Formation and Registration Forms Requiring Registered Agent Designation in California
The California Secretary of State’s business entity forms are available on the Business Programs Forms, Samples & Fees page. Accepted filing methods include online filing through bizfileOnline, mail to Secretary of State, Business Entities, P.O. Box 944260, Sacramento, CA 94244-2600, and in-person drop-off at 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814. The phone number is (916) 657-5448, and email inquiries may be directed to BusinessEntities@sos.ca.gov.
LLCs
California requires every LLC — domestic and foreign — to designate an agent for service of process on its formation or registration filing. Both filings are online only through bizfileOnline; no downloadable PDF is available.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Articles of Organization – CA LLC | Formation of a domestic LLC; requires designation of an agent for service of process (online only) | $70 |
| Registration – Out-of-State LLC | Registration of a foreign LLC; requires designation of an agent for service of process (online only) | $70 |
Corporations
Domestic stock, professional, and close corporations file Articles of Incorporation online, while foreign corporations file a Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation online. All are online-only filings except the Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation – Insurer, which has a downloadable PDF.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Articles of Incorporation – CA Corporation – General Stock | Formation of a domestic general stock corporation; requires designation of an agent for service of process (online only) | $100 |
| Articles of Incorporation – CA Corporation – Close | Formation of a domestic close corporation; requires designation of an agent for service of process (online only) | $100 |
| Articles of Incorporation – CA Corporation – Professional | Formation of a domestic professional corporation; requires designation of an agent for service of process (online only) | $100 |
| Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation – Stock | Registration of a foreign stock corporation; requires designation of an agent for service of process (online only) | $100 |
| Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation – Professional | Registration of a foreign professional corporation; requires designation of an agent for service of process (online only) | $100 |
Nonprofit Corporations
California recognizes three types of nonprofit corporations — public benefit, mutual benefit, and religious — each with its own online-only Articles of Incorporation form. Foreign nonprofit corporations also register online.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Articles of Incorporation – CA Nonprofit Corporation – Public Benefit | Formation of a domestic nonprofit public benefit corporation; requires designation of an agent for service of process (online only) | $30 |
| Articles of Incorporation – CA Nonprofit Corporation – Mutual Benefit | Formation of a domestic nonprofit mutual benefit corporation; requires designation of an agent for service of process (online only) | $30 |
| Articles of Incorporation – CA Nonprofit Corporation – Religious | Formation of a domestic nonprofit religious corporation; requires designation of an agent for service of process (online only) | $30 |
| Statement and Designation by Foreign Corporation – Nonprofit | Registration of a foreign nonprofit corporation; requires designation of an agent for service of process (online only) | $30 |
Limited Partnerships
A domestic limited partnership files a Certificate of Limited Partnership online, and a foreign limited partnership also registers online. Both require designation of an agent for service of process.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Certificate of Limited Partnership – CA LP | Formation of a domestic limited partnership; requires designation of an agent for service of process (online only) | $70 |
| Registration – Out-of-State LP | Registration of a foreign limited partnership; requires designation of an agent for service of process (online only) | $70 |
Limited Liability Partnerships
California LLPs register by filing Form LLP-1, which is available both online and as a downloadable PDF. Both domestic and foreign LLPs use the same form, with the filer checking the appropriate box to indicate whether it is a California or foreign partnership.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Application to Register a Limited Liability Partnership (Form LLP-1) | Registration of a domestic or foreign LLP; requires designation of an agent for service of process | $70 |
General Partnerships
A California general partnership is not required to file formation documents, but it may voluntarily file a Statement of Partnership Authority. This form is available both online and as a downloadable PDF.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Statement of Partnership Authority (Form GP-1) | Voluntary filing by a domestic general partnership; includes designation of an agent for service of process | $70 |
Changing a California Registered Agent or Registered Office (Filed by Entity)
California business entities change their agent for service of process by filing a Statement of Information or an amendment with the Secretary of State. The specific filing depends on entity type. Corporate and LLC Statements of Information are online-only filings through bizfileOnline; LP and LLP amendments are available both online and on paper. Filing methods are the same as described above.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Statement of Information – Domestic Stock | Updates agent for service of process and other required information for a domestic stock corporation (online only) | $25 |
| Statement of Information – Foreign Stock | Updates agent for service of process and other required information for a foreign stock corporation (online only) | $25 |
| Statement of Information – Nonprofit | Updates agent for service of process and other required information for a domestic nonprofit corporation (online only) | $20 |
| Statement of Information – LLC | Updates agent for service of process and other required information for a domestic or foreign LLC (online only) | $20 |
| Amendment to Certificate of Limited Partnership (Form LP-2) | Amends agent for service of process or other information for a domestic limited partnership | $30 |
| Amendment to Application for Registration – Foreign LP (Form LP-6) | Amends agent for service of process or other information for a foreign limited partnership | $30 |
| Amendment to Registration – LLP (Form LLP-2) | Amends agent for service of process or other information for a domestic or foreign LLP | $30 |
Note: General partnerships update their agent for service of process by filing a Statement of Amendment/Cancellation (Form GP-7).
