Is it possible to change my Alabama LLC's registered agent online?

You can do it online through the Alabama Secretary of State's website. There's a 'Business Entity' portal where you file a 'Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Office.' Takes like 10 minutes and costs $25. The trick is you need the current agent's signature if you're not the agent yourself, but if you're the organizer/member you Can sign as the authorized person. Don't mail it.

You still have to notify the old agent? I never did when I switched mine. Oops.

Online portal is fine, but the SOS site is stuck in 2008. Be prepared to upload a PDF and then have it reject because your file name has an underscore. Took me three tries.

Actually, if you're the member/manager, you can sign as the 'authorized person' on the form and just list the old agent's name. The SOS doesnt verify signatures. But technically you're supposed to give written notice to the old agent within 10 days. Nobody does that though. Just don't forge your friend's signature.

Wait, you can't just sign for them. That's the whole point of a registered agent. But honestly, the state doesn't care. i've filed three of these online, never had an issue. The form is called 'Change of Registered Agent' and it's under the 'File a Business Document' section.

The real question is why anyone would use a friend as a registered agent. That's like asking your buddy to hold your lottery ticket.

I just did this last month. Online is the way. But heads up: if your old agent is a commercial service, they might charge you a termination fee. If it's a friend, just buy them a beer and tell them you filed the change. The SOS doesn't send a notification to the old agent, so it's on you.

The online system is called 'ALBiz' I think? You create an account, search your entity, and click 'File Amendment.' The change of agent is free if you do it at the same time as your annual report, but otherwise $25. Also, make sure the new agent has a physical Alabama address, not a PO box. Learned that the hard way.

It's not free with the annual report, it's just bundled. You still pay $25. But yes, do it then and save yourself a separate filing. The portal is alabamainteractive.org/sos/business. Not the most intuitive URL, but there it is.

Also, don't forget to update your annual report next year with the new agent's info. The SOS cross-references it. If you don't, they'll flag your account. Ask me how i know.

So basically: yes, online, $25, sign as authorized person, don't forge, notify old agent, update annual report. And the SOS website is held together by duct tape. Got it.