When Is a Change of Registered Agent Required in Oklahoma?
A filing entity must file a certificate or statement of change with the Oklahoma Secretary of State whenever it needs to change its registered agent, its registered office address, or both. Under the Oklahoma General Corporation Act (18 O.S.) § 1022, every domestic corporation must maintain a registered agent in the state, and 18 O.S. § 1023 authorizes the corporation to change that agent by board resolution at any time. For limited liability companies, 18 O.S. § 2010 imposes the same continuous-maintenance obligation and authorizes changes by filing a signed statement with the Secretary of State. Limited partnerships are governed by 54 O.S. § 500-114a, and foreign corporations by 18 O.S. § 1133. When an entity fails to maintain a registered agent, the Secretary of State is deemed to serve in that capacity until a replacement is designated, and service of process may be made through the Secretary of State under Title 12, § 2004 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
The following circumstances trigger the requirement to file a change:
- The current registered agent resigns or no longer consents to serve, whether by filing a certificate of resignation or by otherwise withdrawing from the role
- The current registered agent dies or moves out of Oklahoma, making the agent ineligible to continue serving
- The agent’s street address changes due to a physical relocation, postal renaming, or other cause
- The registered agent is no longer available at the registered office during regular business hours
- The entity voluntarily selects a new registered agent, such as when switching to a commercial agent service
Oklahoma law does not distinguish between voluntary and involuntary changes — the filing requirement and the applicable fee are the same regardless of the reason.
Grounds for Changing Your Registered Agent in Oklahoma
The most common reasons an Oklahoma entity files a change of registered agent fall into a handful of recurring categories. The table below summarizes each ground and identifies the type of filing required.
| Ground | Filing Required |
| Registered agent resigns without appointing a successor | Entity files the applicable change-of-agent form to appoint a replacement: Form 0056 (domestic corporations), Form 0075 (domestic LLCs), Form 0052 (domestic LPs), Form 0058 (foreign corporations), Form 0077 (foreign LLCs), or Form 0089 (foreign LPs) |
| Registered agent resigns and appoints a successor (corporations only) | Outgoing agent files Form 0057 – Resignation of Registered Agent Coupled with Appointment of Successor, signed by both the resigning agent and the corporation’s authorized officer |
| Registered agent dies or relocates out of Oklahoma | Entity files the applicable change-of-agent form (same forms as above, by entity type) |
| Agent’s street address changes within Oklahoma (same agent continues) | Agent files the agent-initiated address-change form: Form 0022 (corporations) or Form 0076 (LLCs). For LPs, the entity files Form 0052 reflecting the updated address. For agents representing entities across multiple types, the Global Change of Registered Agent online tool may be used. |
| Entity switches to a professional registered agent service | Entity files the applicable change-of-agent form (by entity type) |
| Agent no longer available during regular business hours | Entity files the applicable change-of-agent form (by entity type) |
| Entity changes its own registered office address | Entity files the applicable change-of-agent form selecting the address-change option |
The Secretary of State does not publish a separate change-of-agent form for domestic or foreign LLPs. An LLP that needs to change its registered agent files an amendment to its statement of qualification or registration, which can be submitted through the Secretary of State’s online change portal.
An entity’s registered agent information is part of the public record maintained by the Secretary of State and is searchable through the Oklahoma entity search. Any inaccurate or outdated agent information should be corrected promptly by filing the appropriate form.
Note: The coupled-resignation form (Form 0057) is available only for domestic and foreign corporations. For LLCs and LPs, the resignation and successor appointment are handled as two separate filings — the agent files the resignation form, and the entity files the change-of-agent form to name the replacement.
Oklahoma Registered Agent Change Requirements
Before filing a change of registered agent, the entity must ensure that the new agent and the new registered office address satisfy Oklahoma’s statutory eligibility requirements.
Eligibility of the new registered agent:
- Option A – The corporation itself: Uniquely among the states, Oklahoma permits a domestic corporation to serve as its own registered agent under 18 O.S. § 1022(A)(1). This option is available only to domestic corporations — not to LLCs, limited partnerships, or foreign entities.
- Option B – Individual: A natural person who is a resident of Oklahoma.
- Option C – Organization: A domestic or qualified foreign corporation, limited liability company, or limited partnership authorized to transact business in the state. The entity acting as registered agent must maintain a business office identical with the registered office that is open during regular business hours.
