The 6 steps to change your registered agent in Delaware. Source: Delaware Division of Corporations.
How to File
1
Choose Your New Registered Agent
Select an individual or company with a Delaware street address who can receive legal documents during business hours. The agent can't use a P.O. Box.
2
Obtain Written Consent
Get written consent from your new registered agent before filing. This ensures they accept the responsibility of receiving legal documents on behalf of your LLC.
3
File Certificate of Amendment
Complete and file a Certificate of Amendment (Form Amendment) with the Delaware Division of Corporations at https://corp.delaware.gov to officially change your registered agent information.
4
Pay Required Fees
Submit the $100 filing fee for the Certificate of Amendment. You can pay online, by check, or money order made payable to the Delaware Division of Corporations.
5
Update Internal Records
Update your LLC's internal records, operating agreement, and any other business documents to reflect the new registered agent information.
6
Notify Your Old Agent
Inform your previous registered agent in writing that their services are no longer needed and that you've officially changed agents with the state.
Ready to file your annual report?
Go directly to the Delaware Secretary of State portal.
Your current registered agent is no longer available or responsive
You want to switch from a personal address to a professional service
Your business has moved and needs an agent in Delaware
You're unhappy with your current agent's service quality or fees
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. It reports what each state publishes about filing deadlines, fees, and the consequences of missing them, with the sources this page cites. It cannot tell you what your own company owes: the date turns on when and where you formed, states change these rules between our reviews, and in several states an entity-level tax falls due in a year when no report does. Confirm your own dates with the filing office named on this page before you rely on one here, because the penalty for missing a deadline can be administrative dissolution of the company.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Certificate of Amendment to change your registered agent in Delaware typically processes within 7-10 business days when filed through regular service with the Delaware Division of Corporations. If you need faster processing, expedited filing costs an additional $100 and reduces turnaround to 24-48 hours. Useful if your current agent is resigning immediately or you've discovered compliance issues.
The practical implication is significant: during those 7-10 days, your LLC remains legally bound to the old registered agent for service of process, even if they've stopped performing duties. This gap exposes you to missed legal notices or lawsuits. The $25 regular filing fee makes standard processing affordable, but the expedited option protects you when timing is critical.
File Form 1 (Certificate of Amendment) directly with the Delaware Division of Corporations at corp.delaware.gov or by mail to 401 Federal Street, Dover, DE 19901. Include your LLC name, file number, and new agent details to initiate the change immediately.
Changing your registered agent in Delaware costs $100 for standard processing through the Delaware Division of Corporations. If you need faster processing, expedited fees range from $50 (24-hour service) to $1,000 (same-day service). You'll file Form DGCL 103 (Certificate of Amendment) with the Division of Corporations in Wilmington. The standard processing typically takes 1 to 2 business days, while expedited options deliver results within hours. This $100 base fee covers the administrative change only; your new registered agent may charge separate service fees, typically $50 to $300 annually. Most Delaware LLCs budget $150 to $400 total for this change when accounting for both the state filing and agent fees. Submit your amendment online through the Division's website or by mail to ensure proper filing before your agent transition date.
Yes, you can serve as your own registered agent in Delaware if you maintain a Delaware street address (a P.O. box doesn't qualify) and are consistently available during business hours to receive legal documents and lawsuits. However, this approach carries significant practical risks. As your own registered agent, you're personally responsible for accepting service of process, and missing a single document could result in a default judgment against your LLC without your knowledge. Additionally, your home or business address becomes public record on Delaware Division of Corporations filings, eliminating privacy. Professional registered agent services like CT Corporation or national providers cost $125 to $300 annually and provide a business address, redundant document handling, and automatic forwarding to you. To change your registered agent, file a Form 103 (Certificate of Amendment) with the Delaware Division of Corporations ($25 filing fee). Consider whether the privacy protection and liability protection justify the modest annual cost for your business structure.
No, changing your registered agent won't affect your LLC's good standing provided you file Form 2 (Certificate of Amendment) with the Delaware Division of Corporations and maintain uninterrupted registered agent coverage. Delaware requires every LLC to have a registered agent at all times; any lapse in coverage triggers administrative dissolution. File your amendment at least five business days before your current agent's termination date to prevent gaps. The filing fee is $100. Your LLC's good standing status depends entirely on continuous agent representation, not on how frequently you change agents. This means you can switch agents without penalty as long as you coordinate the transition properly. Submit Form 2 online through Delaware's business filing portal or by mail to ensure your new agent takes effect immediately upon your current agent's removal date.
Yes, Delaware allows you to file your Certificate of Amendment online through the Division of Corporations website at https://corp.delaware.gov, making it the faster option. You can complete and submit Form DLLC-2 (Certificate of Amendment) electronically and pay the $100 filing fee using a credit card. The online filing typically processes within 24 business hours. Online filing eliminates postal delays and provides immediate confirmation, which is essential if your business relies on timely agent changes for legal compliance. Registered agent changes become effective immediately upon Division approval, so filing online ensures your LLC's liability protection updates without unnecessary delays. To proceed, log into the Division's online portal, upload your signed Amendment form, and submit payment to officially update your registered agent. The Delaware Division of Corporations publishes no standard processing time for this filing.
Sources
Each entry below is a document recorded in our verified Delaware sources, and each entry says what the document is. Some statutory text is read from an accurate mirror rather than from the state's own host, and those say so.
corp.delaware.govDelaware Division of Corporations: business entity filings
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Edmond Hui is a software engineer and serial entrepreneur based in New York who has founded multiple online businesses across e-commerce, media, and information publishing. Before transitioning into tech, he spent years as a commercial real estate professional closing deals totaling over 100,000 square feet, giving him firsthand experience with business formation and entity structuring. He built MyStateLLC to provide the free, state-specific LLC guidance he wished existed when forming his own companies.
