When Is a Change of Registered Agent Required in Missouri?
Missouri law requires every filing entity to file a statement of change with the Secretary of State whenever it needs to change its registered agent, its registered office address, or both. Under the Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo) § 351.375, a corporation may change the address of its registered office or change its registered agent by filing a statement with the Secretary of State that sets forth the relevant details of the change. The same obligation applies to limited liability companies under RSMo § 347.030, to limited partnerships under RSMo § 359.041, to limited liability partnerships under RSMo § 358.470, and to cooperative associations under RSMo § 351.1027.
Every domestic and foreign filing entity registered in Missouri must continuously maintain both a registered agent and a registered office in the state. A domestic corporation that fails to maintain a registered agent or registered office for thirty days or more faces administrative dissolution under RSMo § 351.484, and a foreign corporation in the same position faces revocation of its certificate of authority under RSMo § 351.598. The circumstances that give rise to a required or voluntary change include:
- The current registered agent resigns
- The current registered agent moves out of Missouri or is no longer a resident of the state
- The registered agent’s business office address changes due to physical relocation, postal renaming, or other cause
- The registered agent is no longer available at the registered office during normal business hours
- The entity voluntarily selects a new registered agent
- The registered agent becomes disqualified or incapacitated to act
- The entity revokes the appointment of its registered agent
Missouri does not distinguish between a voluntary change and one compelled by the agent’s departure or disqualification. The filing requirement — and the form used — is the same regardless of the reason for the change.
Grounds for Changing Your Registered Agent in Missouri
The most common grounds for filing a change of registered agent or registered office in Missouri arise from agent departures, operational decisions, and compliance maintenance. The table below identifies each typical ground and the filing it triggers.
| Ground | Filing Required |
| Registered agent resigns | Statement of change to appoint a new agent |
| Registered agent relocates out of Missouri | Statement of change to appoint a new agent |
| Registered agent’s address changes (agent remains the same) | Agent-initiated address-change form (Corp. 59A, LP 10, or LLP 10) or entity-filed statement of change |
| Entity switches to a professional registered agent service | Statement of change (Corp. 59, LP 9, LLP 9, or CA 59) |
| Registered agent no longer available during business hours | Statement of change to appoint a new agent |
| Registered agent becomes disqualified or incapacitated | Statement of change to appoint a new agent |
| Entity voluntarily changes its registered office address | Statement of change or agent-initiated address-change form |
A filing entity’s registered agent information is part of the public record maintained by the Secretary of State and is searchable through the state’s online business records system. Any inaccurate or outdated agent information must be corrected by filing the appropriate statement of change promptly — failing to report a change within thirty days is itself a ground for administrative dissolution of a domestic corporation or revocation of a foreign corporation’s certificate of authority.
Missouri Registered Agent Change Requirements
Before filing a statement of change, the entity must satisfy several eligibility, address, consent, and execution requirements established by Missouri law.
Eligibility of the New Registered Agent
- Option A – Corporation: A domestic corporation or a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in Missouri, whose business office is identical with the registered office. The filing entity itself cannot act as its own registered agent.
- Option B – Individual: An individual resident of Missouri whose business office is identical with the registered office.
For nonprofit corporations, the registered agent may also be a domestic or foreign nonprofit corporation authorized to transact business in Missouri, as provided in RSMo § 355.161. For cooperative associations, the agent may be any domestic or foreign business entity authorized to transact business in the state. In all cases, the agent’s business office must be identical with the entity’s registered office.
Registered Office Address
The registered office must be a physical street address in Missouri where service of process can be personally delivered during normal business hours. A P.O. Box may be used only in conjunction with a physical street address — it cannot serve as the sole address. A mailbox-only service or telephone answering service does not satisfy this requirement. The registered office address and the business office of the registered agent must be identical after the change is made.
Consent of the New Registered Agent
The new registered agent must provide written consent to the appointment before the filing is made. Under RSMo § 351.375, the statement of change must include “the name of its successor registered agent and the successor registered agent’s written consent to the appointment either on the statement or attached thereto.” On each of Missouri’s change-of-agent forms, the new registered agent’s authorized signature must appear on the form itself, or a separate originally executed written consent may be attached in lieu of that signature.
Note: False statements made on any filing with the Secretary of State are subject to the penalties provided under RSMo § 575.040, Missouri’s perjury statute. Every change form includes an affirmation that the facts stated are true and correct under penalty of that section.
Execution
The statement of change must be signed by an authorized officer, member, manager, or, for limited partnerships, a general partner. For cooperative associations, an officer or director must sign. The form need not be notarized.
