When Is a Change of Registered Agent Required in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin law requires every domestic and foreign filing entity to continuously maintain a registered agent and registered office in the state, and to file a statement of change with the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) whenever its registered agent or registered office information changes. This requirement spans five separate chapters of the Wisconsin Statutes: the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law (Wis. Stat. ch. 180) § 180.0502 governs business corporations, the Nonstock Corporation Law (Wis. Stat. ch. 181) § 181.0502 governs nonstock (nonprofit) corporations, the Uniform Limited Liability Company Law (Wis. Stat. ch. 183) § 183.0116 governs LLCs, the Uniform Limited Partnership Law (Wis. Stat. ch. 179) § 179.0118 governs limited partnerships, and the Uniform Partnership Law (Wis. Stat. ch. 178) § 178.0909 governs limited liability partnerships. In every case, the entity files the same DFI form to report the change. Failure to keep the registered agent information current can result in administrative dissolution for a domestic entity or revocation of registration for a foreign entity — consequences that strip the entity of its legal standing in Wisconsin courts.
A change filing is triggered whenever any of the following circumstances arise:
- The current registered agent resigns from the appointment
- The current registered agent moves out of Wisconsin or is no longer a state resident
- The registered agent’s street address changes due to physical relocation, postal renaming, or other cause
- The registered agent is no longer available at the registered office during normal business hours
- The entity voluntarily selects a new registered agent, such as a commercial registered agent service
- The agent no longer consents to serve
Wisconsin does not distinguish between a voluntary change and an involuntary one — the filing requirement is the same regardless of the reason.
Grounds for Changing Your Registered Agent in Wisconsin
Most changes fall into a small number of recurring situations. The table below summarizes each common ground and identifies the filing it requires.
| Ground | Filing Required |
| Registered agent resigns | Form 13 – Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office to appoint a successor agent |
| Registered agent relocates out of Wisconsin | Form 13 to designate a new qualifying agent |
| Registered agent’s street address changes | Form 13 (filed by entity) or agent-initiated statement of change (filed by agent under the applicable statute) |
| Entity switches to a professional registered agent service | Form 13 to name the new service as agent |
| Registered agent no longer available during business hours | Form 13 to designate a replacement agent |
| Agent no longer consents to serve | Form 13 to name a new consenting agent |
| Entity changes its registered office address only | Form 13 to update the registered office address |
The entity’s registered agent information is part of the public record maintained by DFI and is searchable through the Corporate Registration Information System (CRIS). Any inaccurate or outdated registered agent or registered office information should be corrected promptly by filing Form 13 or, where appropriate, an agent-initiated statement of change.
Wisconsin Registered Agent Change Requirements
Several requirements must be satisfied before a statement of change is filed with DFI.
Eligibility of the new registered agent. Wisconsin recognizes two categories of qualifying agents, and these eligibility rules are consistent across all five entity chapters:
- Option A – Organization: A domestic corporation, nonstock corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, or limited liability partnership whose business office is identical with the registered office. A foreign entity of any of these types also qualifies, provided it is authorized to transact business in Wisconsin and its business office is identical with the registered office. The filing entity itself cannot act as its own registered agent.
- Option B – Individual: A natural person who resides in Wisconsin and whose business office is identical with the registered office.
Under Wis. Stat. § 180.0501(2m), the registered agent must also have an e-mail address and a place of business or activity in Wisconsin. The parallel provisions in chapters 178, 179, 181, and 183 impose the same e-mail and in-state presence requirement.
Registered office address. The registered office must be an actual physical location with a street address — not solely a post office box, mailbox service, or telephone answering service. The registered office must be identical with the registered agent’s business office. This ensures that process, notices, and demands can be personally delivered during normal business hours.
Consent of the new registered agent. Each of Wisconsin’s five entity chapters provides that filing a statement of change designating a new registered agent “is an affirmation of fact by the [entity] that the agent has consented to serve.” The person signing the change form thereby affirms that the named agent has given consent in advance. DFI does not require a separate consent form to be filed with the state; the affirmation built into the statement of change itself satisfies the consent requirement. The entity should retain evidence of the agent’s consent in its own records.
Note: Knowingly filing a false document with DFI is a Class I felony in Wisconsin. This includes falsely affirming that an agent has consented to serve when no consent was given.
Execution. The statement of change must be signed by a person authorized by the entity. For a business corporation, this is an officer (or, if directors have not been selected, an incorporator). For all other entity types, the signer must be an individual authorized by the entity. The statement need not be notarized.
