How to Change Your Registered Agent in Wyoming

How to change your Wyoming registered agent

A business entity changes its registered office or agent by signing and delivering a statement to the Secretary of State (W.S. 17-28-102). The fee schedule sets the appointment of a new registered agent and office at $5. You do not need the old agent's consent, and the change takes effect when the state files it.

The new agent must meet W.S. 17-28-101: a Wyoming street address where the agent or its authorized individual is physically present, and for anyone serving more than ten entities, registration as a commercial registered agent.

Source: wyoleg.gov

Time the change to avoid a gap

Do not cancel the old agent before the new one is on record. If an agent resigns and the company does not replace it, an LLC gets notice and is deemed defunct after 60 days (W.S. 17-29-705(a)). Reinstating for no registered agent costs $350 for an LLC, plus a $250 penalty under the state fee schedule, which dwarfs the $5 change fee.

A corporation faces the same risk: having no registered agent, or not telling the state within 30 days that the agent changed or resigned, is a ground for administrative dissolution (W.S. 17-16-1420(a)(iii) and (iv)).

Source: sos.wyo.gov

After the switch

Give the new agent your designated communications contact and confirm the email address for service. Check that your principal office address on the Wyoming record is still right; the agent address does not replace it. If you also need to change the company name or other article terms, that is a separate $60 amendment.

Source: wyoleg.gov

What your registered agent is required to keep

Wyoming puts real duties on agents (W.S. 17-28-107). The agent keeps a physical address and an email address on file, accepts service of process, keeps the address where service is delivered for each entity, and registers as a commercial agent if it serves more than ten entities. It also keeps, for each domestic entity it represents, the names and addresses of the entity's directors, officers or managers, and the name, physical address and business phone of the person authorized to receive the agent's communications.

That information must be current within 60 days of any change until the first annual report is accepted, and after that whenever the annual report is due. When you switch agents, the new agent will ask you for all of it, so have it ready.

Source: wyoleg.gov

Common reasons owners switch

An individual agent moved out of Wyoming, so they no longer qualify. A former partner was serving as agent and has left the business. The old commercial agent's renewal price went up. Or notices were not being forwarded quickly. Whatever the reason, the fix is the same $5 statement, and the anniversary month and filing ID do not change.

If you are switching because the company already lost its agent and received a notice, act within the 60 days in the notice. After that, an LLC is deemed defunct and the cheaper fix is gone.

Source: wyoleg.gov

Corporations and foreign companies

The same change applies to Wyoming corporations, nonprofits and foreign companies registered in Wyoming. For a corporation, failing to notify the Secretary of State within 30 days that its registered agent or office has changed or that its agent resigned is a ground for administrative dissolution (W.S. 17-16-1420). A foreign company that loses its Wyoming agent risks revocation of its certificate of authority.

Source: wyoleg.gov

Switching to Corp USA

Our registered agent service is $199 a year. When you order, we prepare and file the change statement, and the $5 state fee is passed through at cost. We collect your designated communications contact and the list of directors, officers or managers that Wyoming requires agents to keep, then confirm by email once the state has recorded the change.

Source: sos.wyo.gov

A quick checklist before you file

Confirm the company's exact legal name and Wyoming filing ID. Confirm the new agent's Wyoming street address and email. Decide who your designated communications contact is. Then file the statement, wait for the state to record it, give the new agent the contact details and the list of directors, officers or managers, and only then end the old agent's service. Keep the filed statement with your company records.

Source: wyoleg.gov