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How to Change Your Registered Agent in South Carolina

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

Filing details

Form name
Notice of Change of (1) Designated Office, (2) Agent for Service of Process, or (3) Address of Agent - Limited Liability Company, Domestic and Foreign (Form F0080)
Filing fee
$10
Online filing
Yes
Processing time
South Carolina publishes no processing time for this filing on any page a filer can reach, by any channel, and offers no expedited service
Filing agency
South Carolina SOS ↗
Note: South Carolina LLCs file Form F0080 (printed as Notice of Change of (1) Designated Office, (2) Agent for Service of Process, or (3) Address of Agent, under SC Code Section 33-44-109; the download list captions it differently) - this is the LLC-specific version. Corporations use a different form (F0077/F0078). The fee is $10. File online through the South Carolina Business Filings portal at businessfilings.sc.gov, or by mail to 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525, Columbia SC 29201. Make cheques payable to "Secretary of State's Office". Mail filings require two copies (the original and a duplicate or conformed copy). The new registered agent must sign the consent line on the form.
Open online filing portal ↗

How to change your registered agent in South Carolina

  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 South Carolina 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 Notice of Change of (1) Designated Office, (2) Agent for Service of Process, or (3) Address of Agent - Limited Liability Company, Domestic and Foreign (Form F0080). Download the form ↗ You can file this online through the South Carolina 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 $10 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 South Carolina SOS business search and confirm the new registered agent is listed. Check back after the processing window shown above.

Important to know about South Carolina

  • Mail filings require two copies of the form (original plus one duplicate or conformed copy). Single-copy mail filings are routinely rejected.
  • South Carolina requires a street address for the agent anywhere in the state, and S.C. Code 33-44-108 adds that the designated office "need not be a place of business in this State". Columbia has no special status here; it is simply where the Secretary of State's office is. Virtual offices and PO boxes are not accepted for the agent address.
  • LLCs use Form F0080 specifically. Corporations use F0077/F0078. Filing the wrong form will get rejected.

Have a service handle the change for you

Northwest will prepare and file the Notice of Change of (1) Designated Office, (2) Agent for Service of Process, or (3) Address of Agent - Limited Liability Company, Domestic and Foreign (Form F0080) 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 South Carolina Secretary of State requirements. It is not legal advice. Forms, fees, and procedures can change. Verify with the South Carolina SOS before filing.