How to File a Statement of Change of Registered Office/Agent
The change is made by filing Form 13 – Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office with DFI. Form 13 is a single universal form that covers all entity types: domestic and foreign business corporations, nonstock corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships. Detailed instructions for Form 13 are published by DFI.
The form requires the following information:
- Entity name. Enter the legal name of the entity. If the entity holds its certificate of authority or registration under a registered or fictitious name, list that name as well.
- Jurisdiction of formation. Indicate the state or country under whose law the entity was formed.
- Change selections. Check one or more boxes to identify the changes being made: (a) new registered agent name and e-mail address, (b) new registered office street address. Leave a section blank if no change is being made to that item.
- Agent’s business office certification. Check the box to certify that the designated registered agent maintains its business office at the street address listed as the entity’s registered office.
- Signature and capacity. The authorized person must sign the form, print their name, state the capacity in which they sign, and date the form. Check the box indicating whether the signer is an officer (for a business corporation), an authorized individual (for other entity types), or the continuing registered agent (for an agent-initiated change).
- Delayed effective date (optional). The form may declare a delayed effective date and time. The effective date may not be more than 90 days after the date the document is received by DFI for filing. If no effective date is specified, the document takes effect at the close of business on the date it is received.
- Contact information. Provide a contact name and e-mail address so DFI can send filing acknowledgment and any follow-up correspondence.
Note: An entity may also update its registered agent information by noting the change on its annual report, or by filing an amendment to its formation documents. However, Form 13 is the simplest and lowest-cost method.
Filing Method: Online vs. Mail
DFI accepts the statement of change through multiple filing channels, and the filing fee differs depending on the method used.
| Method | Details |
| Online | File through the DFI online filing portal. Search for the entity by name in CRIS, then select the registered agent change option. The filing is generally accepted upon receipt, and confirmation is sent by e-mail. Filing fee: $10.00. |
| Send the completed Form 13 with a check payable to the Department of Financial Institutions to: Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate & Consumer Services, PO Box 93348, Milwaukee, WI 53293-0348. Filing fee: $25.00. | |
| In person | Deliver the completed Form 13 to: Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate & Consumer Services, 4822 Madison Yards Way, North Tower, Madison, WI 53705. Filing fee: $25.00. In-person expedited service is available within four hours ($250.00 surcharge) or within one hour ($500.00 surcharge). |
DFI also accepts documents by e-mail to DFICorporations@dfi.wisconsin.gov if the document is in PDF format and payment has been made through the DFI Online Order System. Online filing is the most cost-effective method and provides immediate processing in most cases. For mail and in-person filings, next-business-day expedited processing is available for an additional $100.00 surcharge.
Registered Agent Change Filing Fees by Entity Type
Filing fees for the statement of change are set by the DFI Corporation Fees schedule. The fee depends on the filing method — online or paper — and is uniform across most entity types.
| Entity Type | Filing Fee (Paper/Mail) | Filing Fee (Online) |
| Domestic Business Corporation | $25.00 | $10.00 |
| Foreign Business Corporation | $25.00 | $10.00 |
| Domestic Limited Liability Company | $25.00 | $10.00 |
| Foreign Limited Liability Company | $25.00 | $10.00 |
| Domestic Limited Partnership | $25.00 | $10.00 |
| Foreign Limited Partnership | $25.00 | $10.00 |
| Domestic Limited Liability Partnership | $25.00 | $10.00 |
| Foreign Limited Liability Partnership | $25.00 | $10.00 |
| Domestic Nonstock Corporation | $25.00 | $10.00 |
| Foreign Nonstock Corporation | $25.00 | $10.00 |
The fee schedule does not list a separate fee for cooperative associations filing a statement of change; cooperatives should contact DFI at (608) 261-7577 to confirm the applicable fee.
DFI accepts business or personal checks, money orders, credit or debit cards at the in-person counter, and ACH/credit card payments through the online portal. Cash should be avoided. The resignation of a registered agent requires a separate $10.00 filing fee for all entity types.
Effective Date of a Registered Agent Change in Wisconsin
Wisconsin offers flexibility in choosing when the statement of change takes effect. The rules are consistent across all five entity chapters and are restated in the Form 13 instructions.
Effectiveness Option A — Immediate effect: If no delayed effective date is specified, the statement of change takes effect at the close of business on the date it is received by DFI for filing. This is the default option and is appropriate for most routine changes.
