When Is a Change of Registered Agent Required in Michigan?
A business entity formed or registered in Michigan must file a certificate of change with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) whenever it needs to replace its registered agent, update its registered office address, or both. Under the Michigan Business Corporation Act (MCL § 450.1242), a corporation may change its registered office, its resident agent, or both by filing the required statement with the administrator. The same obligation applies to limited liability companies under the Michigan Limited Liability Company Act (MCL § 450.4209), to nonprofit corporations under the Michigan Nonprofit Corporation Act (MCL § 450.2242), and to limited partnerships under the Michigan Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.
Every domestic and foreign filing entity is required to continuously maintain a resident agent and registered office in Michigan. A domestic corporation that fails to do so risks involuntary dissolution, while a foreign entity risks revocation of its certificate of authority. The state draws no distinction between a voluntary change — such as switching to a commercial registered agent service — and an involuntary one triggered by the current agent’s resignation or relocation. In every case, the entity must file the same certificate of change and pay the same filing fee.
The most common circumstances that trigger a change filing include:
- The current registered agent resigns by filing a statement of resignation with LARA
- The current registered agent moves out of Michigan or is no longer a state resident
- The registered agent’s street address changes due to postal renaming, office relocation, or another cause
- The registered agent is no longer available at the registered office during normal business hours
- The entity voluntarily selects a new registered agent or switches to a professional agent service
- The current agent no longer consents to serve in the role
Grounds for Changing Your Registered Agent in Michigan
Michigan entities file a change of registered agent for a range of practical and legal reasons. The table below summarizes the most common grounds and identifies the filing required for each. Every ground listed results in the same core filing — Form CSCL/CD-520, Certificate of Change of Registered Office and/or Change of Resident Agent — though the specific sections completed on the form will vary depending on whether the entity is changing its agent, its address, or both.
| Ground | Filing Required |
| Registered agent resigns | Form CSCL/CD-520 to appoint a new agent |
| Registered agent relocates out of Michigan | Form CSCL/CD-520 to designate a qualified replacement |
| Registered agent’s street address changes | Form CSCL/CD-520 to update the registered office address (agent-initiated filing also available) |
| Entity switches to a professional registered agent service | Form CSCL/CD-520 naming the new agent and its Michigan address |
| Registered agent no longer available during business hours | Form CSCL/CD-520 to appoint an accessible replacement |
| Registered agent no longer consents to serve | Form CSCL/CD-520 to appoint a consenting replacement |
| Entity changes its own principal office and registered office location | Form CSCL/CD-520 to update the registered office address |
The entity’s registered agent and registered office information is part of the public record maintained by LARA’s Corporations Division. Any outdated or inaccurate information should be corrected promptly by filing Form CSCL/CD-520 to avoid compliance gaps. Current registered agent records for any Michigan entity are searchable through the LARA Business Entity Search.
Michigan Registered Agent Change Requirements
Before filing a certificate of change, the entity must ensure that the new registered agent and registered office satisfy Michigan’s statutory requirements. The following standards apply to every entity type — corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, nonprofits, and foreign entities alike.
Eligibility of the New Registered Agent
Option A — Organization: A domestic corporation, domestic LLC, or a foreign corporation or LLC that holds a valid certificate of authority to transact business in Michigan. The filing entity itself cannot serve as its own registered agent.
Option B — Individual: A Michigan resident whose business address is identical to the registered office address. The individual need not be an officer or director of the entity, but must be available at the registered office during normal business hours to accept service of process.
Registered Office Address
The registered office must be a physical street address in Michigan where the resident agent can be personally served during normal business hours. A P.O. Box, virtual office, or mail-forwarding service does not satisfy this requirement. Under MCL § 450.1241, the registered office address and the resident agent’s business address must be identical. The same principle applies to LLCs under MCL § 450.4207 and to limited partnerships under the Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.
Consent of the New Registered Agent
The person or entity designated as the new resident agent must consent to the appointment before the certificate of change is filed. Michigan’s filing form does not require a separate consent document to be submitted to LARA; instead, the authorized person signing Form CSCL/CD-520 affirms that the change — including the agent designation — has been duly authorized. The entity should retain written evidence of the new agent’s consent in its records.
Execution
The certificate of change must be signed by an authorized officer, director, manager, member, partner, or other person authorized to act on behalf of the entity. For corporations, MCL § 450.1242 requires that the filing “be authorized by a resolution duly adopted by the board of directors.” For LLCs, the change must be authorized under the operating agreement or by a majority vote of members. The form does not require notarization.
