‹ Alabama Filing Guide
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Alabama
The form, the fee, and how to file it.
Filing details
- Form name
- Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office by Entity
- Filing fee
- $100
- Online filing
- Yes
- Processing time
- 3-5 business days for emailed/faxed filings; longer for mail; expedite available for an additional $100
- Secretary of State
- Alabama SOS ↗
Note: Alabama charges $100 to change the registered agent - one of the highest fees in the country. Per the Alabama SOS official fee schedule, "Agent Changes: $100." Submit the Change of Registered Agent form by mail (in duplicate) to PO Box 5616, Montgomery AL 36103, or by email to
[email protected], or by fax to 334-240-3138. The form must be typed - handwritten forms are returned without review. The new registered agent must sign the consent box on page two before filing. Credit card payments add a 3% + $2.00 convenience fee.
Open online filing portal ↗
How to change your registered agent in Alabama
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Choose your new registered agent first.
Do not file the change form until you have a new agent lined up. The new agent has to consent to the appointment, and most states will not process the change without that consent in hand. If you let coverage lapse, the Alabama SOS can administratively dissolve your LLC.
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Get the Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office by Entity. Download the form ↗
You can file this online through the Alabama Secretary of State portal. The form requires your LLC name, the new agent name and address, and a signature. The new agent must consent to the appointment.
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Pay the $100 filing fee.
Pay by credit card during the online filing. A small processing surcharge usually applies. Mail filings accept check or money order made out to the Alabama Secretary of State.
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Notify your old agent.
Once the change is processed, your old agent's responsibility ends. If you are paying them an annual fee, cancel that subscription so it does not auto-renew. Most services prorate or refund the unused portion.
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Verify the change in state records.
Search your LLC name on the Alabama SOS business search and confirm the new registered agent is listed. Processing typically takes 3-5 business days for emailed/faxed filings; longer for mail; expedite available for an additional $100, so check back after that window.
Important to know about Alabama
- Alabama is one of the most expensive states for this filing at $100 - notably higher than the typical $5 to $25 range elsewhere.
- Form must be typed, not handwritten. Handwritten or illegible forms are rejected without review.
- Alabama eliminated the LLC annual report requirement under Act 2024-213 (effective October 1, 2024), so this change cannot be bundled with another filing - the $100 fee is unavoidable.
- Some third-party sources cite $25 for this filing - this is incorrect. The official Alabama SOS Fee Schedule confirms $100.
Have a service handle the change for you
Northwest will file the Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office by Entity and pay the state filing fee when you sign up. The change is usually filed the same business day.
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This page provides general information based on publicly available Alabama Secretary of State requirements. It is not legal advice. Forms, fees, and procedures can change. Verify with the Alabama SOS before filing.