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Change Registered Agent in Mississippi

When Is a Change of Registered Agent Required in Mississippi?

Under the Mississippi Registered Agents Act (Miss. Code Ann.) § 79-35-8, a represented entity that wishes to change its registered agent must file a statement of change with the Mississippi Secretary of State. Every domestic and foreign entity on file with the Secretary of State — including business corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and business trusts — is required to continuously maintain a registered agent in Mississippi, and any lapse or inaccuracy in the registered agent designation must be corrected by filing promptly.

Mississippi does not distinguish between voluntary and involuntary reasons for changing a registered agent. Whether the entity is switching to a new commercial registered agent service, replacing an agent who resigned, or simply correcting an outdated address, the same filing requirement applies. Failure to maintain a current registered agent and registered office may trigger administrative dissolution proceedings for domestic entities or revocation of authority for foreign entities.

The following circumstances require an entity to file a statement of change or take other corrective action:

  • The current registered agent resigns by filing a statement of resignation with the Secretary of State
  • The current registered agent is no longer located at the registered office address on file
  • The registered agent’s address has changed due to physical relocation, postal renaming, or other cause
  • The entity voluntarily selects a new registered agent
  • The agent no longer consents to serve
  • A noncommercial registered agent becomes unavailable during normal business hours at the street address on file

Grounds for Changing Your Registered Agent in Mississippi

The most common reasons for filing a change of registered agent in Mississippi fall into a relatively small number of categories. In every case, the entity corrects the record by filing Form F0010 — Registered Agent/Office Statement of Change — through the Secretary of State’s online filing system.

Ground Filing Required
Registered agent resigns Form F0010 — Statement of Change (to appoint replacement agent)
Registered agent relocates out of Mississippi Form F0010 — Statement of Change
Registered agent’s street address changes Form F0010 — Statement of Change, or Form F0122 — Registered Agent Change of Address (filed by the agent)
Entity switches to a commercial registered agent service Form F0010 — Statement of Change
Registered agent no longer available at the registered office Form F0010 — Statement of Change
Registered agent no longer consents to serve Form F0010 — Statement of Change
Entity changes its own registered office address Form F0010 — Statement of Change

The entity’s registered agent information is part of the public record maintained by the Secretary of State and is searchable through the Mississippi Business Entity Search portal. Outdated or inaccurate information should be corrected promptly to avoid service-of-process failures or administrative action by the Secretary of State.

Mississippi Registered Agent Change Requirements

Before filing a statement of change, the entity must satisfy several requirements under the Mississippi Registered Agents Act.

Eligibility of the new registered agent:

  • Option A — Commercial Registered Agent: An individual or entity that has filed a commercial registered agent listing statement under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-6 and is listed on the Secretary of State’s website. A commercial registered agent’s consent is established by its listing — when an entity designates a listed commercial agent, that agent has fourteen days to file a statement of non-acceptance if it does not wish to serve. If no statement of non-acceptance is filed within that window, consent is presumed.
  • Option B — Noncommercial Registered Agent: Any individual or domestic or foreign entity that has a physical address in Mississippi and has agreed to serve. Unlike a commercial agent, a noncommercial agent is not listed on the Secretary of State’s website and must affirmatively consent before being named.

Registered office address:

The registered office must include an actual street address in Mississippi where service of process can be personally delivered. Under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-4, any filing under the Mississippi Registered Agents Act must state an actual street address in the state and, if different, a mailing address. A P.O. Box alone, a mailbox-only service, or a virtual office without a qualifying physical presence does not satisfy this requirement. When the entity designates a commercial registered agent, the agent’s listed address on file with the Secretary of State serves as the registered office, and the entity’s filing does not need to separately state an address.

Consent of the new registered agent:

Under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-5(b), the appointment of a registered agent in any filing is “an affirmation by the represented entity” that the entity has notified the agent of the appointment, has provided the agent with a forwarding address, and that the agent has consented to serve. Companies seeking to use a noncommercial registered agent must obtain that agent’s permission before listing the agent on any filing.