How to File a Statement of Change of Registered Office/Agent
The official form for changing a registered agent or registered office in Michigan is Form CSCL/CD-520, Certificate of Change of Registered Office and/or Change of Resident Agent. This single form serves all entity types — domestic and foreign corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, and nonprofit corporations. The form is also available for electronic completion through the LARA online filing portal.
To complete the form, provide the following information:
- Entity identification: Enter the entity’s exact legal name as it appears in LARA’s records and the entity’s identification number (ID number). Select the entity type and indicate whether the entity is domestic or foreign.
- Current registered office and agent: Enter the name of the current resident agent and the current registered office street address, including city, state, and ZIP code.
- New resident agent (if changing): Enter the full name of the new resident agent. If the new agent is an individual, provide the individual’s residential or business street address. If the new agent is an entity, provide its legal name and Michigan business address.
- New registered office address (if changing): Enter the new street address. Confirm that the new registered office address and the new resident agent’s business address are identical.
- Authorization statement: The form includes a certification that the change has been authorized by a resolution of the board of directors (for corporations), by the operating agreement or member vote (for LLCs), or by equivalent governing authority for other entity types. The authorized signer executes the form on behalf of the entity.
Note: If you are changing only the registered office address and the same resident agent will continue to serve, complete the address-change sections and leave the agent-change sections blank. Conversely, if only the agent is changing and the registered office address remains the same, complete only the agent-change sections.
Filing Method: Online vs. Mail
Form CSCL/CD-520 may be filed online through the LARA business filing portal, by mail, or in person at the Corporations Division office in Lansing. The table below compares the available filing methods.
| Method | Details |
| Online | File through the MiBusiness Registry Portal. Requires a MiLogin for Business account. Payment by Visa or Mastercard. |
| Send the completed form with a check or money order payable to “State of Michigan” to P.O. Box 30054, Lansing, MI 48909. | |
| In Person | Deliver the form to the Corporations Division on the 1st Floor, 2407 N. Grand River Ave., Lansing, MI 48906. Payment by check, money order, or credit card. |
Online filing through the MiBusiness Registry Portal is generally the fastest method. To file online, a user must first create a MiLogin for Business account — the older Customer ID (CID) and PIN system has been retired. Once logged in, the user searches for the entity, requests access if filing for the first time, and selects “File Subsequent Document” to initiate the certificate of change.
Note: When filing by overnight courier, send the form to the street address at 2407 N. Grand River Ave., Lansing, MI 48906 rather than the P.O. Box, though LARA cautions that overnight deliveries may be delayed by routing through the state’s central mail facility.
Registered Agent Change Filing Fees by Entity Type
The filing fee for a certificate of change of registered office or resident agent is $5.00 for most entity types. The fee is established by the LARA Corporations Division fee schedule and applies uniformly regardless of whether the filing is submitted online, by mail, or in person.
| Entity Type | Filing Fee |
| Domestic Profit Corporation | $5.00 |
| Foreign Profit Corporation | $5.00 |
| Professional Corporation | $5.00 |
| Domestic Nonprofit Corporation | $5.00 |
| Foreign Nonprofit Corporation | $5.00 |
| Domestic Limited Liability Company | $5.00 |
| Foreign Limited Liability Company | $5.00 |
| Limited Partnership | $5.00 |
| Foreign Limited Partnership | $5.00 |
Michigan also offers expedited processing for an additional fee. The expedited tiers are: $50 for 24-hour processing, $100 for same-day processing, $200 for two-hour processing, $500 for one-hour processing, and $1,000 for immediate handling. These expedited fees are in addition to the $5.00 base filing fee.
Accepted payment methods include check and money order (payable to “State of Michigan”) for mail filings, and Visa or Mastercard for online and in-person filings. There is no filing fee for the resident agent’s resignation form (Form CSCL/CD-521).
Effective Date of a Registered Agent Change in Michigan
A certificate of change of registered office or resident agent takes effect upon filing and endorsement by the LARA administrator. Under MCL § 450.1131, a document filed with the administrator is effective at the time it is endorsed unless the document specifies a delayed effective date.
Immediate effect: The certificate is effective when filed and endorsed by the administrator. This is the default and most common option.
