At a Glance

Wyoming nonprofits can change their registered agent anytime by filing Form RA-2 with the Wyoming Secretary of State, paying a $25 filing fee, and ensuring both the old and new agent sign the form. The change becomes effective immediately upon filing, and timing is generally not critical unless your current agent has resigned or continues billing inappropriately.

Understanding Wyoming’s Registered Agent Requirements

Every Wyoming nonprofit corporation must maintain a registered agent with an address in Wyoming where legal documents can be served during normal business hours. This requirement exists to ensure that courts, government agencies, and other parties can reliably deliver important legal notices to your organization.

Your registered agent serves a critical function: ensuring legal notices reach your nonprofit. However, most other government mail and nearly all tax notices go directly to your nonprofit’s address on file with the relevant agencies. The main exception involves wage-garnishment notices, which typically go through the registered agent.

Wyoming law allows your nonprofit to serve as its own registered agent if you maintain a Wyoming address, or you can hire a commercial registered agent service like Labyrinth, Inc. to handle this responsibility.

When Should You Change Your Registered Agent?

• Service Quality Issues: If your current agent fails to promptly forward documents, lacks reliable office hours, or provides poor customer service, switching to a more dependable provider protects your nonprofit from missing critical deadlines.
• Cost Optimization: Consolidating multiple state registrations with one commercial registered agent often reduces overall costs and administrative complexity. This consolidation creates one vendor relationship, one invoice, and one online portal for managing documents across all states where your nonprofit operates.
• Geographic Expansion: When expanding operations to other states, many nonprofits prefer working with a registered agent that can handle foreign qualification filings and ongoing compliance in multiple jurisdictions. Note that multistate growth itself doesn’t legally require changing your Wyoming agent—it’s simply a best-practice convenience.
• Agent Resignation or Business Closure: If your current agent resigns or goes out of business, you must promptly appoint a replacement to avoid operating without required representation.
• Address Changes: Moving your nonprofit’s office does not require changing your registered agent unless your nonprofit previously served as its own agent using that office address.

How to Change Your Registered Agent in Wyoming

Step 1: Choose Your New Registered Agent

Your new registered agent must meet Wyoming’s requirements:

• Maintain a physical Wyoming address (not a P.O. Box)
• Be available during normal business hours to receive documents
• Agree to serve as your registered agent

Commercial registered agent services like Labyrinth offer reliable document handling, privacy protection for your nonprofit’s leadership, and expertise in nonprofit-specific compliance requirements.

Step 2: Obtain and Complete Form RA-2

Download Form RA-2 (“Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent”) from the Wyoming Secretary of State website (wyobiz.wy.gov). The form requires:

• Your nonprofit’s exact legal name as registered with Wyoming
• Current registered agent’s name and address
• New registered agent’s name and complete Wyoming address
• Signatures from both the old and new registered agent
• Authorized signature from your nonprofit (typically an officer)

Important: Both the outgoing and incoming registered agent must sign the form. If your current agent refuses to sign, you’ll need to follow additional procedures outlined by the Wyoming Secretary of State.

Step 3: File the Form and Pay Fees

Submit Form RA-2 to the Wyoming Secretary of State along with the $25 filing fee. You can file:

• Online: Through the Wyoming Business Center at wyobiz.wy.gov
• By Mail: Wyoming Secretary of State, 2020 Carey Avenue, Suite 700, Cheyenne, WY 82002
• In Person: Same address during business hours

The change becomes effective immediately upon filing—Wyoming doesn’t impose waiting periods or delayed effective dates.

Step 4: Update Internal Records

After filing, update your nonprofit’s internal records to reflect the registered agent change. Notify your board of directors and update any internal documentation that references the old agent’s information.

Timeline and Deadlines

Wyoming doesn’t impose specific deadlines for changing your registered agent. You can file the change anytime, and timing is generally immaterial unless:

• Your current agent has resigned, leaving your nonprofit without required representation
• Your current agent continues billing inappropriately after you’ve decided to switch
• You’re facing an active legal proceeding where reliable document service is critical

There are no late fees or penalties associated with the timing of your registered agent change.

Cost Considerations

The Wyoming Secretary of State charges a $25 filing fee for Form RA-2. This fee is non-refundable and must accompany your filing.

