How to Change a Registered Agent in Arizona in 2026?

When Is a Change of Registered Agent Required in Arizona?

An Arizona corporation, LLC, or other filing entity that needs to change its statutory agent, its known place of business or principal address, or both must deliver a statement of change to the Arizona Corporation Commission. Under the Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 10-502, a business corporation may change its known place of business or statutory agent by delivering a statement of change to the Commission, and A.R.S. § 29-3116 provides the same authority for LLCs. Arizona uses the term statutory agent rather than “registered agent”. It refers to the entity’s office as the known place of business (for corporations) or principal address (for LLCs). Still, the function is the same: the statutory agent receives service of process and official correspondence on behalf of the entity.

The requirement to maintain a statutory agent applies to every domestic and foreign entity on file with the Commission — for-profit and nonprofit corporations, LLCs, professional corporations, and professional LLCs. Limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and limited liability limited partnerships are filed with the Arizona Secretary of State rather than the Corporation Commission, and those entities follow a separate process governed by A.R.S. Title 29, Chapter 3. The remainder of this article addresses entities filed with the Corporation Commission.

An entity must file a statement of change whenever any of the following circumstances arise:

The current statutory agent resigns
The current statutory agent moves out of Arizona or no longer maintains a place of business or residence in the state
The statutory agent’s street address changes due to relocation, building renumbering, or other cause
The statutory agent is no longer available at the address on file to accept service of process
The entity voluntarily selects a new statutory agent
The agent no longer consents to serve

Arizona does not distinguish between a voluntary and an involuntary change — the same statement of change is required regardless of the reason the statutory agent information must be updated. A corporation or LLC that goes without a statutory agent or known place of business for sixty days or more exposes itself to administrative dissolution proceedings under A.R.S. § 10-1420 (corporations) or A.R.S. § 29-3708 (LLCs).

Grounds for Changing Your Registered Agent in Arizona

Most statutory agent changes arise from a small number of recurring situations. The table below summarizes the most common grounds and the filing each one requires.

Ground	Filing Required
Statutory agent resigns	Entity files a statement of change to appoint a replacement agent
Statutory agent moves out of Arizona	Entity files a statement of change to designate a new agent
Statutory agent’s address changes (same agent continues to serve)	Agent files a statement of change to update its own address, or entity files a statement of change
Entity switches to a professional statutory agent service	Entity files a statement of change
Statutory agent no longer available at the address on file	Entity files a statement of change
Statutory agent no longer consents to serve	Entity files a statement of change
Entity changes its known place of business or principal address	Entity files a statement of change

Because the Commission’s public records display the statutory agent’s name and address for every active entity, outdated or incorrect information should be corrected promptly. Any member of the public — including process servers, courts, and opposing counsel — may rely on the Commission’s database to locate the entity’s agent for service.

Arizona Registered Agent Change Requirements

Before filing a statement of change, the entity must confirm that the proposed new statutory agent meets Arizona’s eligibility and address requirements and has consented to the appointment.

Option A — Organization: A domestic corporation or LLC formed under Arizona law, or a foreign corporation or foreign LLC authorized to transact business in Arizona, may serve as a statutory agent. Under A.R.S. § 10-501 (corporations) and A.R.S. § 29-3115 (LLCs), the entity eligible to serve as agent must be organized or authorized under Arizona law. A corporation or LLC cannot serve as its own statutory agent — it must appoint a person or entity apart from itself.

Option B — Individual: An individual who resides in Arizona may serve as a statutory agent. A.R.S. § 29-3115 requires that an individual statutory agent have “a place of business or residence in this state.” The individual must be available at the agent’s street address to accept service of process during normal business hours.

Known place of business / principal address: For corporations, the known place of business must be a street address in Arizona and may be the same as the statutory agent’s address. For LLCs, the principal address may also be the statutory agent’s address. A P.O. Box alone does not satisfy the street address requirement for the agent, although a statutory agent may have a separate mailing address that is a P.O. Box.

Consent of the new statutory agent: The new statutory agent must accept the appointment in writing before the change becomes effective. A.R.S. § 29-3116(с) provides that the “appointment of a successor statutory agent is not effective until the successor statutory agent … delivers a record to the commission signed by the successor statutory agent accepting the change or the appointment.” This acceptance is filed using Form M002 – Statutory Agent Acceptance, which must be submitted to the Commission — ideally at the same time as the statement of change. There is no filing fee for the acceptance form.

Note: If the new statutory agent’s signed acceptance is not in the Commission’s system at the time the statement of change is examined, the statement of change will be rejected. The Commission strongly recommends submitting both documents simultaneously.