For foreign corporations, the Secretary of State automatically serves as the registered agent under 18 O.S. § 1022(B). A foreign corporation may — and typically does — also designate an additional registered agent (an individual or qualifying entity), and when an additional agent is designated, service of process is directed to that agent rather than to the Secretary of State.
Registered office address:
The registered office must be a physical street address in Oklahoma. Each registered agent “shall maintain a business office identical with the registered office which is open during regular business hours to accept service of process and otherwise perform the functions of a registered agent.” A P.O. Box does not qualify.
Execution requirements:
For corporations, the certificate of change must be “executed, acknowledged and filed” in accordance with 18 O.S. § 1007, which requires that the certificate be acknowledged before a notary or other officer authorized to take acknowledgments. For LLCs, the statement of change must be signed by any manager under 18 O.S. § 2010(B)(1). For limited partnerships, the filing must be signed by an authorized officer or the general partners.
Note: Including a person’s name or address on a business filing without that person’s consent may subject the filer to administrative action by the Secretary of State.
How to File a Statement of Change of Registered Office/Agent
The specific form depends on the entity type. For domestic for-profit, nonprofit, professional, and benefit corporations, the change is made by filing Form 0056 – Change or Designation of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office with the Oklahoma Secretary of State. For domestic LLCs, the form is Form 0075 – Change or Designation of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office and/or Principal Office. For domestic limited partnerships, the form is Form 0052 – Appointment or Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office.
Each form requires the following information:
- Entity information: The entity’s legal name and Secretary of State filing number.
- Current agent information: The name and address of the current registered agent on record.
- New agent designation: The full name and Oklahoma street address of the new registered agent, specifying whether the agent is an individual, a qualifying entity, or (for domestic corporations only) the corporation itself.
- New registered office address: The street address of the new registered office, if different from the current address.
- Acknowledgment: The certificate must be acknowledged (notarized) for corporation filings under 18 O.S. § 1007. LLC filings require a signature by any manager but do not require notarization.
For LLCs, 18 O.S. § 2010(B)(3) permits the filer to specify a delayed effective date — “a specified date or time not later than a time on the ninetieth day after the filing.” Absent such a designation, the change is effective when the Secretary of State files the statement.
Filing Method: Online vs. Mail
Oklahoma permits the change-of-registered-agent form to be filed online, by mail, by fax, or in person at the Secretary of State’s office.
| Method | Details |
| Online | File through the Secretary of State’s online filing portal. Available for most entity-type change forms. Payment by credit card. |
| Send the completed form and payment to: Oklahoma Secretary of State, Business Filing Department, 421 NW 13th Street, Suite 210, Oklahoma City, OK 73103. Payment by check or money order payable to “Oklahoma Secretary of State.” | |
| In Person | Deliver the form to the same address above. Drop-off filings are processed in the order received at no additional fee. Same-day service is available for an additional $50 per document. In-person filings must be presented before 4:30 p.m. CT. Payment by check, money order, credit card, or cash. |
| Fax | Fax the form to the Business Filing Department. Contact (405) 522-2520 for the fax number. |
For agents who need to update their information across multiple entities simultaneously, the Secretary of State provides a Global Change Documents tool through the online filing portal, which allows a registered agent to file changes affecting multiple existing business entities in a single session.
Registered Agent Change Filing Fees by Entity Type
The filing fee for a change of registered agent in Oklahoma is $25 for all entity types, as set by the Oklahoma Secretary of State fee schedule and codified in 18 O.S. § 1142 (for corporations) and 18 O.S. § 2055 (for LLCs).
| Entity Type | Form | Filing Fee |
| Domestic for-profit corporation | Form 0056 | $25 |
| Domestic nonprofit corporation | Form 0056 | $25 |
| Domestic professional corporation | Form 0056 | $25 |
| Domestic benefit corporation | Form 0056 | $25 |
| Domestic limited liability company | Form 0075 | $25 |
| Domestic limited partnership | Form 0052 | $25 |
| Domestic limited liability partnership | — (filed through online portal or by amendment) | $25 |
| Foreign for-profit corporation | Form 0058 | $25 |
| Foreign nonprofit corporation | Form 0058 | $25 |
| Foreign limited liability company | Form 0077 | $25 |
| Foreign limited partnership | Form 0089 | $25 |
The Secretary of State adds a credit card convenience fee not to exceed 4% of the total filing fee for payments made by credit card, as authorized by 18 O.S. § 1142. Payments by check or money order are not subject to this surcharge. Resignation filings (both coupled and not coupled with appointment of a successor) also carry a $25 filing fee.