Changing a California Registered Agent’s Own Name or Address (Filed by Agent)
California does not provide a dedicated form for a registered agent to file a mass change of its own name or address across all represented entities. Each entity must individually update its agent information by filing the applicable Statement of Information or amendment form described in the section above.
Registered Agent Resignation and Rejection Forms in California
An agent for service of process in California may resign by filing Form RA-100 with the Secretary of State. This is a universal form used by agents resigning from any entity type, including corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, LLPs, and general partnerships. Resignations for corporations, LLCs, and LPs may also be filed online through bizfileOnline. There is no separate rejection-of-appointment form.
| Form | Description | Filed By | Filing Fee |
| Resignation of Agent for Service of Process (Form RA-100) | Agent resigns from any entity type (corporation, LLC, LP, LLP, or GP) | Agent | No fee |
The resigning agent must mail a copy of the signed resignation to the entity at its last known address. The resignation is effective 31 days after the Secretary of State files the form, unless the entity designates a new agent before that date.
Reinstatement Forms Requiring Registered Agent Information in California
An entity that has been dissolved, canceled, or forfeited may seek reinstatement or revival. A limited partnership files a Certificate of Revival (Form LP-7), which requires designation of a current agent for service of process. Corporate and LLC reinstatements are processed through bizfileOnline and do not use a downloadable PDF form. All entities that have been suspended or forfeited by the Franchise Tax Board must first obtain tax clearance from the FTB before the Secretary of State will process reinstatement.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Certificate of Revival – LP (Form LP-7) | Revives a canceled domestic limited partnership; requires current agent for service of process | $30 |
Conversion Forms Requiring Registered Agent Designation in California
California permits certain entity types to convert from one form to another by filing a Certificate of Conversion (Form CONV-1A) alongside the appropriate formation document for the new entity type, or by filing a combined formation-with-conversion form. Each conversion filing requires designation of an agent for service of process. Conversions can be filed online through bizfileOnline or on paper. Detailed information on conversion types and fees is available on the Conversion Information page.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Certificate of Conversion (Form CONV-1A) | Universal certificate of conversion filed alongside the converted entity’s formation document; requires agent for service of process | $150 when a CA corporation is the converting entity; $30 for all others |
| Articles of Organization – Conversion (Form LLC-1A) | Converts an eligible entity to a domestic California LLC; requires agent for service of process | $70 (plus CONV-1A fee) |
| Certificate of Limited Partnership – Conversion (Form LP-1A) | Converts an eligible entity to a domestic California LP; requires agent for service of process | $70 (plus CONV-1A fee) |
| Statement of Partnership Authority – Conversion (Form GP-1A) | Converts an eligible entity to a registered California general partnership; requires agent for service of process | $100–$150 |
Note: A California corporation cannot convert to a foreign entity. Entities converting to a California corporation use entity-specific Articles of Incorporation with Statement of Conversion forms (e.g., Form CONV LLC-GS, Form CONV LP-GS), available on the Conversion Information page.
FAQ
Where can I find all current California Secretary of State business forms?
All current business entity forms are available on the California Secretary of State’s Business Programs Forms, Samples & Fees page. The page organizes forms by entity type, with separate subpages for domestic corporations, foreign corporations, domestic LLCs, foreign LLCs, domestic LPs, foreign LPs, LLPs, general partnerships, and other business filings.
Most formation and registration filings have transitioned to online-only submission through bizfileOnline. Forms that remain available as downloadable PDFs — such as LP amendments (Form LP-2, Form LP-6), LLP registrations (Form LLP-1), and general partnership filings (Form GP-1) — are linked directly from the relevant SOS subpage.
Is the registered agent consent form required to be filed with the California Secretary of State?
California does not use a separate, standalone registered agent consent form. Consent to serve as agent for service of process is embedded directly within each formation, registration, amendment, and statement of information form.
For individual agents, the designation on the entity’s filing serves as evidence that the named person has agreed to accept service of process on behalf of the entity. For corporate agents, the corporation must have a current Registered Corporate Agent for Service of Process Certificate (Form 1505) on file with the Secretary of State before it can be designated as agent by other entities. Form 1505 costs $30 to file and serves as a blanket authorization for the corporation to act as agent.
