Formation and Registration Forms Requiring Registered Agent Designation in Alabama
All Alabama business entity forms are available on the Alabama Secretary of State Business Downloads page. Most forms may be filed online through Alabama Interactive, by mail to Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services Division, P.O. Box 5616, Montgomery, AL 36103-5616, or in person at 770 Washington Avenue, Suite 580, Montgomery, AL 36104. The Business Services Division can be reached by phone at 334-242-5324. The main office phone is 334-242-7200, and fax is 334-242-4993.
LLCs
Every domestic LLC Certificate of Formation and foreign LLC Application for Registration requires designation of a registered agent and registered office address in Alabama. A name reservation certificate must be obtained and attached before any formation or registration document is accepted.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Domestic LLC Certificate of Formation | Forms a domestic Alabama LLC; must designate a registered agent and registered office | $200 |
| Foreign LLC Application for Registration | Registers a foreign LLC to transact business in Alabama; must designate a registered agent and registered office | $150 |
| Foreign Professional Limited Liability Company Application for Registration | Registers a foreign PLLC; must attach Alabama professional license and include name and address of each AL-licensed individual | $150 |
Late registration of a foreign LLC carries a penalty of $150 per year.
Corporations
Each domestic corporation Certificate of Formation and foreign corporation Application for Registration requires designation of a registered agent and registered office address. Alabama does not have a separate domestic professional corporation formation form; licensed professionals form a standard business corporation and comply with professional licensing requirements separately.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Domestic Business Corporation Certificate of Formation | Forms a domestic for-profit corporation; must designate a registered agent and registered office | $200 |
| Foreign Corporation Application for Registration | Registers a foreign business or nonprofit corporation; must designate a registered agent and registered office | $150 |
| Foreign Professional Corporation Application for Registration | Registers a foreign professional corporation; must attach an Alabama professional license and list all AL-licensed individuals | $150 |
Late registration of a foreign corporation carries a penalty of $150 per year.
Nonprofit Corporations
Alabama nonprofit corporations file formation documents with the Secretary of State at the same $200 fee as for-profit entities. Foreign nonprofit corporations use the same Foreign Corporation Application for Registration ($150) as for-profit foreign corporations.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Domestic Nonprofit Corporation Certificate of Incorporation | Forms a domestic nonprofit corporation; must designate a registered agent and registered office | $200 |
| Domestic Homeowners Association Certificate of Formation | Forms a homeowners’ association as a nonprofit corporation (required for HOAs formed on or after January 1, 2016); must designate a registered agent and registered office | $200 |
| Domestic Homeowners Association Supplement to Formation | Required supplemental filing for HOAs after the certificate of formation is indexed | $50 |
Limited Partnerships
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Domestic Limited Partnership (LP) Certificate of Formation | Forms a domestic LP; must designate a registered agent and registered office | $200 |
| Foreign Limited Partnership (LP) Statement of Authority | Registers a foreign LP in Alabama; must designate a registered agent and registered office | $150 |
Late registration of a foreign LP carries a penalty of $150 per year.
Limited Liability Partnerships
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Statement of Domestic Limited Liability Partnership | Registers a domestic LLP; must designate a registered agent and registered office | $200 |
| Foreign Limited Liability Partnership Statement of Authority | Registers a foreign LLP in Alabama; must designate a registered agent and registered office | $150 |
Late registration of a foreign LLP carries a penalty of $150 per year.
Limited Liability Limited Partnerships
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Domestic LLLP Certificate of Formation | Forms a domestic LLLP; must designate a registered agent and registered office | $200 |
| Foreign LLLP Statement of Authority | Registers a foreign LLLP in Alabama; must designate a registered agent and registered office | $150 |
Late registration of a foreign LLLP carries a penalty of $150 per year.
General Partnerships
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Domestic General Partnership Statement of Partnership Authority | Files a GP statement of authority; must designate a registered agent and registered office | $200 |
| Foreign General Partnership Statement of Partnership Authority | Registers a foreign GP in Alabama; must designate a registered agent and registered office | $150 |
Late registration of a foreign GP carries a penalty of $150 per year.
