How to Change Resident Agent in Michigan

What the State of Michigan Says about Changing a Resident Agent

The state of Michigan has certain requirements for changing your LLC’s resident agent. You can switch up your resident agent one of two ways: by filing a form CSCL/CD-520: Certificate of Change of Registered Office and/or Resident Agent, or by updating the agent information on your Annual Statement.

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has an LLC page, which is a great source of information not just on resident agents, but also LLC formation, required filings, and more.

Who can be a Michigan Resident Agent

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

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

How to Change Your Michigan Resident Agent

Let’s start with the designated change form since that’s the most common method. This is Form CSCL/CD-520, and you can find it on the LLC Forms page.

Once you’ve completed this form, you can submit it by mail or in person. For mail, address your form to:

Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau

Corporations Division

P.O. Box 30054

Lansing, Michigan 48909

If you’d rather take a trip to the LARA office and drop it off, you can do so at:

2501 Woodlake Circle

Okemos, Michigan 48864

No matter which option you choose, there is a required $5 fee, payable by check (made out to “State of Michigan”) or by card (if you deliver your form in person).

As stated above, you may also update your resident agent information on your Annual Statement, which must be filed no later than October 1 each year. Annual Statements are filed online for a fee of $20. Since you need to file your Annual Statement each year anyway, including your resident agent change there will save you money and paperwork.

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 good to go. LARA usually processes forms 3-5 days after receipt, but if you need it sooner, you can fill out an “Expedited Service Request” for 1-hour, 2-hour, same day, or 24 hours service. The fees range from $50-1,000.

Consider a Resident Agent Service

Think of your resident agent as a mediator between you and the state of Michigan, 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 Michigan 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 Michigan 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 Michigan 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.