Missouri Form Corp 59 is the one-page statement you file with the Secretary of State to change your registered agent, your registered office address, or both. It costs $10 for corporations, nonprofits, and LLCs, and you can submit it online or by mail to the Business Services Division in Jefferson City.1Missouri Secretary of State. Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office The change takes effect when the Secretary of State processes it, so filing promptly keeps you from missing lawsuits and other legal notices.
Download the form from the Secretary of State’s Fees and Forms page under “For Profit Corporations.” The same form works for nonprofits and LLCs.2Missouri Secretary of State. Fees and Forms
Filling Out the Form Section by Section
The form has a return-address block at the top, seven numbered fields, and a signature block. Work through it in order.
- Return address (top of form). Enter the name and mailing address where you want the stamped copy mailed back. This is not part of the public record.
- Charter number (top right box). Your Missouri charter number appears on your articles of incorporation or organization and on your entity’s page in the Secretary of State’s online business search.
- Field 1 — Business entity name. Type the full legal name exactly as it appears on file. Small differences, like writing “LLC” when the articles spell out “Limited Liability Company,” can cause processing delays.
- Field 2 — Current registered office address. The street address on file before the change. This tells the state which record to update.
- Field 3 — New registered office address. The new Missouri street address. A P.O. Box is allowed only if you also list a physical street address alongside it.1Missouri Secretary of State. Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office
- Field 4 — Current registered agent name. The agent being replaced.
- Field 5 — New registered agent name. The incoming agent. A signature line directly below this field is where the new agent signs to consent to the appointment. If the new agent cannot sign the form itself, attach a separately signed written consent.1Missouri Secretary of State. Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office
- Field 6. A preprinted statement affirming that the registered office and the agent’s business office will share the same address after the change. Nothing to fill in.
- Field 7. A preprinted declaration that the entity authorized the change. Nothing to fill in.
At the bottom, an authorized officer, member, manager, or (for corporations) chairman of the board prints their name and title, dates the form, and signs. The form warns that false statements carry penalties under RSMo § 575.040.
If you are only changing the office address and keeping the same agent, leave Fields 4 and 5 blank. If only the agent is changing, skip Fields 2 and 3.
Who Can Serve as Your Registered Agent
Missouri limits registered agents to two categories: an individual who resides in Missouri, or a corporation (domestic or foreign) authorized to do business in the state.3Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 351.370 – Registered Office and Registered Agent LLCs follow essentially the same rule.4Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 347.030 – Registered Office and Registered Agent In both cases, the agent’s business office must be at the same address as the registered office listed on file. A corporation cannot name itself as its own registered agent.1Missouri Secretary of State. Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office
The new agent’s written consent is a statutory requirement, not optional paperwork. RSMo § 351.375 requires the successor agent’s written consent to appear on the statement itself or be attached to it.5Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 351.375 – Change of Address of Registered Office or Agent, How Made The LLC statute is identical.4Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 347.030 – Registered Office and Registered Agent A Corp 59 without the new agent’s signature or an attached consent letter will be rejected.
The $10 Fee and How to Submit
The filing fee is $10 for corporations, nonprofits, and LLCs. Limited liability partnerships pay different rates: $22 for an address-only change or $37 for a combined agent-and-address change, plus $7 for each additional LLP affected.6Missouri Secretary of State. Schedule of Fees and Charges
Online
The Secretary of State’s online filing system at sos.mo.gov processes most filings immediately after submission.7Missouri Secretary of State. Business Services Create an account, enter the same information the paper form asks for, pay by credit card or e-check, and get an electronic confirmation when the transaction completes. This is the faster route by a wide margin.
By Mail
Mail the completed form with a check or money order payable to the Secretary of State:
Business Services
James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center
P.O. Box 778
Jefferson City, MO 651028Missouri Secretary of State. Contact Information
For express or overnight delivery that needs a physical street address:
Business Services
600 W. Main St., Room 322
Jefferson City, MO 65101-07788Missouri Secretary of State. Contact Information
Mailed filings typically take several business days. Once the state processes the change, you get a stamped copy back (paper) or an electronic confirmation (online). Keep it with your corporate records.
Filing Deadline When Your Agent Resigns
A registered agent does not need the entity’s permission to resign. Under Missouri’s LLC statute, the agent files a resignation statement with the Secretary of State and represents that they gave the entity written notice. The resignation becomes effective 30 days after the Secretary of State receives it, or earlier if the entity appoints a replacement first.4Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 347.030 – Registered Office and Registered Agent Corporations follow a parallel process under RSMo § 351.375.
That 30-day window is your deadline to file Corp 59 naming a replacement. Missing it exposes the entity to administrative dissolution.9Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 351-484 – Grounds for Administrative Dissolution
What Happens If You Don’t File
If your business goes 30 days or more without a registered agent or registered office, the Secretary of State has grounds to begin administrative dissolution.9Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 351-484 – Grounds for Administrative Dissolution The state first sends a written notice, giving the corporation 60 days to fix the deficiency. If nothing is filed, the state issues a certificate of dissolution. A dissolved corporation can still wind up its affairs, but any officer or director who conducts business on behalf of the dissolved entity becomes personally liable for the obligations incurred.10Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 351.486 – Administrative Dissolution Procedure
There is also a service-of-process risk that doesn’t wait for dissolution. If someone sues your business and the summons goes to an old address or a person no longer connected to the company, you may never learn about the lawsuit. Courts have held that a company is responsible for its agent’s failure to forward legal papers, and a default judgment entered on that basis is difficult to overturn.
Reinstatement is possible but not cheap. You must file an application with the Secretary of State, obtain a certificate from the Department of Revenue showing taxes are paid (or a payment plan is in place), and pay a $50 reinstatement fee plus any delinquent fees and penalties that accrued during dissolution.11Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 351-488 – Reinstatement Following Administrative Dissolution If another entity claimed your name in the meantime, you will need to reinstate under a new one. A $10 Corp 59 filed on time is considerably easier.