Note: Under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-19, naming a person as a registered agent without that person’s written consent is a misdemeanor and may result in administrative dissolution of a domestic entity or revocation of a foreign entity’s certificate of authority.

Execution:

The statement of change must be signed on behalf of the entity by a person authorized to act for it. Under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-8(b), the interest holders or governors of a domestic entity need not approve the filing of a statement of change — an authorized officer or manager may sign without board or member approval.

How to File a Statement of Change of Registered Office/Agent

The change is made by filing Form F0010 — Registered Agent/Office Statement of Change through the Secretary of State’s online filing system. Mississippi requires all business document filings to be submitted electronically through this system. There is no longer a separate downloadable form to change the registered agent — the process is handled as an amendment within the online portal.

To complete the filing, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your filing account at the Secretary of State’s online filing portal. If you do not have an account, click the “Register” button and create one using your name, business address, and business email.
  2. From the Business Filings menu, select the option to file an amendment on an existing business and enter the entity’s Mississippi Business ID number.
  3. Select the registered agent change option from the menu of available filings for the entity.
  4. Enter the new registered agent information — either the name of a commercial registered agent or the name and street address of a noncommercial registered agent — and the new registered office address if it is also changing.
  5. Review the information for accuracy, submit the filing, and pay the filing fee electronically.

The online system validates the information before submission and will flag errors that need correction. Once the filing is submitted, the entity receives an email confirming that the document has been accepted and filed, or explaining any issues that prevented filing. According to the Secretary of State’s Business FAQs, most online filings that are paid at the time of submission are approved and filed immediately, while filings requiring staff review are typically processed within twenty-four hours.

Note: All filed or rejected documents are returned to the filer via email. In addition, all emails associated with the entity’s profile are notified whenever a filing is made, providing a safeguard against unauthorized changes.

Filing Method: Online vs. Mail

Mississippi requires all business documents to be filed using the Secretary of State’s online filing system. Paper forms are no longer accepted for standard business filings, including registered agent changes.

Method Details
Online File through the Secretary of State’s online filing portal. Requires a registered filing account. Payments accepted by credit card (American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover), e-check, or ACH account.
Mail Not accepted for registered agent change filings.
In person Secretary of State’s Office, 660 North Street, Jackson, MS 39202. Walk-in service is available, but filings are processed through the online system.

The Secretary of State’s general mailing address for business correspondence is P.O. Box 136, Jackson, MS 39205-0136. For questions about the filing process, contact the Business Services Division at 601-359-1633.

Registered Agent Change Filing Fees by Entity Type

The filing fee for a statement of change is set by Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-3 and published in the Secretary of State’s Business Documents Filing Fees schedule. The fee is $10 per entity for a statement of change, regardless of entity type.

Entity Type Form Filing Fee
Domestic Business Corporation F0010 — Registered Agent/Office Statement of Change $10
Domestic Nonprofit Corporation F0010 — Registered Agent/Office Statement of Change $10
Foreign Corporation (Profit or Nonprofit) F0010 — Registered Agent/Office Statement of Change $10
Domestic LLC F0010 — Registered Agent/Office Statement of Change $10
Foreign LLC F0010 — Registered Agent/Office Statement of Change $10
Domestic Limited Partnership F0010 — Change of Registered Agent $10
Foreign Limited Partnership F0010 — Change of Registered Agent $10
Domestic LLP F0010 — Change of Registered Agent $10
Foreign LLP F0010 — Change of Registered Agent $10
Foreign Business Trust F0010 — Change of Registered Agent $10

The filing fee for a registered agent resignation (Form F0038) is $0 — there is no charge. The filing fee for an agent-initiated address change (Form F0122) is $10 per company affected by the address change, subject to a statutory cap of $1,000 total.

Payments made through the online filing system are accepted by credit card (American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover), e-check, or ACH account. To set up an ACH account, download the ACH form from the Secretary of State’s website, complete it, and submit it by mail or email. All payments made to the Secretary of State’s Office in connection with business filings are nonrefundable.

Effective Date of a Registered Agent Change in Mississippi

A statement of change filed under the Mississippi Registered Agents Act takes effect upon filing with the Secretary of State. Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-8(d) provides that “a statement of change filed under this section takes effect on filing.”