Effectiveness Option B — Delayed effective date: The statement may declare a specific future date and time on which it will take effect. The delayed effective date may not be more than 90 days after the date the document is received by DFI for filing. Under Wis. Stat. § 180.0502 (for corporations), and the parallel provisions in chapters 178, 179, 181, and 183, if a delayed effective date but no time is specified, the document takes effect at the close of business on that date.
The delayed effective date is useful for coordinating a transition between agents — for example, ensuring the new agent’s service begins on a specific date when office infrastructure is ready. On acceptance, the statement of change operates as an update to the entity’s formation documents or foreign registration on file with DFI.
Changing the Registered Agent Address Without Changing the Agent
When a registered agent’s own name, e-mail address, or street address changes — but the same individual or organization continues to serve as agent — the agent may notify DFI directly, without requiring each represented entity to file its own Form 13. This mechanism is authorized by parallel provisions in each entity chapter: Wis. Stat. § 180.0502(3) (business corporations), § 181.0502(3) and § 181.0505 (nonstock corporations), § 183.0118 (LLCs), § 179.0120 (limited partnerships), and § 178.0911 (limited liability partnerships).
The agent files the same Form 13, but checks the “Change by Registered Agent” box and signs as the continuing registered agent. The agent must notify the represented entity in writing of the change and must recite in the filed statement that the entity has been notified.
The table below compares the entity-filed change and the agent-initiated change:
| Feature | Entity-Filed Change (Form 13) | Agent-Initiated Change (Form 13) |
| Filed by | The entity (through an authorized officer or individual) | The registered agent |
| Purpose | Change to a different agent, a different address, or both | Update the agent’s own name, e-mail, or street address |
| Can appoint a new agent? | Yes | No — the same agent must continue serving |
| Covers multiple entities? | No — one form per entity | Yes — a separate form for each entity, but the agent can file for all represented entities |
| Prior written notice to entity required? | No statutory notice obligation | Yes — the agent must notify the entity in writing before filing |
| Signed by | Entity’s authorized officer or individual | The continuing registered agent |
The filing fee for an agent-initiated change is the same as for an entity-filed change: $25.00 by paper or $10.00 online per entity. Commercial registered agent services that represent large numbers of entities can use this mechanism to update their address across their entire client base, filing one Form 13 per entity through the online portal.
What Happens After the Change Is Filed
Once DFI accepts the statement of change, several effects follow:
- The entity’s registered agent and registered office information in DFI’s records is updated, and the change is reflected in the CRIS database.
- The statement of change operates as an update to the entity’s articles of incorporation, articles of organization, certificate of limited partnership, statement of qualification, or foreign registration on file with DFI.
- DFI sends an acknowledgment to the contact e-mail address provided on the form (for online and e-mail submissions) or by first-class mail if no e-mail was provided.
- The new agent’s name, e-mail address, and registered office address become part of the entity’s public filing history.
- The former agent’s authority to receive service of process on behalf of the entity terminates as of the effective date of the change.
Changing a Registered Agent for a Foreign Entity Registered in Wisconsin
A foreign entity registered to transact business in Wisconsin is subject to the same registered agent and registered office requirements as a domestic entity. The applicable statutes are Wis. Stat. § 180.0502 (foreign business corporations), § 181.0502 (foreign nonstock corporations), Wis. Stat. § 183.0116 (foreign LLCs), § 179.0118 (foreign limited partnerships), and § 178.0909 (foreign limited liability partnerships). Each chapter requires the foreign entity to designate and maintain a registered agent and registered office in Wisconsin as a condition of its registration.
A foreign entity changes its registered agent by filing the same Form 13 used by domestic entities. The same eligibility requirements for the new agent, consent requirements, physical street address requirements, execution rules, filing methods, and fee structure apply. The online filing fee for foreign entities is $10.00, and the paper filing fee is $25.00 — the same as for domestic entities across all entity types.
A foreign corporation that fails to maintain a registered agent or registered office in Wisconsin for at least six months is subject to revocation of its certificate of authority under Wis. Stat. § 180.1530. DFI will give the foreign corporation written notice and a 60-day cure period before revoking the certificate. The parallel provisions in chapters 178, 179, 181, and 183 impose similar consequences for foreign entities of other types.
Frequently Asked Questions About Changing a Registered Agent in Wisconsin
How long does it take to change a registered agent in Wisconsin?
Online filings through the DFI online filing portal are generally processed upon receipt, and confirmation is sent immediately by e-mail. Paper filings submitted by mail are processed in the order received. For faster turnaround on paper filings, DFI offers next-business-day expedited processing for a $100.00 surcharge, four-hour in-person processing for $250.00, or one-hour in-person processing for $500.00. Contact DFI at (608) 261-7577 or DFICorporations@dfi.wisconsin.gov for current processing time estimates.
