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How to Change Your Registered Agent in Rhode Island

The form, the fee, and how to file it.

Filing details

Form name
Statement of Change of Agent - Domestic or Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 642)
Filing fee
$20
Online filing
Yes
Processing time
Rhode Island publishes one figure for every channel: filings are processed within two business days of receipt. This filing cannot be made online; form 642 goes by post with a cheque or in person at the Business Services Division in Providence. No expedited service is published for filings
Filing agency
Rhode Island SOS ↗
Note: Rhode Island charges $20 to file Form 642, headed Statement of Change of Agent, whichever way it is filed. No Rhode Island source states an online surcharge on this filing. Rhode Island uses "registered agent" for corporations but "resident agent" for LLCs in the statute - the terms are used interchangeably in most guidance. File Form 642, Statement of Change of Agent, online through the RI Business Services portal, by mail, or in person at the Division of Business Services, 148 W. River Street, Providence RI 02904-2615. Make cheques payable to "RI Department of State". If only the registered office address is changing, Form 642A is the filing instead.
Open online filing portal ↗

How to change your registered agent in Rhode Island

  1. Choose your new registered agent first. Do not file the change form until you have a new agent lined up. The new agent has to consent to the appointment, and most states will not process the change without that consent in hand. If you let coverage lapse, the Rhode Island SOS can administratively dissolve your LLC.

    Two ways to go. Name yourself or someone you know. Nothing to pay beyond the state filing fee above, but your address goes in the public record and somebody has to be there during business hours to accept legal mail.
    Or use a service at $125/year. That keeps your address private and prepares the change form for you. If you are here because your current agent resigned, missed a delivery, or raised its price, this is usually the reason. See what Northwest charges, or compare what the major agents cost first.

  2. Get the Statement of Change of Agent - Domestic or Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 642). Download the form ↗ You can file this online through the Rhode Island Secretary of State portal. The form requires your LLC name, the new agent name and address, and a signature. The new agent must consent to the appointment.
  3. Pay the $20 filing fee. Pay by credit card during the online filing. A small processing surcharge usually applies. Mail filings accept check or money order; confirm the exact payee on the form before you send it, because it is not the Secretary of State in every state.
  4. Notify your old agent. Once the change is processed, your old agent's responsibility ends. If you are paying them an annual fee, cancel that subscription so it does not auto-renew. Most agents do not refund the unused portion, so time the cancellation against your renewal date.
  5. Verify the change in state records. Search your LLC name on the Rhode Island SOS business search and confirm the new registered agent is listed. Check back after the processing window shown above.

Important to know about Rhode Island

  • Rhode Island LLCs are officially called "resident agents" in state statute, but "registered agent" is commonly used in practice. Same role, different term.
  • The fee is $20 on every channel. Rhode Island does charge $22 online against $20 by other routes for CERTIFICATES, but that surcharge is not published for an agent change and should not be assumed.
  • There are separate forms for LLCs (Form 642) and corporations (Form 640), and filing the wrong one gets rejected. DO NOT TRY TO TELL THEM APART BY NAME: the agency index labels them Change of Resident Agent and Change of Registered Agent, but both forms print the same heading, "Statement of Change of Agent", both cost $20 and both were revised 03/2026. Match on the form number and the entity line beneath the heading.
  • In-person filings are processed same-day before 4 pm at no extra charge - the fastest path if you need quick turnaround.

Have a service handle the change for you

Northwest will prepare and file the Statement of Change of Agent - Domestic or Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 642) for you when you sign up. The state filing fee is yours to pay. The change is usually filed the same business day.

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Choosing a replacement agent? Our full Northwest Registered Agent review and Harbor Compliance review compare pricing, renewals, and service before you file.

Related guides

This page provides general information based on publicly available Rhode Island Secretary of State requirements. It is not legal advice. Forms, fees, and procedures can change. Verify with the Rhode Island SOS before filing.