Immediate effect: The default and only option for a registered agent change in Mississippi is immediate effectiveness. The new agent’s authority to receive service of process on behalf of the entity begins as soon as the Secretary of State accepts and files the statement of change. At the same time, the former agent’s authority terminates.

Mississippi does not offer a delayed effective date or future-event effectiveness option for statements of change filed under the Mississippi Registered Agents Act. This differs from some states that allow the filing to take effect on a specified future date.

Changing the Registered Agent Address Without Changing the Agent

When a registered agent changes its own address but continues to serve as agent for its represented entities, the agent may update the address directly with the Secretary of State rather than requiring each entity to file a separate statement of change. The Mississippi Registered Agents Act provides separate mechanisms for noncommercial and commercial agents.

Noncommercial registered agents file under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-9. If a noncommercial agent changes its name or address, the agent must file a statement of change with the Secretary of State for each entity it represents. The filing must state the entity’s name, the agent’s current name and address, and the new name or address. The agent must also promptly furnish each represented entity with notice of the filing and the changes made.

Commercial registered agents file under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-10. A commercial agent that changes its name, address, or organizational type files a single statement of change covering all entities it represents. That single filing is effective to update the agent’s information for every represented entity. The commercial agent must promptly notify each represented entity of the change.

The following table compares the entity-filed change form and the agent-initiated address change form:

Feature Form F0010 — Statement of Change (Entity-Filed) Form F0122 — Registered Agent Change of Address (Agent-Filed)
Filed by The represented entity The registered agent
Purpose Change the registered agent, the registered office, or both Update the agent’s address for represented entities
Can appoint a new agent Yes No
Covers multiple entities No — one filing per entity Yes — one filing covers all affected entities
Prior notice to entity required — Yes — agent must promptly notify each entity
Signed by Authorized person on behalf of the entity The registered agent

The fee for Form F0122 is $10 per company affected by the address change. Under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-3, the total fee for a statement of change is capped at $1,000 regardless of the number of entities covered. This cap makes the agent-initiated filing especially practical for commercial registered agent services that represent large numbers of entities.

Note: If a commercial registered agent changes its address without filing the required statement of change, the Secretary of State may cancel the agent’s listing — an action that has the same effect as a termination and leaves every represented entity without a registered agent.

What Happens After the Change Is Filed

Once the Secretary of State accepts and files the statement of change, several consequences follow:

  • The entity’s registered agent and registered office information in the Secretary of State’s records is updated immediately.
  • The new agent’s name and address become part of the entity’s public filing history and are searchable through the Mississippi Business Entity Search portal.
  • The filer receives an email confirmation with a filed-stamped copy of the document and a payment invoice.
  • All email addresses associated with the entity’s profile are notified of the filing.
  • The former registered agent’s authority to accept service of process on behalf of the entity terminates.
  • If the entity has no registered agent on file after a resignation or termination, service of process may be made on the entity’s governors or, if they cannot be served with reasonable diligence, on the Secretary of State under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-13.

Changing a Registered Agent for a Foreign Entity Registered in Mississippi

A foreign entity registered to transact business in Mississippi is subject to the same registered agent and registered office requirements as a domestic filing entity. The foreign entity must continuously maintain a registered agent in Mississippi, and any change to the agent or registered office address requires filing Form F0010 through the Secretary of State’s online system.

The same eligibility requirements, consent requirements, street address requirements, and execution rules apply to foreign entities. The filing fee is $10 for all foreign entity types — foreign profit corporations, foreign nonprofit corporations, foreign LLCs, foreign limited partnerships, foreign LLPs, and foreign business trusts.

Failure to maintain a registered agent is a ground for revocation of a foreign corporation’s certificate of authority under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-4-15.30, and for administrative revocation of a foreign LLC’s registration under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-29-1023. Revocation does not terminate the entity’s obligations or the validity of its existing contracts, but the entity may not maintain any lawsuit in a Mississippi court until its registration is reinstated.

Frequently Asked Questions About Changing a Registered Agent in Mississippi

How long does it take to change a registered agent in Mississippi?