Do I need to notify my current registered agent before changing?
Wisconsin law does not require the entity to notify the outgoing registered agent before filing a statement of change. The change becomes effective upon filing (or on any delayed effective date declared in the document), and the outgoing agent’s authority terminates at that point. Many entities choose to notify the outgoing agent as a courtesy, particularly if the agent holds unretrieved documents. If the outgoing agent wishes to end the relationship independently, the agent may file a separate statement of resignation under the applicable resignation statute.
Can I change my registered office address without changing the registered agent?
Yes. Form 13 permits the entity to update only the registered office address while leaving the agent designation unchanged — simply leave the agent-change section blank and complete only the address-change section. Alternatively, if the registered agent’s own street address has changed and the same agent continues to serve, the agent may file an agent-initiated statement of change under the applicable statute, such as Wis. Stat. § 180.0502(3) for corporations or § 183.0118 for LLCs.
What is the agent-initiated address change form and when is it used?
The agent-initiated change uses the same Form 13 but is signed by the continuing registered agent rather than by an officer or authorized person of the entity. It is used when the agent’s own name, e-mail address, or street address changes while the agent continues to serve. This form cannot appoint a different agent — only the entity itself can make that change. The agent must notify the entity in writing before filing and must recite in the statement that the entity has been notified. The fee is $10.00 online or $25.00 by paper, per entity.
Is there a penalty for not filing a change of registered agent?
Wisconsin requires every entity to continuously maintain a current registered agent and registered office. A domestic business corporation that is without a registered agent or registered office for at least one year is subject to administrative dissolution under Wis. Stat. § 180.1420. DFI provides notice and a 60-day cure period before dissolving the entity. A foreign corporation without a registered agent for at least six months faces revocation of its certificate of authority under Wis. Stat. § 180.1530. The practical consequences of dissolution or revocation include loss of standing to maintain lawsuits in Wisconsin courts and the risk that service of process is made by alternative means — such as certified mail to the principal office or published notice — potentially leading to a default judgment.
Can I change my registered agent and the registered office address in the same filing?
Yes. Form 13 allows the entity to change the registered agent, the registered office address, or both in a single filing. A single filing fee applies — $10.00 online or $25.00 by paper.
What happens if my registered agent resigns?
A registered agent may resign by delivering a statement of resignation to DFI for filing. The resignation process is governed by the applicable chapter — Wis. Stat. § 180.0503 for business corporations, § 181.0503 for nonstock corporations, § 183.0117 for LLCs, § 179.0119 for limited partnerships, and § 178.0910 for LLPs. In every case, the resignation becomes effective on the earlier of 60 days after DFI receives the statement of resignation or the date a successor agent is appointed. The filing fee for a statement of resignation is $10.00 for all entity types. For corporations, DFI mails a copy of the resignation to the entity at its principal office. For LLCs, LPs, and LLPs, the resigning agent must promptly furnish notice to the entity of the resignation filing date. The entity should file Form 13 as soon as possible to appoint a replacement agent and avoid the consequences of being without a registered agent.
Does the new registered agent need to sign the change form?
No. The statement of change is signed by the entity’s authorized officer or individual — not by the new registered agent. Under each of Wisconsin’s entity statutes, filing the statement of change designating a new agent “is an affirmation of fact by the [entity] that the agent has consented to serve.” By signing, the entity’s authorized person affirms that the named agent has already consented. The consent documentation is retained by the entity rather than filed with DFI.
Can I use a P.O. Box for the new registered office address?
No. Under Wis. Stat. § 180.0501(1m) and the parallel provisions in chapters 178, 179, 181, and 183, the registered office must be “an actual physical location with a street address and not solely a post office box, mailbox service, or telephone answering service.” A P.O. Box may be included as part of the mailing address on Form 13, but it is not sufficient standing alone. The registered agent must maintain a physical business office at the registered office address where process can be personally delivered.
Is the filing fee the same whether I file online or by mail?
No — and this is an important distinction in Wisconsin. The filing fee for a statement of change is $10.00 when filed online through DFI’s portal and $25.00 when filed by paper (mail, in person, or e-mail with prepayment). The DFI fee schedule lists these two rates separately. Online filing is both faster and less expensive, making it the preferred method for most filers. DFI accepts credit card and ACH payments through its online system.