When Is a Change of Registered Agent Required in Wyoming?
Any business entity that wants to replace its current registered agent, update its registered office address, or do both must deliver a signed statement of change to the Wyoming Secretary of State for filing. The Wyoming Registered Offices and Agents Act (Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-101 through § 17-28-111) is the single statute that governs registered agent obligations for every type of filing entity in the state. Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-101(b) defines “business entity” broadly to include corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, registered limited liability partnerships, cooperative marketing associations, statutory trusts, and statutory foundations — whether domestic or foreign. Each of Wyoming’s individual entity-type statutes reinforces this mandate by cross-referencing Chapter 28: the Wyoming Business Corporation Act at Wyo. Stat. § 17-16-140(a)(xxxv), the Wyoming Nonprofit Corporation Act at Wyo. Stat. § 17-19-501, the Wyoming Limited Liability Company Act at Wyo. Stat. § 17-29-113, and the limited partnership and LLP provisions within Title 17 all direct entities to the same Chapter 28 requirements.
Under Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-101(a), every business entity must continuously maintain both a registered office and a registered agent in the state. Losing either one — whether through the agent’s resignation, the agent’s relocation out of Wyoming, or simple neglect — can set in motion administrative dissolution, revocation of authority, or forfeiture proceedings, depending on the entity type. Wyoming applies the same filing process regardless of whether the change is voluntary or forced by circumstances.
The most common situations that trigger a change-of-agent filing include:
- The current registered agent resigns by filing a statement of resignation with the Secretary of State
- The current registered agent moves out of Wyoming or no longer resides in the state
- The registered agent’s physical address changes due to relocation, postal renaming, or building reassignment
- The registered agent is no longer available at the registered office during normal business hours
- The entity voluntarily selects a different individual or organization to serve as its agent
- The agent no longer consents to serve in that capacity
Grounds for Changing Your Registered Agent in Wyoming
Business owners encounter a range of situations that require updating the registered agent or registered office on file. The table below pairs the most common grounds with the specific filing each one calls for.
| Ground | Filing Required |
| Registered agent resigns | Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity to designate a replacement |
| Registered agent relocates outside Wyoming | Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity naming a new Wyoming-based agent |
| Registered agent’s physical address changes | Registered Agent Information Update (filed by the agent) or Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity (filed by the entity) |
| Entity switches to a commercial registered agent service | Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity naming the new service |
| Registered agent no longer available during business hours | Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity appointing a qualified replacement |
| Agent no longer consents to serve | Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity designating a new agent |
| Entity changes its own office and registered office | Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity updating the registered office address |
Every entity’s registered agent information is part of the public record maintained by the Secretary of State and is searchable through the Wyoming Business Center online portal. Outdated or inaccurate information should be corrected promptly by filing the appropriate form to avoid compliance consequences.
Wyoming Registered Agent Change Requirements
Before filing a statement of change, the entity must confirm that its proposed new registered agent and registered office satisfy the eligibility standards set out in Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-101.
Eligibility of the New Registered Agent
Wyoming recognizes four statutory categories of eligible registered agents, which reduce in practice to two broad options:
- Option A – Individual: A natural person who is at least eighteen years of age, resides in Wyoming, and whose business office is identical with the registered office. The individual must be physically present at the registered office — or have a natural person present under a written agency agreement — to accept service of process during normal business hours.
- Option B – Organization: A domestic business entity, or a foreign business entity authorized to transact business in Wyoming, whose business office is identical with the registered office. The organization must maintain a written agreement creating an agency relationship with a natural person for acceptance of service of process. The filing entity itself cannot serve as its own registered agent.
An individual or organization that represents more than ten business entities must register as a commercial registered agent under Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-105. The annual commercial registered agent registration fee is $50.
Registered Office Address
The registered office must be a street address in Wyoming that is a physical location where a natural person can accept service of process. Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-101(a)(i) requires the registered office to be “located at a street address in Wyoming which shall be a physical location where the business entity’s registered agent, or a natural person who has an agency relationship with the registered agent, can accept service of process.” Post office boxes, drop boxes, virtual addresses, mail-forwarding locations, and UPS or FedEx stores do not qualify. The business office of the registered agent and the registered office must be at the same physical address.
Consent of the New Registered Agent
Wyoming requires the prospective agent’s written consent before the entity files the change. Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-102(a)(v) specifies that the statement of change must include “the name of the new registered agent and the new agent’s written consent to the appointment executed by the registered agent, either on the statement or attached to it.” The Secretary of State publishes a dedicated Consent to Appointment by Registered Agent form for this purpose. The consent form must be submitted together with the change form — it is filed with the Secretary of State, not retained by the entity.