How to File a Statement of Change of Registered Office/Agent
Missouri uses separate change-of-agent forms for different entity types. Corporations and LLCs file Corp. 59 – Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office. Limited partnerships and limited liability limited partnerships file LP 9 – Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office of Limited Partnership. Limited liability partnerships file LLP 9 – Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office of Limited Liability Partnership. Cooperative associations file CA 59 – Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office by a Domestic or Foreign Cooperative Association.
While the forms differ by entity type, the information required on each is substantially similar. The general process for completing the form is as follows:
- Enter the entity’s charter number (the file number assigned by the Secretary of State) and the entity’s exact legal name as it appears in the records of the Corporations Division.
- Enter the name and address of the entity’s current registered agent and current registered office (before the change).
- If the registered agent is being changed, enter the name of the new registered agent. The new agent must sign the form where indicated, or a separate originally executed written consent must be attached.
- If the registered office address is being changed, enter the new registered office address, including a physical street number. A P.O. Box may be listed only alongside a physical street address.
- The form contains a recitation that the address of the registered office and the business office of the registered agent, as changed, will be identical, and that the entity duly authorized the change.
- An authorized person — an officer, member, manager, general partner, or director, as applicable — must sign the form’s affirmation clause and print their name, title, and date.
The statement of change becomes effective upon filing by the Secretary of State. Missouri’s change-of-agent statutes for corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and cooperative associations all provide that the change takes effect “upon the filing of such statement by the secretary of state.”
Filing Method: Online vs. Mail
The statement of change may be filed online through the Secretary of State’s online portal, by mail, or in person at the Jefferson City office.
| Method | Details |
| Online | File through Missouri Business Filings, the Secretary of State’s online business portal. Many filings are processed immediately after submission. |
| Mail the completed form and filing fee to Corporations Division, PO Box 778, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Make checks payable to “Secretary of State.” | |
| In Person | Deliver the form and fee to the Missouri State Information Center, 600 W. Main St., Jefferson City, MO 65101. |
The Secretary of State encourages online filing, and the online reference guides provide step-by-step instructions for navigating the portal. Online filings are generally processed more quickly than paper submissions, and many are processed immediately after submission.
Note: Electronic payments (credit cards and e-checks) incur a convenience fee that is not collected or retained by the State of Missouri. Credit card transactions incur a fee of 2% + $0.25, and e-check payments incur a flat fee of $0.50 per transaction, as described on the Secretary of State’s E-Payment Convenience Fees page.
Registered Agent Change Filing Fees by Entity Type
The filing fee for a change of registered agent or registered office is set by the Schedule of Fees and Charges published by the Secretary of State. Most entity types pay a flat $10.00 fee, but limited liability partnerships follow a different fee structure.
| Entity Type | Filing Fee |
| Domestic for-profit corporation | $10.00 |
| Foreign for-profit corporation | $10.00 |
| Domestic nonprofit corporation | $10.00 |
| Foreign nonprofit corporation | $10.00 |
| Domestic limited liability company | $10.00 |
| Foreign limited liability company | $10.00 |
| Domestic limited partnership | $10.00 |
| Domestic limited liability limited partnership | $10.00 |
| Domestic cooperative association | $10.00 |
| Foreign cooperative association | $10.00 |
| Limited liability partnership (single LLP) | $37.00 |
| Limited liability partnership (each additional LLP on the same filing) | $7.00 per additional LLP |
The LLP fee structure reflects the fact that the LLP 9 form permits a registered agent to change the agent or address for multiple limited liability partnerships on a single filing, at a base fee of $37.00 plus $7.00 for each additional LLP beyond the first.
The resignation of a registered agent also carries a filing fee of $10.00 for corporations, nonprofit corporations, and LLCs, and $15.00 for limited liability partnerships. Accepted payment methods include check, money order, credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover), and e-check when filing online or in person. Cash is accepted only in person.
Effective Date of a Registered Agent Change in Missouri
A change of registered agent or registered office becomes effective immediately upon filing by the Secretary of State. Missouri’s statutes are consistent on this point across all entity types.
Immediate Effect: Under RSMo § 351.375, the change “shall become effective upon the filing of such statements by the secretary of state.” The same immediate-effectiveness rule applies to LLCs under RSMo § 347.030, limited partnerships under RSMo § 359.041, and cooperative associations under RSMo § 351.1027. There is no waiting period or delayed effective date option for a change-of-agent filing in Missouri.
Missouri’s change-of-agent statutes do not provide for a delayed effective date or an effectiveness conditioned on a future event for this type of filing. The change takes effect as soon as the Secretary of State files the statement, and the entity’s records are updated accordingly.
Changing the Registered Agent Address Without Changing the Agent
When a registered agent changes its own business office address — but continues to serve as agent — the agent may update the address directly with the Secretary of State rather than requiring each represented entity to file a separate statement of change. Missouri provides this mechanism across all major entity types.