Execution: For corporations, the statement of change must be signed by the chairman of the board, a duly authorized officer, or an incorporator (if directors have not been selected). For LLCs, it must be signed by any authorized person. The statement does not require notarization.

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

Arizona uses separate forms depending on whether the entity is a corporation or an LLC. Corporations — including for-profit, nonprofit, and foreign corporations — file Form C016 – Statement of Change. LLCs — including domestic and foreign LLCs — file Form L020 – LLC Statement of Change of Principal Address or Statutory Agent. Detailed instructions are available for each form: Instructions C016i (corporations) and Instructions L020i (LLCs).

The statement of change requires the following information:

Entity name — The exact legal name as it appears in the Commission’s records, including spelling, punctuation, and entity identifier (Inc., LLC, etc.).
Current statutory agent information — If only the agent’s address is changing (same agent continues), indicate whether the street address, mailing address, or both are being updated and provide the new address.
Name change of existing agent — If the current statutory agent’s name has changed (such as a law firm renaming), indicate the new name without appointing an entirely new agent.
New statutory agent designation — If an entirely new statutory agent is being appointed, provide the new agent’s name (individual or entity), street address in Arizona, and mailing address. Attach the completed Form M002 – Statutory Agent Acceptance signed by the new agent.
Known place of business / principal address — If the entity is also updating its address on file, provide the new street address.
Signature and verification — The authorized person signs under penalty of law and checks the “I accept” box.

Effectiveness: The change is effective on delivery to the Commission for filing. A.R.S. § 10-502(B) provides that for corporations, “the change or changes outlined in the statement of change are effective on delivery to the commission for filing.” The same rule applies to LLCs under A.R.S. § 29-3116. Arizona does not offer a delayed effective date or future-event condition for statements of change.

Note: Publication of the statement of change is not required. Unlike articles of incorporation, which must be published in a newspaper, a statement of change carries no publication requirement.

Filing Method: Online vs. Mail

The Arizona Corporation Commission accepts filings through its online portal, by mail, by fax, and in person at its Phoenix and Tucson offices.

Method	Details
Online	Arizona Business Center — Available 24/7; account creation required; Visa and MasterCard accepted
Mail	Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporations Division – Examination Section, 1300 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007
Fax	Regular/Expedite: (602) 542-4100 · Same Day/Next Day: (602) 542-0900
In-Person (Phoenix)	1300 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ 85007 — Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
In-Person (Tucson)	400 W. Congress, Suite 218, Tucson, AZ 85701 — Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Commission recommends online filing through the Arizona Business Center portal, which replaced the former eCorp system in January 2026. Online filings are generally processed more quickly than paper submissions. When filing by mail or fax, include a completed Cover Sheet with the statement of change. All documents submitted to the Commission must include a Cover Sheet.

When filing by mail, include payment by check or money order made payable to “Arizona Corporation Commission” (spelled out in full, no abbreviations). Credit cards (Visa and MasterCard only) are accepted for in-person and online filings but cannot be used for mail submissions. Cash is accepted at the Phoenix office only, with no bills larger than $20.

Registered Agent Change Filing Fees by Entity Type

Filing fees for statements of change differ between corporations and LLCs. The fee schedules are published by the Commission for corporations and for LLCs separately.

Entity Type	Filing Fee (Regular Processing)
Domestic For-Profit Corporation	No fee
Foreign For-Profit Corporation	No fee
Domestic Nonprofit Corporation	No fee
Foreign Nonprofit Corporation	No fee
Domestic LLC	$5
Foreign LLC	$5
Professional Corporation	No fee
Professional LLC	$5

For corporations (both domestic and foreign, for-profit and nonprofit), there is no filing fee for a statement of change of known place of business or statutory agent. For LLCs (both domestic and foreign), the filing fee is $5. All fees are nonrefundable.

Expedited processing is available for an additional $35 above the base filing fee (or above the no-fee baseline for corporations). Accelerated processing tiers are also available: Next Day Service ($100), Same Day Service ($200), and 2-Hour Service ($400).

The statutory agent resignation filing fee also differs by entity type: no fee for LLC resignations (Form L032) and $10 for corporation resignations (Form C029). These fees are separate from the expedite surcharges.

Effective Date of a Registered Agent Change in Arizona

A statement of change of statutory agent or known place of business is effective immediately upon delivery to the Commission for filing. Under A.R.S. § 10-502(B), for corporations, the changes “are effective on delivery to the commission for filing.” For LLCs, A.R.S. § 29-3116 provides the same rule — the change takes effect when the Commission accepts the filing.

Immediate effect: This is the only effectiveness option for a statement of change of statutory agent in Arizona. The Commission does not offer a delayed effective date or future-event condition for this type of filing. Once the Commission accepts the statement, the entity’s records are updated, and the new agent’s authority to receive service of process begins immediately.

