How to Change Resident Agent in Maryland

What the State of Maryland Says about Changing a Resident Agent

The state of Maryland has certain requirements for changing your LLC’s resident agent. Any LLC looking to change its agent must submit a digital or paper form, signed by one of its authorized members/managers and the new resident agent. This change will only go into effect once approved by the Department of Assessments and Taxation.

The most complete source of information on resident agent changes is on the form itself (“Resolution to Change Principal Office or Resident Agent”)

Who can be a Maryland Resident Agent

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

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

* If your resident agent is a foreign business entity, it must be authorized to transact business in Maryland

How to Change Your Maryland Resident Agent

In order to change your resident agent in Maryland, you can do so by submitting a “Resolution to Change Principal Office or Resident Agent” form or a request through the Maryland Business Express web portal.

Filing online is the far quicker method. Once you navigate to the Maryland Business Express site, here’s what to do:

1. Log in (or create an account if you don’t have one)
2. Select “Change Resident Agent/Principal Office”
3. Search for your business name
4. Find your LLC in the results and click the “Change Resident Agent/Principal Office” button
5. Follow the onscreen directions to input your information
6. Pay your fee

Postal mail is also a reliable option. Download the form, complete it, and send it to:

State Department of Assessments and Taxation, Charter Division

301 W. Preston Street

8th Floor Baltimore, MD 21201‐2395

*You may hand deliver your form to this address as well, although you’ll automatically be charged the $50 expedited processing fee

The fee to change your resident agent is $25, plus a $50 fee if you want expedited processing. Online and walk-in filings are automatically charged the expedited fee and are processed within seven business days. Mailed filings without expedited processing can take up to eight weeks. Pay your fee via check, made payable to “State Department of Assessments and Taxation.” If filing online, you will need to pay with a card.

Making updates on your annual report or Articles of Organization is not a viable option for resident agent changes. You must file the appropriate online or paper form.

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’ve done your part! Kick back and wait to see your new resident agent on file.

Consider a Resident Agent Service

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

In case you thought the resident 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 resident agent is essential to every Maryland business owner.

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

Plus, if you operate a Maryland small business from out of state, a trustworthy resident 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 Maryland resident agent, consider using a resident agent service. These companies provide you a reliable, professional resident 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 and IncFile are two very well known options.