Alabama Registered Agent Consent Forms
Alabama does not have a separate registered agent consent form. The registered agent’s name and address are designated directly on the entity’s formation or registration document, and the authorized person signing the document affirms that the designated agent has agreed to serve. There is no standalone consent document to file with or retain for the Secretary of State. If an agent wishes to withdraw consent after being named, the agent must file a Registered Agent Resignation Notice (covered in the Resignation section below).
Changing an Alabama Registered Agent or Registered Office (Filed by Entity)
A business entity that needs to replace its registered agent, change its registered office address, or both files this form with the Secretary of State. Filing methods are the same as described above.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office by Entity | Changes the entity’s registered agent, registered office address, or both | $100 |
Changing an Alabama Registered Agent’s Own Name or Address (Filed by Agent)
A registered agent who has changed its own legal name or office address — while continuing to serve as the same agent — files this form. This form cannot be used to appoint a different agent. A single filing covers the agent’s update across all entities represented, as the agent lists all affected entity names on the form.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Change by Current Agent to Alter Agent’s Name and/or Change Registered Office Address | Updates the current agent’s own legal name or registered office address | $100 |
Registered Agent Resignation and Rejection Forms in Alabama
Alabama provides a form for an agent to resign from an appointment. Alabama does not have a separate rejection-of-appointment form for a person named as agent without consent.
| Form | Description | Filed By | Filing Fee |
| Registered Agent Resignation Notice | Resigns as registered agent for a named entity | Registered Agent | $0 |
The resignation must be delivered to the Secretary of State within 11 days of the agent giving notice to the entity.
Reinstatement Forms Requiring Registered Agent Information in Alabama
An entity seeking reinstatement after dissolution must provide current registered agent information on the reinstatement form. Alabama currently provides a reinstatement form for LLCs only; corporations and other entity types should contact the Business Services Division at 334-242-5324 for reinstatement procedures.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Domestic LLC Certificate of Reinstatement | Reinstates a voluntarily dissolved domestic LLC; must include current registered agent information and attach a certified copy of the original certificate of formation | $100 |
Conversion Forms Requiring Registered Agent Designation in Alabama
Alabama uses universal conversion forms that apply across all entity types. When a conversion results in the formation of a new domestic entity, a completed formation form for the new entity type must be attached — and that formation form requires registered agent designation. Filing methods are the same as described above.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Conversion of a Domestic Entity | Converts a domestic entity from one type to another; must attach a completed formation form (do not form a new entity separately) | $100 |
| Formation of Domestic Entity by Conversion | Forms a domestic entity by conversion from a foreign or non-registered entity; must attach a completed formation form | $100 |
| Domestic Entity Conversion to Registered Foreign Entity | Converts a domestic entity to a foreign entity that will register in Alabama; requires registered agent designation on the new registration | $100 |
| Domestic Entity Conversion to Non-Registered Foreign Entity | Terminates a domestic entity converting to a foreign entity that will not register in Alabama | $100 |
| Foreign Conversion Filing: Amendment of Foreign Entity Filing Type | Amends a foreign entity’s filing type as a result of conversion in its home jurisdiction | $100 |
FAQ
Where can I find all current Alabama Secretary of State business forms?
All current business entity forms are available on the Alabama Secretary of State Business Downloads page. The page is organized by category: General Forms, Name Reservations, Registered Agent and/or Registered Office Changes, Domestic Corporations, Foreign Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Partnerships, Limited Liability Limited Partnerships, General Partnerships, Professional Associations, Mergers, and Conversions. The complete fee schedule is published in the Business Entities Division Fee Schedule. Online filings for select entity types are available through Alabama Interactive.
Is the registered agent consent form required to be filed with the Alabama Secretary of State?
Alabama does not have a separate registered agent consent form. Consent is not documented on a standalone form and is not filed with or retained by the Secretary of State. Instead, the authorized person signing any formation or registration document that names a registered agent implicitly affirms that the designated agent has agreed to serve. There is no statutory criminal penalty in Alabama specifically for naming an agent without consent, but an unwilling agent may file the Registered Agent Resignation Notice at no cost, which would leave the entity without a registered agent and potentially out of compliance.
What form is used to change a registered agent in Alabama?
The Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office by Entity is used by any domestic or foreign business entity to change its registered agent, its registered office address, or both. The filing fee is $100 regardless of entity type. The form may be submitted by mail to Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services Division, P.O. Box 5616, Montgomery, AL 36103-5616, or in person at 770 Washington Avenue, Suite 580, Montgomery, AL 36104. There is no online filing option for this form. The Business Services Division can be reached at 334-242-5324.
What is the difference between the entity-filed change form and the agent-filed change form in Alabama?
The Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office by Entity is filed by the business entity itself and can be used to replace the current agent with an entirely different agent, change the registered office address, or do both. The Change by Current Agent to Alter Agent’s Name and/or Change Registered Office Address is filed by the registered agent only and is limited to updating the agent’s own legal name or office address — it cannot appoint a different agent. The agent-filed form has a practical advantage: a single filing can cover all entities the agent represents, as the agent lists every affected entity name on the form. Both forms cost $100 to file. Alabama does not impose a statutory advance notice requirement on agents before filing the agent-filed change form, but agents should notify represented entities of any address change as a matter of practice.
Is there a fee to form a nonprofit corporation in Alabama?
The filing fee for the Domestic Nonprofit Corporation Certificate of Incorporation is $200, the same fee that applies to all domestic entity formations in Alabama under Ala. Code § 10A-1-4.31. There is no reduced nonprofit rate. Online convenience fees (3% of the total charge plus $2) apply when paying by credit card through Alabama Interactive. The complete fee schedule is available in the Business Entities Division Fee Schedule.
What forms are used to register an out-of-state LLC in Alabama?
A standard foreign LLC files the Foreign LLC Application for Registration at a filing fee of $150. A foreign professional LLC files the Foreign Professional Limited Liability Company Application for Registration, also at $150, and must attach an Alabama professional license and the name and address of each Alabama-licensed individual. Both forms require designation of an Alabama registered agent and registered office address, and both require a name reservation certificate. A foreign LLC that has transacted business in Alabama without registering is subject to a late filing penalty of $150 per year under Ala. Code § 10A-1-7.23.
What forms are used to form or register a partnership in Alabama?
Alabama offers forms for four partnership types. The Domestic Limited Partnership (LP) Certificate of Formation creates a new LP entity at a filing fee of $200 and requires registered agent designation. The Statement of Domestic Limited Liability Partnership registers an existing partnership’s limited liability status at $200 — unlike the LP formation, this does not create a new entity. The Domestic LLLP Certificate of Formation forms a limited liability limited partnership at $200. The Domestic General Partnership Statement of Partnership Authority files a statement of authority for a general partnership at $200. All four domestic forms require registered agent designation. Foreign partnership registration is available for all four types at $150 each, with late registration penalties of $150 per year. Alabama does not require dual filings for foreign LLLPs — a single registration form covers the LLLP.
Can I file Alabama SOS forms online?
The Alabama Secretary of State offers online filing through Alabama Interactive for select filings, including domestic LLC formation, foreign LLC registration, foreign corporation registration, and name reservations. Online filings carry the same base filing fee as paper filings, plus a convenience fee of 3% of the total charge plus $2 for credit card payments. Not all form types are available online — registered agent changes, dissolutions, partnership filings, and most amendment forms must be submitted by mail or in person. There is no expedited processing service offered by the Alabama Secretary of State. For general questions about online services, contact the Business Services Division at 334-242-5324 or email business.services@sos.alabama.gov. For technical assistance with Alabama Interactive, contact 866-353-3468 or email support@alabamainteractive.org.
What is the late filing penalty for unregistered foreign entities in Alabama?
Alabama imposes a uniform late filing penalty of $150 per year on any foreign entity — LLC, corporation, LP, LLP, LLLP, or GP — that transacts business in the state without registering. The penalty applies for each full or partial calendar year of delinquency and is assessed at the time of registration. This penalty is in addition to the standard registration filing fee of $150 for foreign entities.
Does Alabama require annual or periodic reports for business entities?
Alabama requires annual reports for domestic and foreign for-profit corporations only. The annual report fee is $10, collected by the Alabama Department of Revenue on behalf of the Secretary of State. LLCs, partnerships, and nonprofit corporations are not required to file annual or periodic reports with the Secretary of State. However, all Alabama business entities are required to file a Business Privilege Tax Return with the Alabama Department of Revenue, which includes a minimum tax of $100 for LLCs and other pass-through entities.