Form 401 — Instructions for Change of Registered Agent/Office
Form 401 (PDF) Instructions (PDF)
Commentary
This form has been promulgated to comply with the provisions of the Texas Business Organizations Code (BOC) regarding changes to registered agent and office of entities filed with the secretary of state. A nonprofit corporation formed for a special purpose under a statute or code other than the BOC may be required to meet other filing requirements than those imposed by the BOC. This form may not comply with the requirements imposed under the special statute or code governing the special purpose corporation. Please refer to the statute or code governing the special purpose corporation for specific filing requirements.
Section 5.202 of the BOC specifies the procedure to be followed when a Texas or foreign filing entity that is subject to the BOC desires to make changes to its registered office or registered agent. Since an entity may be terminated or its registration revoked for failure to maintain a registered office and agent, any change should be submitted promptly. Changes to registered office and agent may also be included as part of a certificate of amendment or restated certificate, as an amendment in a plan of merger, and in the certificate of formation for a converted entity. Use this form if the only changes to be made to the certificate of formation or registration are to the registered office or agent or both.
Consent: Effective January 1, 2010, a person designated as the registered agent of an entity must have consented, either in a written or electronic form, to serve as the registered agent of the entity. Although consent is required, a copy of the person's written or electronic consent need not be submitted with the statement of change. The liabilities and penalties imposed by sections 4.007 and 4.008 of the BOC apply with respect to a false statement in a filing instrument that names a person as the registered agent of an entity without that person's consent. (BOC § 5.207)
Office Address Requirements: The registered office address must be located at a street address where service of process may be personally served on the entity's registered agent during normal business hours. Although the registered office is not required to be the entity's principal place of business, the registered office may not be solely a mailbox service or telephone answering service (BOC § 5.201).
Unincorporated nonprofit associations, Texas financial institutions, or defense base development authorities should use form 707 (PDF) rather than this form to change the statement of appointed agent.
Instructions for Form
Items 1-3: Entity Information: The statement of change must contain the legal name of the entity. In addition, the name of the entity's current registered agent and current registered office address must be provided. It is recommended that the file number assigned by the secretary of state be provided to facilitate processing of the document.
- Item 4: Changes to Registered Office and/or Registered Agent. Complete item 4 to effect a change to the registered agent or registered office address. The registered agent can be either (option A) a domestic entity or a foreign entity that is registered to do business in Texas or (option B) an individual resident of the state. The filing entity cannot act as its own registered agent.
If the registered office is changed, complete section C. The registered office must be located at a street address where service of process may be personally served on the entity's registered agent during normal business hours. Although the registered office address is not required to be the entity's principal place of business, the registered office may not be solely a mailbox service or a telephone answering service (BOC § 5.201).
The statement of change must recite that the street address of the registered office is the same as the registered agent's business address.
Statement of Approval: As required by section 5.202(b)(6) of the BOC, the form includes a recitation that the change specified in the statement is authorized by the entity. While the statement of change has the effect of amending the entity's certificate of formation or registration, the BOC does not provide that the procedures to amend the certificate of formation are applicable. In general, the statement of change should be adopted and approved by the governing persons or by a person authorized to act on behalf of the entity.
- Effectiveness of Filing: A statement of change becomes effective when filed by the secretary of state (option A). However, pursuant to sections 4.052 and 4.053 of the BOC the effectiveness of the instrument may be delayed to a date not more than ninety (90) days from the date the instrument is signed (option B). The effectiveness of the instrument also may be delayed on the occurrence of a future event or fact, other than the passage of time (option C). If option C is selected, you must state the manner in which the event or fact will cause the instrument to take effect and the date of the 90th day after the date the instrument is signed. In order for the instrument to take effect under option C, the entity must, within ninety (90) days of the filing of the instrument, file a statement with the secretary of state regarding the event or fact pursuant to section 4.055 of the BOC.
On the filing of a document with a delayed effective date or condition, the computer records of the secretary of state will be changed to show the filing of the document, the date of the filing, and the future date on which the document will be effective or evidence that the effectiveness was conditioned on the occurrence of a future event or fact.
On acceptance of the statement of change by the secretary of state, the statement is effective as an amendment to the appropriate provision of the entity's certificate of formation or the foreign filing entity's registration.
- Execution: Pursuant to section 4.001 of the BOC, the statement of change must be signed by a person authorized by the BOC to act on behalf of the entity in regard to the filing instrument. Generally, a governing person or managerial official of the entity signs a filing instrument.
The statement of change need not be notarized. However, before signing, please read the statements on this form carefully. The designation or appointment of a person as the registered agent by a managerial official is an affirmation by that official that the person named in the instrument has consented to serve as registered agent. (BOC § 5.2011, effective January 1, 2010)
A person commits an offense under section 4.008 of the BOC if the person signs or directs the filing of a filing instrument the person knows is materially false with the intent that the instrument be delivered to the secretary of state for filing. The offense is a Class A misdemeanor unless the person's intent is to harm or defraud another, in which case the offense is a state jail felony.
- Payment and Delivery Instructions: The filing fee for a change of registered office/agent is $15, unless the filing entity is a nonprofit corporation or a cooperative association. The filing fee for a nonprofit corporation or a cooperative association is $5. Fees may be paid by personal checks, money orders, LegalEase debit cards, or American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa credit cards. Checks or money orders must be payable through a U.S. bank or financial institution and made payable to the secretary of state. Fees paid by credit card are subject to a statutorily authorized convenience fee of 2.7 percent of the total fees.
Submit the completed form in duplicate along with the filing fee. The form may be mailed to P.O. Box 13697, Austin, Texas 78711-3697; or delivered to the James Earl Rudder Office Building, 1019 Brazos, Austin, Texas 78701. On filing the document, the secretary of state will return the appropriate evidence of filing to the submitter together with a file-stamped copy of the document, if a duplicate copy was provided as instructed.
Revised 05/11
