How to Change or Cancel Your Registered Agent in New York
To change or cancel your registered agent in New York, file a Certificate of Change (Form DOS 1359, $30) with the NY Department of State. By mail, it typically comes back from NY DOS in about 1–2 weeks. Of the 28 Certificates of Change LLC Publishers mailed to NY DOS in 2026, the median came back 7 days after mailing and the slowest took 16 days. All were accepted. For a guaranteed turnaround, DOS processes a filing "within 24 hours" for an extra $25, "within the same day" for $75, or "within 2 hours" for $150. Once your registered agent is revoked, the Secretary of State automatically serves as your agent for service of process under Section 302 of the NY LLC Law — at no cost.
This Is Not Legal Advice
This article provides general information about changing or canceling a registered agent in New York. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified attorney.
When to Change or Cancel Your Registered Agent
Most New York LLC owners don't need a paid registered agent because the Secretary of State already handles service of process for free. Common reasons to file a Certificate of Change include:
- Canceling a paid RA you don't need — saving $100–$300 per year
- Switching to a different RA provider — found a better price or service
- Updating your LLC's service of process address — you've moved and need to update where legal documents are forwarded
- Revoking an RA that was auto-added by your LLC formation service without you realizing it was optional
Under NY LLC Law §302, the Secretary of State automatically serves as your agent for service of process. A paid registered agent is optional — and canceling one is a simple $30 filing.
What You Need Before Filing
Before completing the Certificate of Change, gather this information:
- Your LLC's exact legal name — must match what's on file with the Department of State (check the DOS entity search)
- Date of formation — the date your Articles of Organization were filed
- County of office — the county listed on your Articles of Organization (this determines your publication county)
- Current registered agent information — the name and address of your current RA
- New forwarding address — where you want the Department of State to forward legal documents after canceling your RA
Step-by-Step: File a Certificate of Change (DOS 1359)
The Certificate of Change form allows you to make three types of changes. You can select one or more on the same form:
- Change your service of process address — update where DOS forwards legal documents
- Change your registered agent — switch from one RA to another
- Revoke your registered agent — cancel your RA entirely and let the SoS handle it
Here's the process:
Step 1: Download Form DOS 1359
Download the Certificate of Change from the NY Department of State website. The form is a fillable PDF.
Step 2: Complete the Form
Fill in your LLC's legal name, date of formation, and county of office. Then check the appropriate box:
- To revoke your registered agent, select that option and leave the new agent fields blank
- To change to a different agent, provide the new agent's name and address
- To update your forwarding address, provide the new address where DOS should send legal documents
Step 3: Sign and Submit
Have an authorized member or manager sign the form. Submit it with the $30 filing fee to:
NY Department of State Division of Corporations, State Records & UCC One Commerce Plaza 99 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12231
You can submit by mail (include a check payable to "Department of State") or in person at the Albany office.
Step 4: Cancel with Your RA Provider
After filing with DOS, log into your registered agent provider's dashboard and cancel your subscription separately. The state filing and the provider cancellation are two independent steps — filing DOS 1359 does not automatically cancel your RA subscription, and canceling with your provider does not file the state paperwork.
Processing Times and Expedited Options
By mail, a Certificate of Change typically comes back from NY DOS in about 1–2 weeks. Of the 28 Certificates of Change LLC Publishers mailed to NY DOS in 2026 (filed to update LLCs' county designations, on the same Form DOS 1359 and through the same mail channel), the median came back 7 days after mailing and the slowest took 16 days. All were accepted.
Why some guides say "up to 120 days": the Department of State does not publish a standard processing time. Across all 86 Certificates of Change we filed with NY DOS from January through September 2026, by every filing method, none took longer than 16 days.
If you need a guaranteed turnaround, DOS offers expedited options:
| Processing Speed | Additional Fee | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $0 | $30 |
| 24-hour | $25 | $55 |
| Same-day | $75 | $105 |
| 2-hour | $150 | $180 |
Expedited fees are in addition to the $30 filing fee. Verify current fees and expedited options on the NY DOS website.
Practical tip: If you're canceling a paid RA to save money, the standard $30 filing is usually fine — your RA continues operating during the processing period. But if you're changing your forwarding address because you've already moved, consider expedited processing so legal documents aren't sent to an old address.
Ready to skip the hassle?
We handle everything — newspapers, affidavits, and state filing.
Get StartedCritical: Update Your Forwarding Address
Don't Skip This Step
If your registered agent's address is currently the forwarding address where DOS sends your legal documents, you must provide a new forwarding address on the Certificate of Change. Otherwise, legal notices — including lawsuits — will be sent to an address you no longer control.
This is the most common mistake LLC owners make when canceling a registered agent. Here's why it matters:
- Someone sues your LLC
- They serve the Secretary of State (your default agent)
- DOS forwards the lawsuit to the address on file
- If that address is still your old RA's office, and you've canceled — you may never receive it
- The plaintiff gets a default judgment against your LLC
The fix is simple: On Form DOS 1359, update the service of process forwarding address to your current home or office address in New York.