Effective Date of a Registered Agent Change in Oklahoma
For corporations, a change of registered agent takes effect when the Secretary of State files the certificate. Oklahoma’s General Corporation Act does not provide a delayed-effective-date option for corporate agent-change filings.
For limited liability companies, 18 O.S. § 2010 provides more flexibility:
Immediate effect: The change is effective when the Secretary of State files the statement. This is the default.
Delayed effective date: The filer may specify a later effective date or time, “not later than a time on the ninetieth day after the filing.” If a delayed date is specified in the statement, the change takes effect on that date rather than on the filing date.
For limited partnerships, the change takes effect upon filing with the Secretary of State under the Oklahoma Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act.
Upon acceptance, the entity’s agent information in the Secretary of State’s records is updated, and the new agent becomes the official recipient of service of process on behalf of the entity.
Changing the Registered Agent Address Without Changing the Agent
When a registered agent’s own address changes — but the same individual or organization continues to serve — the agent may update the address directly with the Secretary of State rather than requiring each represented entity to file its own change form. For corporations, 18 O.S. § 1024 authorizes the registered agent to file a certificate in the name of each affected corporation setting forth the new address. The corresponding form is Form 0022 – Change of Name of Registered Agent and/or Address of Registered Agent (by agent). For LLCs, 18 O.S. § 2010(с) authorizes the agent to file a statement of change, and the corresponding form is Form 0076 – Change of Registered Office or Change of Registered Office and Principal Office (by agent).
The following table compares the entity-filed change and the agent-initiated address change:
| Feature | Entity-Filed Change (e.g., Form 0056) | Agent-Initiated Change (e.g., Form 0022) |
| Filed by | Entity (authorized officer or manager) | Registered agent |
| Purpose | Appoint new agent, change address, or both | Update agent’s own name or address |
| Can appoint a different agent | Yes | No |
| Covers multiple entities | No (one filing per entity) | Yes (one certificate per affected entity, but filed by agent) |
| Signed by | Authorized officer or manager of entity | Registered agent |
| Acknowledgment required | Yes (for corporations) | Yes (for corporations) |
Under 18 O.S. § 1024(B), an agent who changes its own name must also file a certificate in the name of each affected corporation setting forth the agent’s new name, the former name, and the registered office address. The fee is $25 per entity for each agent-initiated change filing.
For agents representing large numbers of entities, the Secretary of State’s Global Change Documents online tool streamlines the process of filing changes across multiple entity records in a single session.
What Happens After the Change Is Filed
Once the Secretary of State accepts and files the certificate or statement of change, several consequences follow:
- The entity’s registered agent and registered office information in the Secretary of State’s records is updated immediately upon filing (or on the delayed effective date, if one was specified for an LLC filing).
- The new agent’s name and address become part of the entity’s public filing record and are searchable through the Secretary of State’s business entity search.
- The former agent’s authority to receive service of process on behalf of the entity terminates.
- Service of process delivered to the old agent’s address is no longer effective service on the entity.
- The Secretary of State returns evidence of the accepted filing to the submitter.
- For corporate filings where the entity revoked the prior agent’s appointment (under 18 O.S. § 1023), the filing simultaneously appoints the new agent and revokes the former agent’s designation.
Changing a Registered Agent for a Foreign Entity Registered in Oklahoma
A foreign entity qualified or registered to transact business in Oklahoma is subject to the same registered agent requirements as a domestic filing entity. Under 18 O.S. § 1133, a foreign corporation that has qualified to do business in the state may change its registered agent by filing a certificate with the Secretary of State setting forth the name and street address of the new agent and revoking all previous appointments. The certificate must be acknowledged in accordance with 18 O.S. § 1007.
Foreign corporations file Form 0058 – Change of Registered Agent and/or Location of Registered Office. Foreign LLCs file Form 0077, and foreign limited partnerships file Form 0089. The filing fee is $25 for all foreign entity types. The same eligibility requirements, physical street address requirements, execution requirements, and filing methods apply.
One feature unique to Oklahoma’s foreign corporation regime is that the Secretary of State automatically serves as a registered agent for every qualified foreign corporation under 18 O.S. § 1022(B). Any additional registered agent designated by the foreign corporation receives service of process in place of the Secretary of State, but if the additional agent resigns or is removed and no replacement is designated, the Secretary of State’s standing appointment continues. If a foreign corporation’s additional agent dies, moves out of state, or resigns, 18 O.S. § 1133(с) requires the corporation to designate a replacement within ten days.