Note: Under Wyo. Stat. § 17-29-210(b), a person who signs and delivers to the Secretary of State a document the person knows is false in any material respect is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both. Designating a registered agent who has not actually consented to serve would constitute such a false statement.
Execution
The change form must be signed by an authorized individual empowered to act on behalf of the entity — an officer, director, manager, member, partner, or trustee, as applicable. Wyoming does not require notarization.
Email Address
Both the business entity and its registered agent must maintain a current email address on file with the Secretary of State’s office. Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-101(e) authorizes the Secretary of State to use these email addresses to serve documents electronically on the entity or agent.
How to File a Statement of Change of Registered Office/Agent
The official form for appointing a new registered agent, updating the registered office, or both is the Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity form, published by the Wyoming Secretary of State. The form is designed exclusively to change the registered agent from one person or organization to a different one. The entity — not the agent — initiates this filing.
Complete the form by providing the following information:
- Entity name: The exact legal name of the business entity as it appears in the Secretary of State’s records.
- Former registered agent and registered office: The name of the current registered agent and the physical address of the current registered office, matching the Secretary of State’s records exactly. If the entity currently has no agent, enter “No Agent/No Office.”
- New registered agent and registered office: The full name of the new registered agent and the new registered physical office address in Wyoming. If the new agent already represents at least one other entity, the information provided must match the Secretary of State’s existing records. Include the agent’s mailing address if it differs from the physical office address.
- Compliance certification: A certification that the new registered office and registered agent comply with all requirements of Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-101 through § 17-28-111.
- Mailing and principal address options: Indicate whether the entity’s mailing address or principal address should be changed to match the new registered office.
- Identical address confirmation: A statement confirming that the physical address of the registered office and the business office of the registered agent will be identical after the change.
- Signature block: An authorized individual signs the form and supplies a printed name, title, daytime phone number, and a required email address.
Attach the completed Consent to Appointment by Registered Agent form, signed by the new registered agent.
The change becomes effective when the Secretary of State files the document. Wyoming does not provide a delayed effective date option on this particular form.
Filing Method: Online vs. Mail
The Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity form must be filed by mail or delivered in person; the Secretary of State does not currently accept this form through the Wyoming Business Center online portal. The Business Center supports online formation of new entities and annual report filing, but registered agent change filings, agent-initiated information updates, and resignation forms are paper-only submissions.
| Method | Details |
| Send the completed form, the Consent to Appointment form, and the $5.00 filing fee to: Wyoming Secretary of State, Herschler Building East, Suite 101, 122 W. 25th Street, Cheyenne, WY 82002-0020. Make checks or money orders payable to the Wyoming Secretary of State. The form cannot be submitted by email. | |
| In person | Deliver the filing to the same address during office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. MST, Monday through Friday (except official state holidays). |
Processing time is up to fifteen business days from the date of receipt. The Business Center homepage displays the date through which filings have been processed, providing a real-time estimate of current turnaround.
Note: Wyoming offers expedited filing service at an additional fee — $700 for next-business-day processing or $1,400 for same-business-day processing — as listed on the fee schedule.
Registered Agent Change Filing Fees by Entity Type
The filing fee for changing a registered agent is set by the Wyoming Secretary of State Business Division Filing Fee Schedule. Wyoming charges a flat $5.00 per filing regardless of entity type. The fee is listed under the “Registered Agents and Commercial Registered Agents” heading of the fee schedule, separate from the entity-type-specific fee sections.
| Entity Type | Filing Fee |
| For-profit corporation (domestic) | $5.00 |
| For-profit corporation (foreign) | $5.00 |
| Limited liability company (domestic) | $5.00 |
| Limited liability company (foreign) | $5.00 |
| Limited partnership (domestic) | $5.00 |
| Limited partnership (foreign) | $5.00 |
| Registered limited liability partnership (domestic) | $5.00 |
| Registered limited liability partnership (foreign) | $5.00 |
| Nonprofit corporation (domestic) | $5.00 |
| Nonprofit corporation (foreign) | $5.00 |
| Cooperative marketing association | $5.00 |
| Statutory trust (domestic or foreign) | $5.00 |
| Statutory foundation | $5.00 |
Payment is accepted by check or money order made payable to the Wyoming Secretary of State. Because the form is submitted on paper rather than through the online portal, the 2.4% credit-card processing fee that Wyoming applies to online transactions does not affect this filing.
The filing fee for a registered agent resignation — whether with or without a successor — is also $5.00 per entity from which the agent resigns.