Delayed effective date: The certificate may specify a future effective date. If a delayed date is stated, the filing becomes effective at the time and date specified. The delayed effective date must be stated on the face of the document at the time of filing.
Michigan’s statute does not provide for a future-event or contingent-condition effectiveness option for certificates of change. The entity either accepts immediate effectiveness or designates a specific delayed date.
Upon endorsement, the certificate of change operates as an amendment to the entity’s articles of incorporation, articles of organization, certificate of limited partnership, or foreign registration statement, as applicable. No separate amendment filing is required.
Changing the Registered Agent Address Without Changing the Agent
When a resident agent’s street address changes — but the same individual or organization continues to serve — Michigan law permits the agent to file a notice of the address change directly, without requiring each represented entity to file a separate certificate of change. Under MCL § 450.1242(2), a resident agent may change the address of the registered office of any corporation for which it serves by filing a statement with the administrator and by mailing a copy of the statement to the corporation at its principal office.
The same mechanism exists for LLCs under MCL § 450.4209(2) and for nonprofit corporations under MCL § 450.2242(2). The agent-initiated filing uses the same Form CSCL/CD-520 but is completed and signed by the agent rather than by the entity.
The following table compares the entity-filed change and the agent-initiated address change:
| Feature | Entity-Filed Change (Form CSCL/CD-520) | Agent-Initiated Address Change (Form CSCL/CD-520) |
| Filed by | The entity (officer, director, manager, or authorized person) | The resident agent |
| Purpose | Change the agent, the address, or both | Update the registered office address only |
| Can appoint a new agent | Yes | No — same agent must continue to serve |
| Covers multiple entities | No — one filing per entity | Yes — the agent may file a single statement covering multiple entities |
| Prior notice to entity required | — | Yes — agent must mail a copy to each entity at its principal office |
| Signed by | Entity’s authorized representative | The resident agent |
| Filing fee | $5.00 per entity | $5.00 per entity |
The agent-initiated address change is particularly useful for commercial registered agent services that represent hundreds or thousands of Michigan entities. By filing a single consolidated statement listing all represented entities, the agent can update every registered office address at once rather than coordinating individual filings for each client.
What Happens After the Change Is Filed
Once the administrator endorses the certificate of change, several consequences follow immediately. The entity’s public record with LARA is updated to reflect the new registered agent, the new registered office address, or both.
- The endorsed certificate operates as an amendment to the entity’s articles of incorporation, articles of organization, certificate of limited partnership, or foreign registration, as applicable — no separate amendment is needed.
- The administrator returns evidence of filing (an endorsed copy or confirmation) to the submitter.
- The new agent’s name and address become part of the entity’s public filing history, searchable through the LARA Business Entity Search.
- The former agent’s authority to accept service of process on behalf of the entity terminates as of the effective date of the filing.
- Service of process directed to the old agent after the effective date is not valid service on the entity, provided the new agent information is correctly on file.
Entities should verify that their updated information appears correctly in LARA’s online records after filing. Any discrepancy should be reported to the Corporations Division at 517-241-6470 or by email at corpsmail@michigan.gov.
Changing a Registered Agent for a Foreign Entity Registered in Michigan
A foreign entity holding a certificate of authority to transact business in Michigan is subject to the same registered agent and registered office requirements as a domestic filing entity. Under MCL § 450.1241, “each domestic corporation and each foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state” must continuously maintain a registered office and resident agent in the state.
A foreign entity changes its registered agent by filing the same Form CSCL/CD-520 used by domestic entities. The eligibility rules for the new agent are identical: the replacement must be a Michigan resident individual or an entity authorized to transact business in the state, and the registered office must be a physical Michigan street address matching the agent’s business address. The filing fee is $5.00, the same as for domestic entities.
A foreign corporation that fails to maintain a current resident agent and registered office risks revocation of its certificate of authority. Under MCL § 450.1922, a foreign corporation that neglects to file annual reports or pay required fees for one year may have its certificate of authority revoked following notice from the administrator to the entity’s resident agent. The entity then loses its right to transact business and maintain lawsuits in Michigan courts until it applies for reinstatement.
Upon endorsement, the certificate of change is effective as an amendment to the foreign entity’s registration on file with LARA.
Frequently Asked Questions About Changing a Registered Agent in Michigan
How long does it take to change a registered agent in Michigan?