Note: A foreign corporation that fails to designate a replacement agent within the required period may be subject to process served upon the Secretary of State under Title 12, § 2004 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Changing a Registered Agent in Oklahoma
How long does it take to change a registered agent in Oklahoma?
The Oklahoma Secretary of State does not publish a guaranteed standard processing time. Filings are processed in the order received, and online submissions through the filing portal are generally processed more quickly than paper filings. For in-person filings, same-day service is available for an additional $50 per document; filings must be presented before 4:30 p.m. CT to be processed the same business day. For questions about current processing times, contact the Business Filing Department at (405) 522-2520.
Do I need to notify my current registered agent before changing?
Oklahoma law does not impose a statutory obligation on the entity to notify the outgoing registered agent before filing the change. The change is effective when the Secretary of State files the certificate or statement. Many entities choose to notify the outgoing agent as a business courtesy. If the outgoing agent wishes to end the relationship independently, the agent may file a resignation — either coupled with appointment of a successor under 18 O.S. § 1025 or without appointing a successor under 18 O.S. § 1026.
Can I change my registered office address without changing the registered agent?
Yes. Each entity-type change form allows the filer to update only the registered office address while retaining the same registered agent. Additionally, when the same agent continues to serve but the agent’s own address changes, the agent may file Form 0022 (for corporations) or Form 0076 (for LLCs) to update the address directly with the Secretary of State.
What is the agent-initiated address change form and when is it used?
For corporations, Form 0022 – Change of Name of Registered Agent and/or Address of Registered Agent (by agent) is filed by the registered agent — not the entity — when the agent changes its own name or street address while continuing to serve. The form is authorized by 18 O.S. § 1024. It cannot be used to appoint a different agent. For LLCs, the equivalent is Form 0076, authorized by 18 O.S. § 2010(с). The filing fee is $25 per entity. The certificate must be executed and acknowledged by the registered agent.
Is there a penalty for not filing a change of registered agent?
Oklahoma requires continuous maintenance of a registered agent. Under 18 O.S. § 1026, if a domestic corporation fails to designate a new registered agent after the resignation of its prior agent, the Secretary of State is deemed to be the corporation’s registered agent, and service of process may be made through the Secretary of State. The entity also faces practical consequences: outdated agent records can cause missed legal notices, risk of default judgments, and potential administrative complications with maintaining good standing.
Can I change my registered agent and the registered office address in the same filing?
Yes. Each entity-type change form permits changing the registered agent, the registered office address, or both in a single filing. For LLCs, Form 0075 also accommodates a simultaneous change of the entity’s principal office address. A single $25 filing fee applies regardless of how many fields are updated on the form.
What happens if my registered agent resigns?
A registered agent may resign by filing a certificate of resignation with the Secretary of State. Under 18 O.S. § 1026, a resignation not coupled with appointment of a successor requires the agent to give “written notice of resignation … to the corporation at least thirty (30) days prior to the filing” of the certificate. The resignation becomes effective thirty days after the certificate is filed. The filing fee for a resignation is $25, whether or not a successor is named. After receiving notice of the resignation, the entity must promptly file a change-of-agent form to designate a replacement. If no replacement is designated before the resignation takes effect, the Secretary of State is deemed the entity’s registered agent.
Does the new registered agent need to sign the change form?
No, for most entity types. The entity-filed change form for corporations is signed and acknowledged by an authorized officer of the entity, not the incoming agent. For LLCs, the statement is signed by any manager. Oklahoma does not require the new agent’s signature or a separate written acceptance on the standard change-of-agent forms. However, the entity assumes responsibility for confirming that the new agent has consented to the designation before filing.
Can I use a P.O. Box for the new registered office address?
No. Oklahoma requires every registered agent to “maintain a business office identical with the registered office which is open during regular business hours to accept service of process.” The registered office must be a physical street address in Oklahoma where process can be personally delivered. A P.O. Box, commercial mail receiving agency, or virtual office that does not have a staffed physical location during business hours does not satisfy the requirement.
Is the filing fee the same whether I file online or by mail?
Yes. The base filing fee for a change of registered agent is $25 regardless of the filing method. The Secretary of State adds a credit card convenience fee of up to 4% on payments made by credit card, as authorized by 18 O.S. § 1142. Payments by check or money order (by mail) and cash (in person) are not subject to this surcharge. In-person same-day service carries an additional $50 fee per document on top of the standard $25 filing fee.