Effective Date of a Registered Agent Change in Wyoming
A statement of change of registered agent becomes effective when the Secretary of State accepts and files the document. Wyoming’s general effective-date provision for corporate filings, Wyo. Stat. § 17-16-123(b), permits a delayed effective date of up to ninety days after filing for certain documents; however, the Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity form published by the Secretary of State does not include a field for a delayed effective date. The form is structured to become operative immediately upon acceptance.
Immediate effect: The change takes effect on the date and time the Secretary of State processes the filing. The new agent’s name and address replace the prior agent’s information in the state’s official records at that moment.
Entities should confirm that the new registered agent is ready to accept service of process at the registered office address before the filing is submitted. If no registered agent is available and a party attempts service, Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-104(b) permits service by registered or certified mail to the entity’s principal office, and Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-104(e) authorizes the Secretary of State to serve the entity electronically — either of which could result in a default judgment if the entity does not receive actual notice.
Changing the Registered Agent Address Without Changing the Agent
When a registered agent relocates to a new street address within Wyoming but continues to serve the same entities, the agent may update the address directly with the Secretary of State rather than requiring each represented entity to file its own change form. The agent uses the Registered Agent Information Update form, authorized by Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-102(b). That provision directs a registered agent who changes the street address of its business office to notify each represented entity in writing and then deliver a compliant statement to the Secretary of State.
The table below compares the entity-filed change form with the agent-initiated information update form.
| Feature | Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity | Registered Agent Information Update |
| Filed by | The entity | The registered agent |
| Purpose | Appoint a different registered agent, update the registered office, or both | Update the agent’s own name or street address across all represented entities |
| Can appoint a new agent? | Yes | No — the same agent continues to serve |
| Covers multiple entities? | No — one filing per entity | Yes — a single filing covers every entity the agent represents, whether active or inactive |
| Prior written notice to entity required? | No | Yes — the agent must certify that every entity represented has been notified of the change |
| Signed by | Authorized individual of the entity | The registered agent |
The filing fee is $5.00 per entity affected by the update. The fee applies to every entity represented by the agent, whether active or inactive. Wyoming does not impose a fee cap or maximum charge for multi-entity filings. For example, if a registered agent represents twenty-five business entities, the filing fee totals $125.00.
Under Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-102(c), the same form and process apply when a registered agent changes its legal name rather than — or in addition to — its street address. The agent must certify in the filing that every represented entity has been notified in writing of the change.
This procedure is especially valuable for commercial registered agent services that serve large numbers of entities. A single filing adjusts the agent’s information across every represented entity simultaneously, eliminating the need for dozens or hundreds of separate entity-initiated filings.
Note: The Registered Agent Information Update cannot appoint a different person or organization as the agent. If an entity wants to replace its agent entirely, the entity must file the Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity form.
What Happens After the Change Is Filed
Once the Secretary of State accepts the statement of change, several consequences follow immediately:
- The entity’s registered agent and registered office information in the Secretary of State’s records is updated to reflect the new appointment.
- The new agent’s name and registered office address become part of the entity’s public filing history, searchable through the Wyoming Business Center entity search tool.
- The former registered agent’s authority to accept service of process and official notices on behalf of the entity terminates.
- The Secretary of State returns a stamped copy of the filed document and a receipt for the filing fee to the submitter.
- For a foreign entity, the accepted change updates the entity’s certificate of authority on file in Wyoming.
The entity should verify the updated information by searching its own records in the Wyoming Business Center. If any discrepancy appears, contact the Business Division at (307) 777-7311 or Business@wyo.gov to resolve the issue promptly.
Changing a Registered Agent for a Foreign Entity Registered in Wyoming
A foreign entity holding a certificate of authority to transact business in Wyoming must maintain a registered agent and registered office in the state under the same rules that apply to domestic entities. Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-101(b) draws no distinction between domestic and foreign entities — every business entity, regardless of its state of formation, is subject to identical registered agent requirements.
A foreign entity changes its registered agent by filing the same Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity form used by domestic entities, accompanied by the same Consent to Appointment form. The identical eligibility requirements, physical street address standards, execution rules, filing methods, and $5.00 filing fee apply.
A foreign corporation that fails to maintain a registered agent risks revocation of its certificate of authority under Wyo. Stat. § 17-16-1530. A foreign LLC faces revocation through the same process, as Wyo. Stat. § 17-29-114 applies the foreign corporation revocation provisions to foreign LLCs. Revocation does not dissolve the entity in its home jurisdiction, but it terminates the entity’s authorization to conduct business in Wyoming, may impair its standing to bring or defend lawsuits in Wyoming courts, and exposes it to substitute service of process under Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-104. When a business entity has no registered agent, the Secretary of State may classify the entity as delinquent awaiting revocation under Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-103(f).
