How to Change Your Registered Agent in Illinois

Changing your registered agent in Illinois involves filing a change form with the Illinois Secretary of State and paying a filing fee. The state charges $25 for changes submitted by mail or $75 when filed online. The process is straightforward and typically completes within several business days.

Whether you're switching to a professional service, updating outdated information, or replacing an unreliable agent, understanding the process helps ensure a smooth transition.

Why Businesses Change Their Registered Agent

There are numerous legitimate reasons to update your registered agent:

Privacy Concerns: If you've been using your home address as your registered agent address, it's visible in public business records. Switching to a professional service protects your privacy and reduces unwanted solicitations.

Reliability Issues: If your current registered agent has missed documents, failed to forward correspondence promptly, or proven difficult to reach, switching to a more reliable service makes sense.

Cost Reduction: If you're paying $125 to $436 annually for registered agent service, switching to our $99/year service can reduce your ongoing business expenses without sacrificing service quality.

Moving or Relocation: If you or your current registered agent relocates outside Illinois, you'll need a new registered agent with a physical Illinois address to maintain compliance.

Professional Development: As your business grows, using a professional registered agent service rather than serving as your own agent can provide better separation between personal and business matters.

Service Quality: Perhaps your current agent doesn't offer document scanning, online portal access, or compliance reminders. Switching to a service with enhanced features improves your business operations.

Steps to Change Your Registered Agent in Illinois

The process for changing your registered agent follows a clear sequence:

1. Choose a new registered agent who meets Illinois requirements

Your new registered agent must be either an individual over 18 who resides in Illinois, or a business entity authorized to conduct business in the state. The agent needs a physical presence at the registered office—Illinois requires that the registered office and the agent's business office be identical.

2. File the change form with the Illinois Secretary of State

You'll need to submit the appropriate form to update your registered agent information in the state business registry. The form includes your business information, current registered agent details, and new registered agent information.

3. Pay the $25 filing fee

Illinois charges $25 for registered agent changes submitted by mail, or $75 when filed online. This fee goes directly to the Illinois Secretary of State and is separate from any fees charged by your new registered agent service.

4. Confirm the change in state records

After the state processes your filing, verify that your business records at ilsos.gov reflect the updated registered agent information. This typically happens within several business days of filing.

Common Reasons to Switch to Illinois Registered Agent

Illinois businesses choose our service for several practical reasons:

Professional Pricing: At $99 per year, we provide professional registered agent service at a lower cost than many competitors who charge $125 to $436 annually.

Privacy Protection: Our Springfield address appears on your public filings instead of your personal or business address, keeping your information private and reducing exposure in public databases.

Reliable Document Handling: We scan and forward documents the same day we receive them, ensuring you never miss important correspondence or legal notices.

Compliance Support: Illinois requires annual reports with a $75 filing fee, and late filing results in a $100 penalty. We send timely reminders to help you file on time and avoid these additional costs.

Online Portal Access: View and download all documents we've received on your behalf through our secure online portal, accessible 24/7.

Professional Service: Our team focuses specifically on registered agent service, ensuring we maintain presence during business hours to accept service of process and handle your documents properly.

Making the Transition

When you sign up for Illinois Registered Agent service, we provide clear guidance on filing the registered agent change form with Illinois. While you're responsible for submitting the form and paying the state filing fee, we'll give you the information you need to complete the process correctly.

The change typically takes effect within several business days after the Illinois Secretary of State processes your filing. Once complete, we'll begin receiving documents on your behalf at our Springfield location.

If you're currently serving as your own registered agent, switching to our service is particularly straightforward since you control both sides of the transition.

Get Started for $99/Year

Ready to switch to reliable, professional registered agent service? Illinois Registered Agent provides everything you need for $99 annually with no hidden fees.

Your subscription includes:

• Registered office address in Illinois
• Same-day document scanning and forwarding
• Compliance reminders and alerts
• Online document portal
• Privacy protection—our address on public filings

[Get Started — $99/year]

Questions about changing your registered agent or how our service works? Visit our FAQ page or contact us directly. We're here to provide the information and assistance you need for a smooth transition.