Template Tuesday: Changing Registered Agents in Florida & Wyoming

Good Morning!

1. Feature: Template Tuesday: Changing Registered Agents in Florida & Wyoming (4 min)

2. From the Archive: The Most Important New-Hire Document

Keep stacking wins, Tuesday is another step forward.

-TCoL

Missed our last feature article? What Businesses Should Consider Using a C Corp Instead of an LLC?

Every LLC and corporation must designate a registered agent (RA). This person or company receives lawsuits, subpoenas, compliance reminders, and official state notices for your business.

The RA’s name and street address are part of the public record. If your RA misses a service of process or state notice, you risk default judgments, fines, or even administrative dissolution.

Who Can Serve as a Registered Agent?

In Florida

Eligible RAs: An individual who resides in Florida, a domestic entity, or a foreign entity authorized to do business in Florida.
Registered office: Must be a Florida street address, not a P.O. Box. The RA’s business address must be the same.
Availability requirement: The registered office must be staffed at least 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.
Acceptance: The new RA must sign a written acceptance filed with the state.

In Wyoming

Eligible RAs: A Wyoming resident who is at least 18 years old, a domestic or foreign entity with a Wyoming office, or a Commercial Registered Agent registered with the state if serving more than ten entities.
Registered office: Must be a physical Wyoming street address where someone is physically present to accept service.
Additional duties: The RA must maintain an email address for official communications and keep certain records, including names and addresses of managers or directors, a communications contact, and a copy of the written agency agreement, at the registered office.
Consent: The new RA must sign an original Consent to Appointment by Registered Agent.

Can You Be Your Own Registered Agent?

Yes. Both Florida and Wyoming allow you to serve as your own RA if you meet the requirements above.

But “can” and “should” are different. Acting as your own RA only makes sense if you run a simple, low liability business from home, understand the RA obligations and are reliably present at the required hours, and do not mind your home or office address being a public record.

Why You Might Not Want to Be Your Own RA

Privacy: Your name and address are published. Expect junk mail and easy access to your home address.
Availability: In Florida, missing the required office hours could mean missed service. In Wyoming, the state expects a real physical presence.
Professionalism: Being served with a lawsuit in front of clients or employees is not ideal.
Continuity: Vacations, relocations, or staff changes can create compliance gaps.
Cost benefit: Professional RA services often cost less than the consequences of missed service.

Want to dive deeper into whether you should be your own registered agent? Read our previous article: Should You Be The Registered Agent Of Your LLC?

Attorneys and Law Firms as Registered Agents

Many attorneys and law firms will serve as your RA. If they formed your company, they may include the service free for the first year. After that, some firms continue for free if you remain a client, while others charge an annual fee similar to commercial RA companies. For businesses already relying on a firm for legal support, this can be a convenient and professional option.

How to Change Your Registered Agent in Florida:

Corporations

1. Choose your new Florida qualified RA and obtain their signed acceptance.

2. File the Statement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent with the Division of Corporations.

3. Pay the $35 filing fee by mail or walk in.

LLCs

There are two options:

Option A: Amended Annual Report online
File an Amended Annual Report and change the RA during the process. The new RA must provide acceptance electronically. Online changes post within minutes once filed and paid.

Option B: Articles of Amendment paper filing
File Articles of Amendment to update the RA or office. The form includes the RA acceptance clause. Fee is $25.

How to Change Your Registered Agent in Wyoming:

1. Select a qualified Wyoming RA.

2. Obtain the RA’s original, ink signed Consent to Appointment by Registered Agent.

3. Complete the Statement of Change by Business Entity using your entity’s exact name and filing number.

4. Mail or deliver both forms to the Secretary of State.

5. Pay the $5 filing fee. Processing may take up to 15 business days.

Quick Cost and Method Snapshot

Florida Corporation: $35 using Statement of Change by mail or walk in.
Florida LLC: $25 using Articles of Amendment by paper filing or Amended Annual Report online with fee varying by type.
Wyoming – all entities: $5 using Statement of Change plus Consent, filed by mail or in person.

The Wrap Up

Changing your registered agent is not complicated. The real decision is choosing the right person or service to stand between your business and the courts or the state.

Florida and Wyoming both give you the option to serve as your own agent, but the hidden costs of lost privacy, rigid availability, and potential mistakes usually outweigh the savings.

For most business owners, a professional service or law firm provides the steady hand you want on the front line. The fees are modest, the process is straightforward, and the peace of mind is worth far more than the check you write each year.

Need a professionally prepared, STATEMENT OF CHANGE OF REGISTERED AGENT? Simply upgrade to Premium for $7.95 mo. or $85.86 yr. and we will send it to you along with access to our growing Template Library of over 18+ business templates.

Have an interesting business question and need a free bit of advice? Send your question to [email protected]. No confidential info, please!