Additional costs depend on your choice of new registered agent:

• Self-Service: If your nonprofit serves as its own registered agent, you’ll only pay the state filing fee.
• Commercial Service: Professional registered agent services typically charge annual fees ranging from $100 to $300, depending on the level of service and additional features provided.

Labyrinth offers bulk-change programs for nonprofits switching from other providers. We often discount or waive our fees for volume changes and sometimes cover state filing fees. Additionally, we extend first-year service up to 12 months to prevent double-paying for overlapping contracts.

Special Considerations for Nonprofits

Charitable Registration Impact

If your Wyoming nonprofit is registered for charitable solicitation in other states, changing your Wyoming registered agent does not automatically update your charitable registration information in those states. Up to 18 states require nonprofits to name a registered agent on charitable-registration filings.

Changing your secretary-of-state registered agent requires a separate filing to update your charitable-registration agent information in each affected state. This often involves different forms and separate fees.

IRS and Federal Considerations

Changing your Wyoming registered agent doesn’t require notifying the IRS or updating your federal tax-exempt status. The IRS correspondence address remains separate from your state registered agent appointment.

Board Governance

While Wyoming law doesn’t require board approval for registered agent changes, your nonprofit’s bylaws might specify approval procedures for such administrative changes. Review your governing documents before proceeding.

Common Misconceptions About Registered Agent Changes

Several myths surround registered agent changes that can cause unnecessary concern:

Myth: Wyoming penalizes nonprofits for having an “unreliable” registered agent.
Reality: States simply require having an agent on record. They don’t monitor or penalize agent reliability.

Myth: Changing agents creates records-management duties or compliance burdens.
Reality: The change filing itself creates no additional ongoing obligations beyond maintaining the new agent relationship.

Myth: You must change agents when expanding to new states.
Reality: Foreign qualification appoints a registered agent in the new state separately from your Wyoming agent. Consolidation with one vendor is convenient but not legally required.

Myth: Moving your nonprofit’s office requires changing your registered agent.
Reality: Only if your nonprofit previously served as its own registered agent using the old office address.

Why Choose a Commercial Registered Agent?

While Wyoming nonprofits can serve as their own registered agent, commercial services offer several advantages:

• Reliability: Professional services maintain consistent business hours and trained staff to receive documents promptly.
• Privacy: Using a commercial agent keeps your nonprofit leadership’s personal addresses out of public records.
• Expertise: Services like Labyrinth understand nonprofit-specific compliance requirements and can provide regulatory guidance beyond basic document receipt.
• Convenience: One vendor can handle registered agent services across multiple states, simplifying administration through consolidated billing and unified online portals.
• Document Management: Professional services typically offer secure online access to received documents, creating reliable records for your organization.

Working with Labyrinth, Inc.

Labyrinth provides commercial registered agent services specifically designed for nonprofits operating in Wyoming and nationwide. Our approach emphasizes:

• Nonprofit Expertise: We understand the unique compliance landscape facing tax-exempt organizations, including charitable registration requirements and regulatory reporting.
• Reliable Service: Our nationwide network of offices remains open during business hours, ensuring your nonprofit never misses urgent documents.
• Streamlined Administration: Consolidating your registered agent services with Labyrinth creates one vendor relationship, one invoice, and one portal for managing documents across all states where you operate.
• Cost-Effective Transitions: Our bulk-change program helps nonprofits switch from other providers by discounting fees, often covering state filing costs, and extending service periods to prevent double-paying for overlapping contracts.

Document Retention and Access

After changing your registered agent, maintain copies of:

• Filed Form RA-2 and state confirmation
• Any correspondence with your old registered agent regarding the transition
• Documentation of the effective change date

If using a commercial service, ensure you understand their document retention policies and online access procedures. Labyrinth provides secure online portals where nonprofits can access received documents and track filing histories.

Conclusion

Changing your Wyoming nonprofit’s registered agent is a straightforward administrative process that can improve your organization’s compliance reliability and operational efficiency. The $25 state filing fee and simple Form RA-2 make this change accessible whenever your nonprofit’s needs evolve.

Whether you’re addressing service quality issues, optimizing costs through consolidation, or expanding to new states, the registered agent change process protects your nonprofit’s ability to receive critical legal documents while supporting your organization’s broader strategic goals.

Remember that timing is rarely critical unless your current agent has resigned or created other urgent circumstances. Focus on choosing a reliable replacement that meets your nonprofit’s long-term needs rather than rushing the transition.

Frequently Asked Questions