Change Registered Agent in Vermont

There are a number of reasons you might need to change your Vermont 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 Vermont 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 Vermont Says about changing a Registered Agent

The state of Vermont has certain requirements for changing your LLC’s registered agent. Any change to a business entity’s registered agent, address, or contact information, must be made using either an online or mailed “Change of Registered Agent or Agent Address” form. The Secretary of State’s office prefers that all filings are done online, although they allow paper submissions as well.

The Secretary of State website has a whole page dedicated to registered agent changes and resignations. Take a look here.

Who can be a Vermont Registered Agent

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

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

How to Change Your Vermont Registered Agent

There are two ways to change your registered agent in Vermont: online and by mail. As mentioned above, the Secretary of State’s office prefers online filing because it’s quicker and easier for all parties involved. So, we’ll start with how to file online.

Go to the S.O.S. online filing system. You’ll need to create an account if you don’t already have one. Once you’re logged in, enter your new registered agent information to make the change, then pay the $25 fee with a credit or debit card.

While online submission is the preferred method, if you prefer doing business on paper, you can request a hard copy. However, you can’t download it directly from the Secretary of State website; instead, you need to submit a formal request here and wait for them to send you your form. Then, fill it out and mail it, with a $25 check, to:

Vermont Secretary of State

128 State Street

Montpelier, Vermont 05633-1101

Some states allow business entities to change their registered agents by updating Annual Reports or Articles of Organization. Vermont does not. You must use one of the filing methods outlined above.

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? Your change will take effect soon! Online filings are typically processed right away, and mailed forms are processed within 7-10 business days.

Consider a Registered Agent Service

Think of your registered agent as a mediator between you and the state of Vermont, 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 Vermont 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 Vermont 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 Vermont 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 best rated registered agent services. Many of these providers can also form an LLC for you if you’re needing a fresh start. ZenBusiness is a very well known option.

Need to Resign your Vermont Registered Agent?

There are numerous reasons you might need to give up your Vermont 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 Vermont 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 Vermont LLC

Before you can formally resign with the Secretary of State, you must send a notification to your LLC. Aside from being required by the state (11 V.S.A. § 4009), this can be beneficial to both you and your LLC. In doing so, you’ll give the company plenty of time to change its registered agent and avoid the penalties for not having one.

Plus, it will help you pass along your responsibilities sooner. Even after you resign, you will retain your agent duties for 31 days unless your LLC appoints a replacement sooner. If they have the time to line up your successor, you can transition out of your role more quickly.

Submitting Your Resignation

Notifying your LLC early is helpful, but notifying the Secretary of State is what puts your resignation in motion. On the S.O.S. Fees & Filings page, click “Limited Liability Companies” and then scroll down to find the “Agent Resignation.”

The Secretary of State prefers that you file online. However, if you need a paper application, you can request one. For either option, you’ll need to provide:

• The LLC name
• Your name, mailing address, and email address
• Whether or not the registered office is discontinued
• The name and address of the LLC representative to whom you sent notice
• Date
• Your signature

Whether you submit your resignation online or by mail, there is no filing fee. Online, your document will be submitted right away. If you requested and completed a paper form, mail it to:

Vermont Secretary of State
Corporations Division
128 State St.
Montpellier, VT 05633-1104

As mentioned above, your resignation won’t take effect until 31 days after it’s processed, or as soon as your LLC brings on your replacement, whichever comes 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. After you’ve resigned and served the requisite 31 days, you’ll be off the books. At that point, if your LLC still hasn’t changed its registered agent, it has 30 more days to do so. Any Vermont entity that goes more than 30 days without a valid registered agent will be terminated by the state.

The LLC can appoint any number of consenting individuals or entities as its registered agent, as long as they meet Vermont’s registered agent requirements, meaning they must:

• Be an individual or business entity residing in Vermont
• Have a physical Vermont address (P.O. boxes aren’t allowed)
• Have a mailing address in Vermont
• Be authorized to do business in the state, if a foreign entity
• Be available at the registered office address during regular business hours

LLCs are allowed to assign registered agent duties to individual members, but sometimes it’s easier and more efficient to outsource those duties to a professional service.

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.