What form is used to change a registered agent in California?
The form depends on the entity type. Domestic stock corporations file a Statement of Information – Domestic Stock online for $25. Foreign stock corporations file a Statement of Information – Foreign Stock online for $25. Domestic nonprofit corporations file a Statement of Information – Nonprofit online for $20. Domestic and foreign LLCs file a Statement of Information – LLC online for $20.
Domestic limited partnerships file an Amendment to Certificate of Limited Partnership (Form LP-2) for $30. Foreign limited partnerships file an Amendment to Application for Registration (Form LP-6) for $30. LLPs file an Amendment to Registration (Form LLP-2) for $30.
All filings may be submitted online through bizfileOnline; LP and LLP amendments may also be sent by mail to P.O. Box 944260, Sacramento, CA 94244-2600 or delivered in person at 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814. The Business Entities section can be reached at (916) 657-5448 or BusinessEntities@sos.ca.gov.
What is the difference between the entity-filed change form and the agent-filed change form in California?
California does not offer a separate agent-filed change form. There is no mechanism for a registered agent to file a single document that updates the agent’s name or address across all entities it represents.
Each entity must individually file its own Statement of Information or amendment to reflect a new agent or updated agent address. If an agent moves offices, every entity the agent represents must submit its own filing with the Secretary of State.
The only form an agent files independently is the Resignation of Agent for Service of Process (Form RA-100), which terminates the agent’s appointment for a specific entity rather than updating it.
Is there a fee to form a nonprofit corporation in California?
The filing fee to form a domestic nonprofit corporation in California is $30, regardless of whether it is a public benefit, mutual benefit, or religious corporation. This is significantly lower than the $100 fee for forming a domestic stock corporation.
Nonprofit corporation Articles of Incorporation are filed online only through bizfileOnline. A convenience fee may apply depending on the payment method used for online transactions. The fee schedule for all entity types is listed on each entity subpage of the Forms, Samples & Fees page.
What forms are used to register an out-of-state LLC in California?
A foreign LLC registers in California by filing the Registration – Out-of-State LLC through bizfileOnline at a cost of $70. This filing is online only — no downloadable PDF is available. The form requires designation of an agent for service of process who is either a California resident individual or a corporation that has filed a Registered Corporate Agent for Service of Process Certificate (Form 1505).
No separate form is needed for a foreign Series LLC; the standard out-of-state LLC registration is used. A foreign LLC that has been transacting intrastate business in California without registering may be subject to penalties and may be unable to maintain or defend a lawsuit in California courts until it registers.
What forms are used to form or register a partnership in California?
A domestic limited partnership is formed by filing the Certificate of Limited Partnership – CA LP through bizfileOnline at a $70 filing fee. This filing is online only and creates a new legal entity. The certificate requires designation of an agent for service of process. A foreign limited partnership registers online using the Registration – Out-of-State LP form, also for $70; paper amendments to a foreign LP’s registration may be filed using Form LP-6 for $30.
A domestic or foreign limited liability partnership registers by filing the Application to Register a Limited Liability Partnership (Form LLP-1) at a $70 filing fee. Unlike an LP, an LLP registration does not create a new entity — it registers limited liability status for an existing partnership. Both domestic and foreign LLPs use Form LLP-1, checking the appropriate box. California LLPs are limited to certain professional practices: architecture, engineering, land surveying, law, and public accountancy.
A general partnership does not file formation documents in California but may voluntarily file a Statement of Partnership Authority (Form GP-1) for $70, which includes an agent designation. California does not require foreign general partnerships to register with the Secretary of State. California does not have a separate LLLP formation form; an LP may additionally register as an LLP by filing Form LLP-1.
Can I file California SOS forms online?
Most California Secretary of State business entity forms can be filed online through bizfileOnline. The system supports formation filings for LLCs, corporations (stock, nonprofit, professional, close, and benefit), limited partnerships, and cooperatives, as well as Statements of Information, amendments, dissolutions, conversions, mergers, and agent resignations. Many of these filings — including all Articles of Incorporation, LLC Articles of Organization, Certificates of Limited Partnership, foreign registrations, and Statements of Information — are now online only and cannot be submitted on paper.
LLP and general partnership filings are also available through an online portal linked from the SOS forms page. To use bizfileOnline, filers must create a free account. Payment is accepted by credit card, debit card, or bank account, and a convenience fee may apply for card payments.
In-person submissions carry an additional $15 special handling fee. Preclearance services and other expedited options are described on the Service Options page.