receive and respond to time-sensitive documents, so you won’t miss filings and get hit with penalties.

If you’re unsure where to find a good Connecticut registered agent, consider using a registered agent service. These companies provide you a reliable, professional registered agent so you can have peace of mind knowing you won’t ever miss a filing, tax deadline, or state correspondence.

Sure, you can jump online, search “registered agent service,” and get a ton of results. But the truth is that not all of these services are trustworthy. So, we’ve done some research for you. If you want to know you’re getting a top-quality registered agent, take a look at our comparison guide on the top registered agent services. Many of these providers can also form an LLC for you if you’re needing a fresh start. ZenBusiness is a great option.

Need to Resign your Connecticut Registered Agent?

There are numerous reasons you might need to give up your Connecticut registered agent role, but only one way to resign.

Registered agents play an important role in the life of an LLC, handling sensitive legal and tax documents, so it’s essential that agents follow proper resignation procedures. Otherwise, you could leave your company with unplanned fines or penalties, and you could be individually liable.

Fortunately, for Connecticut LLCs it is easy.

Follow these steps and the hardest part of your resignation won’t be the process itself, it’ll be saying “so long” to your former business.

Notifying the Connecticut LLC

Considering the importance of registered agent responsibilities and the serious consequences for not having one, your LLC would probably appreciate advance notice of your resignation. Connecticut state law mandates that you send notice to your company immediately after filing your resignation with the Secretary of State. However, in many cases, it’s a good idea to let your LLC know sooner, so they can put a plan in place to change their registered agent.

Even though you aren’t obligated to inform your LLC in advance, it will help make the transition smoother, so that they (and you) don’t incur any fines or penalties.

Submitting Your Resignation

The initial talk with your LLC, as outlined above, doesn’t have any specific guidelines because it isn’t required, but there is a designated process for filing your resignation with the state.

If you check the Connecticut Secretary of State forms page for an official resignation document, you won’t find one, and that’s because it doesn’t exist. You can simply create your own. The state’s General Statutes don’t dictate what to include on the form either, but you’ll want to include at least the following:

  • The LLC name (as it appears on record with the Secretary of State)
  • Your name
  • Your most recent office address
  • A statement of your resignation
  • The principal address of the LLC, so the Secretary of State can mail a copy
  • Date
  • Your signature

Resigning as a registered agent will cost you $50, plus another $50 if you need to expedite the process. Submit this payment, the original signed statement, and one copy of the statement, to:

Connecticut Secretary of the State

Commercial Recording Division

PO Box 150470

Hartford, CT 06115-0470

You can also deliver your materials in person to 30 Trinity St, Hartford, CT 06106, or by fax at (800) 392-2122. Payment options include check (made out to “Connecticut Secretary of State”) or credit card.

As soon as the Secretary of State processes your filing, they will mail the second copy to your LLC as an official notification. Standard processing time is 7-10 business days, but expedited service will turn it around in 24 hours.

Your form may be submitted, but you haven’t totally relinquished your responsibilities yet. According to Connecticut law, your name will remain on file as the registered agent for 31 days after your resignation is processed, unless your LLC appoints a new agent sooner.

Handing off Your Responsibilities

When you put down your registered agent responsibilities, someone else has to pick them up, or your LLC will lose its good standing with the state. Help your LLC keep its momentum by carefully planning your transition.

This starts with finding a successor who’s ready to take over right away. Even a small gap in registered agent coverage can result in severe penalties. From the moment that an LLC receives official notification from the state (after an agent’s resignation), they have three months to find a replacement. If the LLC doesn’t change its registered agent in that window, it can be administratively dissolved.

Once you’ve nominated a replacement, confirm that they meet Connecticut’s registered agent requirements. They must:

  • Be an individual resident of Connecticut or a corporation authorized to do business in the state
  • Have a physical Connecticut address (P.O. boxes aren’t allowed)
  • Be available during normal business hours to receive documents and service of process.

We recommend using a registered agent service, which can take over registered agent duties, freeing up more time for the LLC’s managers to focus on running the business.

Finishing Up

You do a lot for your Connecticut LLC. You’re essentially the shield that protects it from fines, the filter that catches important documents, the conductor that keeps it on track with compliance.

Because you play such an important role, it’s crucial that you follow the resignation procedures exactly — and potentially provide a replacement agent for the business. Otherwise, you might find yourself and your LLC in hot water.

Follow this guide and you’ll be totally fine. Soon, you’ll be on to your next project, whether that’s starting a new business in Connecticut or something completely different.

If you need a fresh start and would like to form a brand new LLC, there are plenty of services that can take care of this for you. ZenBusiness and LegalZoom are two very popular options.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.

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Written by Team ZenBusiness

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