There is one important caveat: if the statement of change designates a new statutory agent but the Commission has not yet received the new agent’s signed acceptance (Form M002), the statement of change will be rejected. The change cannot take effect without the acceptance on file. Entities should coordinate with the incoming agent to ensure the acceptance is delivered simultaneously with or before the statement of change.

The prior agent’s authority to accept service on behalf of the entity terminates once the statement of change becomes effective. Entities should confirm with both the outgoing and incoming agents to ensure no gap in coverage during the transition.

Changing the Registered Agent Address Without Changing the Agent

When a statutory agent’s own address changes — but the same person or organization continues to serve — the agent may file a statement of change directly with the Commission rather than requiring the entity to file. For corporations, A.R.S. § 10-502(с) authorizes the agent to deliver a statement of change that complies with the standard requirements and “recites that the corporation has been given written notice of the change.” For LLCs, A.R.S. § 29-3118 provides that if a statutory agent changes its name or address, the agent may deliver a statement of change identifying the represented LLC, the agent’s current name, and the new name or address.

The following table compares the entity-filed statement of change with the agent-initiated filing:

Feature	Entity-Filed Statement of Change	Agent-Initiated Address/Name Change
Filed by	The entity	The statutory agent
Purpose	Change the statutory agent, known place of business / principal address, or both	Update the agent’s own name or address for a represented entity
Can appoint a new agent	Yes	No
Prior written notice to entity required	No	Yes (corporations); promptly after filing (LLCs)
Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002) required	Yes, if appointing a new agent	No
Signed by	Authorized officer or person of the entity	The statutory agent

For corporations, the agent must give written notice to the corporation before delivering the statement to the Commission, and the filed statement must recite that notice was given. For LLCs, A.R.S. § 29-3118(B) requires the agent to “promptly furnish notice to the represented limited liability company” of the filing and the changes made.

Both the corporation form (C016) and the LLC form (L020) accommodate agent-initiated address changes. The agent checks only the address-change fields and signs the form as the statutory agent rather than as a corporate officer or LLC authorized person. A separate filing must be submitted for each represented entity — Arizona does not provide a single multi-entity filing for agent-initiated address changes.

The filing fee for an agent-initiated address change is the same as for an entity-filed change: no fee for corporations and $5 for LLCs.

What Happens After the Change Is Filed

Once the Arizona Corporation Commission accepts a statement of change, several consequences follow:

The entity’s statutory agent and known place of business (or principal address) information in the Commission’s records is updated to reflect the new designation.
The filing is effective on delivery to the Commission — there is no waiting period after acceptance.
The new agent’s name and address become part of the entity’s public filing record and are searchable through the Commission’s Arizona Business Center portal.
The former agent’s authority to receive service of process on behalf of the entity terminates.
The Commission returns evidence of the accepted filing to the submitter. For online filings, the status can be tracked through the portal’s File Tracker feature.

Entities should verify that the updated information appears correctly in the Commission’s public database after filing. If any error is present, contact the Commission at (602) 542-3026 or by email at answers@azcc.gov to request a correction.

Changing a Registered Agent for a Foreign Entity Registered in Arizona

A foreign corporation or foreign LLC authorized to transact business in Arizona is subject to the same statutory agent requirements as a domestic entity. Under A.R.S. § 10-1508, a foreign corporation may change its known place of business or statutory agent by delivering a statement of change to the Commission. Foreign LLCs change their statutory agents under A.R.S. § 29-3116, using the same Form L020 as domestic LLCs.

The eligibility requirements for the new agent — Arizona residency for an individual, or authorization to transact business in Arizona for an entity — are identical regardless of whether the filing entity is domestic or foreign. The consent requirement (Form M002), street address requirement, execution requirement, and filing methods all apply equally. The filing fee structure is the same: no fee for foreign corporations and $5 for foreign LLCs.

On acceptance, the statement of change updates the foreign entity’s registration on file with the Commission. A foreign corporation that fails to maintain a statutory agent or known place of business in Arizona for sixty days or more may face revocation of its authority to transact business under A.R.S. § 10-1530. A foreign LLC faces termination of its registration under A.R.S. § 29-3910. In either case, the entity risks losing standing to maintain lawsuits in Arizona courts.

A.R.S. § 10-1508 also permits a foreign corporation to use the same statement of change to update the address of its principal office in its state or country of incorporation, provided that the address change did not require the foreign corporation to amend its articles of incorporation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Changing a Registered Agent in Arizona

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

The Arizona Corporation Commission does not guarantee a specific processing time. The Commission publishes estimated processing times on its website, updated each Monday. For statements of change involving address, officer, or agent updates, the Commission’s published estimate is 9 to 11 business days for non-expedited filings and 1 to 3 business days for expedited filings. Expedited processing requires an additional $35 fee. Same Day and Next Day accelerated services are also available for $200 and $100, respectively. For current processing times, check the Commission’s website or call (602) 542-3026.