For corporations and LLCs, the agent files Corp. 59A – Statement of Change of Registered Agent Office Address. For limited partnerships, the agent files LP 10 – Statement of Change of Registered Agent Office Address of a Limited Partnership. For limited liability partnerships, the agent files LLP 10 – Statement of Change of Registered Agent Office Address of Limited Liability Partnership.
The statutes authorizing this agent-initiated process require the agent to notify the represented entity in writing of the address change. Under RSMo § 351.375(3), a registered agent who changes the street address of its business office “may change the street address of the registered office of any corporation for which he is the registered agent by notifying the corporation in writing of the change and signing, either manually or in facsimile, and delivering to the secretary of state for filing a statement of change.” The same mechanism exists for LLCs under RSMo § 347.030(4) and limited partnerships under RSMo § 359.041(5).
The following table compares the entity-filed change form with the agent-initiated address-change form for corporations and LLCs:
| Feature | Corp. 59 (Entity-Filed Change) | Corp. 59A (Agent-Initiated Address Change) |
| Filed by | The entity (authorized officer, member, or manager) | The registered agent |
| Purpose | Change registered agent, registered office address, or both | Change the registered agent’s business office address (and thereby the entity’s registered office address) |
| Can appoint a new agent | Yes | No — the same agent must continue to serve |
| Prior written notice to entity required | No statutory notice requirement | Yes — notice in writing must be mailed to the entity |
| Signed by | Authorized officer, member, or manager of the entity | The registered agent |
| Filing fee | $10.00 | $10.00 |
For limited liability partnerships, the agent-initiated address-change process works similarly but follows the fee structure set out in the LLP forms: $22.00 for a single LLP, plus $7.00 for each additional LLP affected by the filing. The LLP change-of-address mechanism also provides for name changes: under RSMo § 358.470(2), if a registered agent changes its own name, the agent may file a certificate reflecting the name change and pay a fee of $25.00 plus $2.00 for each additional LLP affected.
The agent-initiated address-change form is particularly useful for commercial registered agent services that represent large numbers of Missouri entities and need to update a single address across many filings at once.
What Happens After the Change Is Filed
Once the Secretary of State files the statement of change, several immediate effects follow:
- The entity’s registered agent and registered office information in the Secretary of State’s records is updated to reflect the new agent name, new address, or both.
- The filed statement is returned to the submitter as evidence of filing, with the Secretary of State’s filing stamp.
- The new agent’s name and address become part of the entity’s public filing history, searchable through the Missouri Business Filings online system.
- The former registered agent’s authority to accept service of process on behalf of the entity terminates as of the filing date.
- For a corporation, the location or residence of the corporation is deemed for all purposes to be in the county where its registered office is maintained, under RSMo § 351.375(2).
Changing a Registered Agent for a Foreign Entity Registered in Missouri
A foreign corporation authorized to transact business in Missouri is subject to the same registered agent and registered office requirements as a domestic corporation. Under RSMo § 351.588, a foreign corporation may change its registered office or registered agent by delivering to the Secretary of State a statement of change that sets forth the same categories of information — the corporation’s name, its current registered office address, the new address if changing, its current agent, the new agent’s name and written consent if changing, and a statement that the addresses will be identical after the change.
A foreign corporation changes its registered agent by filing the same Corp. 59 form used by domestic corporations and LLCs. The same eligibility requirements, consent requirements, physical street address requirements, execution requirements, filing methods, and filing fee of $10.00 apply. Foreign nonprofit corporations likewise file Corp. 59 and pay a $10.00 fee, and foreign cooperative associations file the CA 59 form at the same $10.00 fee.
A foreign corporation that fails to maintain a registered agent or registered office in Missouri for thirty days or more is subject to revocation of its certificate of authority under RSMo § 351.598. Similarly, a foreign registered limited liability partnership that fails to appoint a new registered agent after its agent’s resignation faces cancellation of its registration under RSMo § 358.470(4). If a foreign corporation’s certificate is revoked, it may not transact business in Missouri and loses standing to maintain lawsuits in the state’s courts.
Note: A registered agent of a foreign corporation may also initiate an address change using the Corp. 59A form, under the same conditions applicable to domestic entities. The agent must notify the foreign corporation in writing and sign the filing, as provided in RSMo § 351.588(2).
Frequently Asked Questions About Changing a Registered Agent in Missouri
How long does it take to change a registered agent in Missouri?