LARA does not publish a guaranteed processing time for certificates of change filed by mail or in person. Online filings submitted through the MiBusiness Registry Portal are generally processed more quickly than paper submissions. Entities that need faster turnaround can pay for expedited service at tiers ranging from 24-hour processing ($50) to one-hour processing ($1,000), in addition to the standard $5.00 filing fee. For questions about current processing times, contact the Corporations Division at 517-241-6470.
Do I need to notify my current registered agent before changing?
Michigan law does not require the entity to notify the outgoing resident agent before filing a certificate of change. The change becomes effective when the administrator endorses the filing. Many entities choose to notify the outgoing agent as a professional courtesy, particularly if the agent has been receiving and forwarding legal documents. If the outgoing agent wishes to end the relationship independently, the agent may file a Statement of Resignation of Resident Agent (Form CSCL/CD-521) with LARA.
Can I change my registered office address without changing the registered agent?
Yes. Form CSCL/CD-520 permits the entity to update only the registered office address while retaining the same resident agent. Complete the address-change sections of the form and leave the agent-change sections blank. Alternatively, if the address change results from the agent’s own relocation, the agent may file the address update directly under MCL § 450.1242(2) on behalf of all entities it represents, without requiring each entity to submit a separate filing.
What is the agent-initiated address change form and when is it used?
The agent-initiated address change is filed using the same Form CSCL/CD-520, but it is completed and signed by the resident agent rather than by the entity. It is used when the agent changes its own business address while continuing to serve as agent — for example, when a commercial registered agent service relocates its Michigan office. Under MCL § 450.1242(2), the agent must mail a copy of the filing to each affected entity at its principal office address. This form cannot be used to appoint a different agent; it updates only the registered office address.
Is there a penalty for not filing a change of registered agent?
Michigan requires every filing entity to continuously maintain a current resident agent and registered office. Failure to do so can lead to serious consequences. Under MCL § 450.1922, a corporation that neglects required filings or fees for two consecutive years may be involuntarily dissolved, and a foreign corporation may have its certificate of authority revoked after one year of noncompliance. A dissolved or revoked entity loses standing to maintain lawsuits in Michigan courts, and service of process may be made through the LARA administrator as a substitute agent, increasing the risk of default judgment.
Can I change my registered agent and the registered office address in the same filing?
Yes. Form CSCL/CD-520 allows the entity to change the resident agent, the registered office address, or both in a single filing. Only one $5.00 filing fee applies regardless of whether the entity updates the agent alone, the address alone, or both simultaneously. The new registered office address must be the physical street address of the new resident agent, as Michigan requires the two addresses to be identical under MCL § 450.1241.
What happens if my registered agent resigns?
A resident agent may resign by filing a Statement of Resignation of Resident Agent (Form CSCL/CD-521) with LARA. Under MCL § 450.1243, the agent must give written notice to the corporation at its principal office and file a copy of the notice with the administrator. The resignation becomes effective 30 days after filing, or upon the appointment of a successor agent, whichever occurs first. There is no filing fee for the resignation form. The entity must promptly file Form CSCL/CD-520 to appoint a replacement agent before the 30-day period expires to avoid a lapse in registered agent coverage.
Does the new registered agent need to sign the change form?
No. Form CSCL/CD-520 is signed by the entity’s authorized officer, director, manager, member, or other governing person — not by the new agent. By signing, the authorized person certifies that the change has been “authorized by a resolution duly adopted by the board of directors” (for corporations) or by the appropriate governing authority for the entity type. The entity should obtain and retain the new agent’s written consent before filing, but the consent document is kept in the entity’s records rather than submitted to LARA.
Can I use a P.O. Box for the new registered office address?
No. Michigan law requires the registered office to be a physical street address in Michigan where the resident agent can be personally served with process during normal business hours. Under MCL § 450.1241, the registered office address must be the same as the resident agent’s business address. A P.O. Box, virtual mailbox, or mail-forwarding address does not satisfy this requirement because it does not provide a location where personal delivery of service of process can occur.
Is the filing fee the same whether I file online or by mail?
Yes. The standard filing fee for Form CSCL/CD-520 is $5.00 regardless of whether the form is submitted online through the MiBusiness Registry Portal, by mail, or in person. LARA does not impose a separate surcharge for online filing. Online filers pay by Visa or Mastercard; mail filers submit a check or money order payable to “State of Michigan.” The optional expedited processing fees — ranging from $50 to $1,000 depending on the speed tier — are also the same across all filing methods and are added to the base fee as set by the LARA fee schedule.