Certificate of Change vs. Certificate of Resignation
These are two different forms filed by two different parties:
| Certificate of Change | Certificate of Resignation | |
|---|---|---|
| Who files | The LLC owner (you) | The registered agent |
| Form | DOS 1359 | Separate form |
| Filing fee | $30 | $20 |
| Purpose | Change/revoke RA, update address | Agent resigns from the role |
| When it takes effect | When processed by DOS | 30 days after filing |
In most cases, you file the Certificate of Change. The Certificate of Resignation is used when the agent decides to stop serving your LLC — for example, if you stop paying them or they're going out of business. If the agent resigns, the resignation takes effect 30 days after filing, and the SoS automatically becomes your agent.
How to Cancel with Your RA Provider
Filing the Certificate of Change with DOS is the legal step. But you also need to cancel your subscription with your registered agent provider to stop recurring charges:
- Northwest Registered Agent — cancel through your online dashboard or call customer service
- LegalZoom — cancel through your account settings or contact support
- ZenBusiness — cancel via dashboard or email support
- Bizee (formerly Incfile) — cancel through your account dashboard
- Harbor Compliance — contact support to cancel
Important: Cancel with your provider after filing DOS 1359 — not before. Your RA continues to receive and forward documents until the state processes your change. If you cancel with the provider first, there may be a gap where no one is receiving your legal mail.
How LLC Publishers Helps
Changing your registered agent is a separate process from LLC publication. But if you're an LLC owner reviewing your compliance obligations, you may also need to complete the publication requirement.
Every New York LLC must publish notice of formation in two designated newspapers within 120 days of formation under Section 206 of the NY LLC Law. LLC Publishers handles the entire process:
- Select county-approved newspapers for your county
- Run your legal notices for six consecutive weeks
- Collect notarized affidavits of publication
- File your Certificate of Publication with the Department of State
Ready to skip the hassle?
We handle everything — newspapers, affidavits, and state filing.
Get StartedFrequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to change a registered agent in New York?
By mail, a Certificate of Change (DOS 1359) typically comes back from NY DOS in about 1–2 weeks. Of the 28 Certificates of Change LLC Publishers mailed to NY DOS in 2026, the median came back 7 days after mailing and the slowest took 16 days. Expedited processing is available: 24-hour ($25 additional), same-day ($75 additional), or 2-hour ($150 additional). These fees are on top of the $30 filing fee. Your current registered agent continues operating during the processing period.
Why does canceling a registered agent take so long?
At the State it usually doesn't: by mail, NY DOS typically returns a Certificate of Change (Form DOS 1359, $30) in about 1–2 weeks; of the 28 we mailed in 2026 the median came back in 7 days. Canceling a registered agent in New York is two separate steps, and only one involves the State. The Department of State does not publish a standard processing time, which is why some guides quote "up to 120 days"; across all 86 Certificates of Change we filed with NY DOS from January through September 2026, none took longer than 16 days. For a guaranteed turnaround, DOS processes a filing "within 24 hours" for an extra $25. Canceling the subscription with your registered agent provider is a separate step, and your current agent keeps forwarding documents until DOS processes the change.
Can I cancel a registered agent online?
Canceling the subscription with your registered agent provider is usually done online, through the provider's dashboard or support. The state side is different: the NY Department of State's Certificate of Change page directs filers to send the Certificate of Change (Form DOS 1359) with the $30 filing fee to the Division of Corporations in Albany.
How much does it cost to change or cancel a registered agent in NY?
The filing fee for a Certificate of Change (DOS 1359) is $30. If you need faster processing, add $25 for 24-hour, $75 for same-day, or $150 for 2-hour processing. After the state processes your change, the Secretary of State serves as your agent for service of process at no ongoing cost under LLC Law §302.
Can I be my own registered agent in New York?
You can designate yourself as a registered agent under Section 302 of the NY LLC Law, but it's unnecessary. The Secretary of State already serves as your agent for service of process automatically. There's no practical benefit to formally designating yourself when the state already handles it for free.
What happens after I cancel my registered agent?
After the Department of State processes your Certificate of Change, the Secretary of State becomes your agent for service of process (if they weren't already). Legal documents will be forwarded to the address you provided on Form DOS 1359. You won't lose any legal protections — the only change is who receives service of process on your behalf.
Do I need a registered agent to complete LLC publication?
No. Your registered agent has no effect on LLC publication. Publication is determined by the county of office listed on your Articles of Organization and is required under Section 206 of the NY LLC Law. Whether you have a registered agent or rely on the Secretary of State, you still need to publish in two designated newspapers within 120 days of formation.
Key Takeaways
- File Form DOS 1359 (Certificate of Change) to change or cancel your registered agent — the filing fee is $30
- By mail, a Certificate of Change typically comes back in about 1–2 weeks — the median of our 28 mailed filings in 2026 was 7 days; expedited options run from $25 (24-hour) to $150 (2-hour)
- Update your forwarding address on the form — this is critical if your RA's address was your service of process address
- Cancel with your RA provider separately — the state filing and provider cancellation are independent steps
- The Secretary of State is your free default agent — under LLC Law §302, you don't need a paid RA to receive legal documents
- Certificate of Change ($30) is for you — Certificate of Resignation ($20) is filed by the agent, not the LLC owner
- Registered agent changes don't affect publication — you still need to complete the publication requirement within 120 days of formation