The Secretary of State does not publish a guaranteed processing time for change-of-agent filings. Online filings submitted through the Missouri Business Filings portal are generally processed more quickly than paper submissions, and many online filings are processed immediately after submission. Paper filings sent by mail take longer due to postal transit and manual processing time. The Corporations Division can be reached at (866) 223-6535 (toll-free) or (573) 751-4153 to check on the status of a pending filing.
Do I need to notify my current registered agent before changing?
Missouri law does not impose an obligation on the entity to notify the outgoing registered agent before filing a statement of change. The change is effective as soon as the Secretary of State files the statement. Many entities choose to inform the outgoing agent as a professional courtesy, but it is not a statutory prerequisite. If the outgoing agent wishes to terminate the relationship independently, the agent may do so by filing a separate resignation form with the Secretary of State.
Can I change my registered office address without changing the registered agent?
Yes. The Corp. 59, LP 9, LLP 9, and CA 59 forms each permit a filing entity to change only the registered office address while keeping the same registered agent. The entity leaves the new-agent fields blank (or lists the same agent name) and completes only the new address fields. Alternatively, if the registered agent is the one initiating the address change, the agent may file the Corp. 59A, LP 10, or LLP 10 form, as described in the agent-initiated address-change section of this article.
What is the agent-initiated address change form and when is it used?
The agent-initiated address-change form — Corp. 59A for corporations and LLCs, LP 10 for limited partnerships, and LLP 10 for LLPs — is filed by the registered agent, not by the entity, when the agent changes its own business office address while continuing to serve. This form cannot appoint a different agent. Under RSMo § 351.375(3), the agent must notify the entity in writing of the change before filing. The filing fee is $10.00 for a single corporation, LLC, or limited partnership, and $22.00 for a single LLP (plus $7.00 for each additional LLP affected).
Is there a penalty for not filing a change of registered agent?
Missouri requires every filing entity to continuously maintain a current registered agent and registered office. Failure to keep this information current — or being without a registered agent for thirty days or more — can result in administrative dissolution for domestic corporations under RSMo § 351.484 or revocation of the certificate of authority for foreign corporations under RSMo § 351.598. For limited partnerships, failure to maintain a registered agent causes the Secretary of State to become the entity’s automatic agent for service of process under RSMo § 359.041(6), which creates a risk of default judgment if the entity does not receive forwarded service in a timely manner.
Can I change my registered agent and the registered office address in the same filing?
Yes. Each of Missouri’s change-of-agent forms — Corp. 59, LP 9, LLP 9, and CA 59 — permits the entity to change the registered agent, the registered office address, or both in a single filing. A single filing fee applies. If the entity is changing both the agent and the address, it simply completes all relevant fields on the form.
What happens if my registered agent resigns?
The resignation process varies by entity type. For for-profit and nonprofit corporations, the agent files Corp. 59B – Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent with a $10.00 filing fee. For LLCs, the agent files LLC 6 – Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent of Limited Liability Company with a $10.00 filing fee. For foreign corporations, the agent files under RSMo § 351.592, and the resignation becomes effective on the thirty-first day after filing. For LLCs, the resignation becomes effective thirty days after receipt of the statement by the Secretary of State, or upon appointment of a new agent, whichever is earlier, under RSMo § 347.030(6). For LLPs, the agent may resign without appointing a successor by paying a $10.00 fee and filing a certificate — but that resignation does not take effect for 120 days, during which the entity must appoint a replacement or face cancellation of its registration. In all cases, the entity must promptly file a statement of change to appoint a replacement agent.
Does the new registered agent need to sign the change form?
The change form itself is signed by the entity’s authorized officer, member, manager, general partner, or director — not by the new agent in the primary signature block. However, every Missouri change-of-agent form includes a separate line for the “authorized signature of new registered agent.” The new agent must either sign on this line or attach a separate originally executed written consent. This signature or attached consent satisfies the statutory requirement that the successor agent’s written consent accompany the filing.
Can I use a P.O. Box for the new registered office address?
No. The registered office must be a physical street address in Missouri where service of process can be personally delivered. Missouri’s change-of-agent forms state that a P.O. Box “may only be used in conjunction with a physical street address.” A P.O. Box alone, a mailbox-only service, or a telephone answering service does not satisfy the requirement. The statutes consistently require that the agent’s business office be “identical with such registered office,” meaning a physical location must exist in Missouri for both. See RSMo § 351.370.
Is the filing fee the same whether I file online or by mail?
Yes. The base filing fee of $10.00 for corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and cooperative associations is the same regardless of filing method. Electronic payments made online or in person with a credit card or e-check incur a convenience fee — 2% + $0.25 for credit card transactions and $0.50 for e-checks — but this fee is assessed by the payment vendor and is not collected or retained by the State of Missouri. There is no additional fee for cash or check payments.