How to Change Registered Agent in Kentucky

What the State of Kentucky Says about changing a Registered Agent

The state of Kentucky has certain requirements about changing your LLC’s registered agent. Any change to your registered agent must be accompanied by a “Statement of Change,” filed with the Kentucky Secretary of State’s office.

You can either mail a paper form to the SOS office or submit an electronic one online. Find more information about this form on the Secretary of State’s Business Filings webpage.

Who can be a Kentucky Registered Agent

You can’t pick just anyone to be a registered agent for your LLC. The state of Kentucky 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 Kentucky must:

• Be an individual Kentucky resident or a business entity located in Kentucky
• Have a Kentucky 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 Kentucky

How to Change Your Kentucky Registered Agent

In order to change your registered agent in Kentucky, you must file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office Address. You can find this form on the Kentucky Secretary of State website, under the “Business Filings” page. The form will ask you for the following information:

• Your LLC name (must be identical to the name on record with the Secretary of State)
• The name of your current registered agent
• The name of your new registered agent
• A signature from your new registered agent consenting to the appointment
• Your signature

You can submit your form through postal mail or online. Both methods require a $10 fee.

To submit via postal mail, send your completed form, along with your $10 payment to:

Office of the Secretary of State

P.O. Box 718

Frankfort, KY 40602

*Checks should be made payable to the “Kentucky State Treasurer”

To submit online, visit the Kentucky Business One Stop Portal on the Secretary of State website. You will need to create a username and password, then use the “Link My Business” option to view or file official documents. You will need to pay your $10 fee electronically.

Some states allow you to change your registered agent by updating your Articles of Organization or annual report. This is not the case in Kentucky. You MUST file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office Address either electronically or by mail for your change to be approved.

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 Kentucky Secretary of State’s office usually processes documents the same day they are received, but it could take 1-3 business days, so you should see your new registered agent on file within the week.

Consider a Registered Agent Service

Think of your registered agent as a mediator between you and the state of Kentucky, 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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 and LegalZoom are two very well known options.