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

Arizona law does not require the entity to notify the outgoing statutory agent before filing a statement of change. The change is effective on delivery to the Commission, and no advance notice obligation runs from the entity to the departing agent. Many entities choose to inform the outgoing agent as a professional courtesy, especially if the agent is currently holding undelivered service documents. If the outgoing agent wishes to end the relationship independently, the agent may file a statement of resignation under A.R.S. § 10-503 (corporations) or A.R.S. § 29-3117 (LLCs).

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

Yes. Both Form C016 (corporations) and Form L020 (LLCs) permit the entity to update only the known place of business or principal address while keeping the same statutory agent. The entity completes only the address-change fields and leaves the new-agent section blank. The agent’s own name and identity remain unchanged. This is also the approach the agent itself uses when filing to update its own address while continuing to serve.

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

The agent-initiated address change uses the same forms as entity-initiated changes — Form C016 for corporations and Form L020 for LLCs. The statutory agent signs the form instead of a corporate officer or LLC authorized person. This filing is authorized by A.R.S. § 10-502(с) (corporations) and A.R.S. § 29-3118 (LLCs) and is used when the agent’s own name or address changes while the agent continues to serve. It cannot be used to appoint a different statutory agent. For corporations, the agent must give written notice to the entity before filing. A separate filing is required for each represented entity.

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

Arizona requires every filing entity to continuously maintain a statutory agent and a known place of business (or principal address) in the state. A domestic corporation that goes without a statutory agent for sixty days or more may face administrative dissolution under A.R.S. § 10-1420. A domestic LLC faces the same consequence under A.R.S. § 29-3708. Foreign entities risk revocation of their authority to transact business under A.R.S. § 10-1530 (corporations) or termination of registration under A.R.S. § 29-3910 (LLCs). Beyond formal administrative action, an entity without a current statutory agent risks default judgment — under A.R.S. § 29-3119, an LLC that ceases to have a statutory agent may be served by certified mail at its principal address, and service is deemed effective five days after mailing even if the entity never receives the documents.

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

Yes. Both the corporation form (C016) and the LLC form (L020) allow the entity to update the statutory agent, the known place of business or principal address, or both in a single filing. Only one filing fee applies — no fee for corporations or $5 for LLCs — regardless of whether the entity changes the agent alone, the address alone, or both simultaneously.

What happens if my registered agent resigns?

A statutory agent may resign by delivering a statement of resignation to the Commission. For corporations, the process is governed by A.R.S. § 10-503; for LLCs, by A.R.S. § 29-3117. The agent must give written notice to the entity at an address other than the agent’s own address. The resignation takes effect on the thirty-first day after the statement is delivered to the Commission, or upon designation of a new statutory agent, whichever occurs first. For LLC resignations, there is no filing fee; for corporation resignations, the fee is $10. After receiving notice of the resignation, the entity must promptly file a statement of change to appoint a replacement agent. If the entity fails to act, the Commission may serve as the conduit for substitute service under A.R.S. § 29-3119, and the entity’s exposure to administrative dissolution begins once sixty days have passed without an agent on file.

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

No — but the new agent must sign a separate acceptance. The statement of change itself (Form C016 or L020) is signed by the entity’s authorized officer or authorized person. The new statutory agent signs Form M002 – Statutory Agent Acceptance to confirm consent to the appointment. Both forms should be submitted simultaneously. If the Commission has not received the signed acceptance at the time it examines the statement of change, the filing will be rejected. There is no filing fee for the acceptance form.

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

No — not for the statutory agent’s street address. The agent’s street address must be a physical location in Arizona. However, Arizona does allow the statutory agent to have a separate mailing address that may be a P.O. Box or personal mailbox. Official notices from the Commission will be mailed to the agent’s mailing address if one is provided, or to the street address if no mailing address is on file. For LLCs, the mailing address must be in Arizona. The known place of business (corporations) or principal address (LLCs) may be the same as the statutory agent’s street address but cannot be a P.O. Box alone.

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

Yes. The filing fee for a statement of change is the same regardless of submission method: no fee for corporations and $5 for LLCs. When paying online through the Arizona Business Center, the Commission accepts Visa and MasterCard. When filing by mail, payment must be by check or money order made payable to “Arizona Corporation Commission” (in full, with no abbreviations). Cash is accepted only at the Phoenix office for in-person filings. Credit cards cannot be used for mail submissions.

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