The Secretary of State does not publish a guaranteed processing time for registered agent changes. However, the Business FAQs indicate that many online filings paid at the time of submission are approved and filed immediately — sometimes within minutes. Filings that require staff review are typically processed within twenty-four hours. Because Mississippi requires all business filings to be submitted online, there is no separate mail processing timeline. For questions about a specific filing, contact the Business Services Division at 601-359-1633.

Do I need to notify my current registered agent before changing?

Mississippi law does not require an entity to notify its outgoing registered agent before filing a statement of change. Under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-8, the change takes effect upon filing and acceptance by the Secretary of State, and the former agent’s authority terminates at that point. Many entities choose to notify the outgoing agent as a courtesy or pursuant to a contractual obligation. If the outgoing agent wishes to end the relationship independently, it may file a statement of resignation under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-11.

Can I change my registered office address without changing the registered agent?

Yes. Form F0010 permits the entity to change the registered office address, the registered agent, or both in a single filing. If only the address is changing and the same agent continues to serve, the entity completes only the address fields. Alternatively, if the registered agent itself has moved, the agent may file Form F0122 — Registered Agent Change of Address — to update the address for all entities it represents without requiring each entity to file separately.

What is the agent-initiated address change form and when is it used?

Form F0122 — Registered Agent Change of Address — is filed by the registered agent, not the entity, when the agent changes its own address while continuing to serve. This form allows the agent to update its address across all represented entities in a single filing. Under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-9 (noncommercial agents) and § 79-35-10 (commercial agents), the agent must promptly notify each represented entity of the change. The fee is $10 per company, capped at $1,000 total under the fee schedule.

Is there a penalty for not filing a change of registered agent?

Mississippi requires every represented entity to continuously maintain a current registered agent and registered office. If a domestic corporation fails to maintain an agent, the Secretary of State may commence administrative dissolution proceedings under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-4-14.20. For domestic LLCs, the grounds are set by Miss. Code Ann. § 79-29-821. The entity receives written notice and has sixty days to cure the deficiency. If uncured, the entity is administratively dissolved and may not maintain any lawsuit in a Mississippi court until reinstated. Foreign entities face revocation of their certificate of authority or registration, with the same sixty-day cure period.

Can I change my registered agent and the registered office address in the same filing?

Yes. Form F0010 allows the entity to update both the registered agent designation and the registered office address in a single filing. Only one filing fee of $10 applies regardless of whether the entity changes the agent, the address, or both.

What happens if my registered agent resigns?

A registered agent may resign at any time by filing Form F0038 — Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent with the Secretary of State. Under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-11, the agent must certify that it sent written notice to the entity at least thirty days before filing the resignation. The resignation takes effect on the earlier of the thirty-first day after filing or the appointment of a new registered agent. There is no filing fee for a resignation. Once the resignation takes effect, the entity must promptly file Form F0010 to appoint a replacement agent — otherwise, service of process may be made on the entity’s governors or the Secretary of State.

Does the new registered agent need to sign the change form?

No. The statement of change is signed by a person authorized to act on behalf of the entity — not by the new registered agent. Under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-8(c), by signing the statement of change, the authorized person affirms that the entity has notified the new agent of the appointment and that the agent has consented to serve. If the new agent is a commercial registered agent listed with the Secretary of State, that agent has fourteen days from the filing date to submit a statement of non-acceptance; otherwise, consent is presumed.

Can I use a P.O. Box for the new registered office address?

No. Under Miss. Code Ann. § 79-35-4, every filing under the Mississippi Registered Agents Act that requires an address must include an actual street address in Mississippi. A P.O. Box or mail-forwarding address alone does not satisfy this requirement. The filing may include a separate mailing address in Mississippi if different from the street address, but the physical street address is mandatory.

Is the filing fee the same whether I file online or by mail?

Mississippi does not accept paper filings for registered agent changes — all business documents must be filed through the Secretary of State’s online filing system. The filing fee is $10 for a statement of change regardless of entity type. Payments may be made by credit card, e-check, or ACH account. All payments are nonrefundable.