Frequently Asked Questions About Changing a Registered Agent in Wyoming
How long does it take to change a registered agent in Wyoming?
The Wyoming Secretary of State’s standard processing time is up to fifteen business days from the date of receipt, as stated on the Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity form. The Wyoming Business Center homepage displays the date through which filings have been processed, giving a real-time estimate. For time-sensitive changes, Wyoming offers expedited filing at $700 for next-business-day service or $1,400 for same-business-day service. Contact the Business Division at (307) 777-7311 for current processing status.
Do I need to notify my current registered agent before changing?
Wyoming law does not require the entity to give the outgoing registered agent advance notice before filing the change form. The change becomes effective when the Secretary of State accepts and files the document. Many entities notify the outgoing agent as a professional courtesy to ensure pending legal documents or correspondence are forwarded. If the outgoing agent wants to end the relationship on its own initiative, the agent may file a separate Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent under Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-103.
Can I change my registered office address without changing the registered agent?
Yes. The Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity form permits the entity to update only the registered office address while keeping the same registered agent. If the agent’s own street address has changed and the agent serves multiple entities, the agent may file a Registered Agent Information Update instead, updating the address across all represented entities in a single filing at $5.00 per entity.
What is the agent-initiated address change form and when is it used?
The Registered Agent Information Update form is filed by a registered agent — not the entity — when the agent’s own street address or legal name changes but the agent continues to serve. A single filing covers every entity the agent represents, both active and inactive. Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-102(b) requires the agent to notify each represented entity in writing of the change before filing the update. The fee is $5.00 per entity affected. This form cannot appoint a different agent — only update the existing agent’s information on file with the Secretary of State.
Is there a penalty for not filing a change of registered agent?
Wyoming requires every business entity to continuously maintain a registered agent and registered office. An entity without an agent may face administrative dissolution (for domestic corporations, under Wyo. Stat. § 17-16-1420), administrative forfeiture of its articles of organization (for domestic LLCs, under Wyo. Stat. § 17-29-705), or revocation of its certificate of authority (for foreign entities, under Wyo. Stat. § 17-16-1530). The Secretary of State classifies an entity as delinquent awaiting dissolution, revocation, or forfeiture upon an agent’s resignation when no successor is appointed, under Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-103(f). Beyond loss of good standing, the entity risks default judgments if served through substitute methods under Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-104.
Can I change my registered agent and the registered office address in the same filing?
Yes. The Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity form permits updating the registered agent, the registered office address, or both simultaneously. A single $5.00 filing fee applies regardless of whether one or both items are changed. The form also includes optional fields to update the entity’s mailing address and principal address to match the new registered office.
What happens if my registered agent resigns?
A registered agent may resign by filing a Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent with the Secretary of State. Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-103(a) requires the agent to send written notice to each affected entity at least thirty days before filing the resignation statement. The resignation is effective immediately upon filing. The filing fee is $5.00 per entity from which the agent resigns. Once the resignation is filed, the entity is classified as delinquent and must file a statement of change to appoint a replacement agent within thirty days of receiving the resignation notice. Alternatively, the resigning agent and a successor may use the Statement of Resignation – Successor Appointed form, which simultaneously ends the current agent’s appointment and installs a new one with the entity’s ratification.
Does the new registered agent need to sign the change form?
Yes. Wyoming requires the new agent to sign the Consent to Appointment by Registered Agent form, which is a separate document submitted alongside the Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity form. On the consent form, the agent certifies compliance with all requirements of Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-101 through § 17-28-111. The entity’s authorized representative signs the main change form separately. Both signed documents are required before the Secretary of State will accept the filing.
Can I use a P.O. Box for the new registered office address?
No. Wyo. Stat. § 17-28-101(a)(i) requires the registered office to be a street address in Wyoming that is a physical location where a natural person can accept service of process. The Secretary of State’s registered agent FAQ page confirms that post office boxes, drop boxes, virtual addresses, mail-forwarding locations, and UPS or FedEx stores do not qualify. The registered office address must be the same physical location where the registered agent maintains its business office.
Is the filing fee the same whether I file online or by mail?
The Appointment of New Registered Agent and Office by Entity form is not available for online filing. The form must be submitted by mail or delivered in person, and the filing fee is $5.00 in either case. Because this filing is handled on paper, the 2.4% credit-card processing fee that the Wyoming Business Center applies to online transactions does not come into play. Payment is by check or money order payable to the Wyoming Secretary of State.