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

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.

How much does it cost to change a registered agent in Delaware?

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.

Can I be my own registered agent in Delaware?

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.

Will changing my registered agent affect my LLC's good standing?

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.

Can I file the registered agent change online or do I need to mail forms?

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.

LLC Guide

How to Change Your Registered Agent in Delaware

Follow these steps to update your LLC's registered agent with the Delaware Division of Corporations and maintain good standing.

Last updated: August 2026

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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Get registered agent service from NorthwestRegistered agent service is $125/yr. The included first year applies only when you form a new LLC with them ($39 plus your state's filing fee), so it does not apply to an LLC you already have. Registered agent customers are enrolled by default in Northwest's renewal service, which charges your saved payment method $100, plus any state fee or tax it pays for you, each time it handles a state filing for you, cancellable any time.Get registered agent service from ZenBusinessRegistered agent service is $199/yr, their standard rate. The $99 first-year price applies only when you form a new LLC with them, so it does not apply to an LLC you already have.

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Step diagram for changing an LLC's registered agent in Delaware, showing the 6 filing steps required by the Secretary of State. — 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.

File at Delaware SOS →

When Should You Change Your Registered Agent?

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

Hiring a service is optional. You can name yourself or another individual with a street address in Delaware, and the FAQ below gives Delaware's own rule.

Registered agent services for Delaware LLCs, by renewal price

Affiliate disclosure: Northwest Registered Agent, Bizee, ZenBusiness and LegalZoom pay us a commission if you sign up through our link, at no extra cost to you. We list only the registered agent services we have an affiliate relationship with, so this is not a survey of the whole market.

This table is not scored. The four are listed cheapest annual renewal first, and the rows below it say which one fits which situation. The scored ranking, and the formula behind it, is on the formation services review, which orders them on three-year cost, BBB rating and Trustpilot score.

Service	With formation, year 1	Annual renewal	BBB	Trustpilot	Privacy
Northwest Registered Agent	Included with $39 formation	$125/yr	A	4.1/5 (297)	Says it does not sell your information; runs its own servers
Bizee	Free year one	$149/yr	C (unaccredited)	4.8/5 (26,100+)	No data-sharing commitment
ZenBusiness	$99, not included in any plan	$199/yr	A	4.8/5 (32,500+)	Partial
LegalZoom	Not included, $249 extra	$249/yr	A+	4.6/5 (32,900+)	Partial

Note: Bizee holds a C rating from the BBB and is not accredited. BBB's profile carries a live alert describing a pattern of complaints about unexpected charges, difficulty canceling and filing delays, and Bizee has posted a response to it. We flag this so you can make an informed choice.

Prices are each provider's standard published rates; year-one pricing applies when you form your LLC through the same service. BBB and Trustpilot figures as recorded September 15, 2026, not re-checked since, and both sources update continuously. These are the dates the figures were last written to our dataset, which is the most we can show: they are not verification dates. See how we evaluate these companies in our full formation services review →

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
delcode.delaware.gov/title6/c018/sc11/Delaware statute: Annual LLC Tax
corp.delaware.gov/alt-entitytaxinstructions/Delaware agency guidance: Annual LLC Tax

Formation Services Compared

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How to File

Choose Your New Registered Agent

Obtain Written Consent

File Certificate of Amendment

Pay Required Fees

Update Internal Records

Notify Your Old Agent

When Should You Change Your Registered Agent?

Registered agent services for Delaware LLCs, by renewal price

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

Need a Registered Agent in Delaware?

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