Formation and Registration Forms Requiring Registered Agent Designation in Kentucky
Current business-entity forms are published in the Business Forms Library. Accepted filing methods are online through the One Stop Business Portal and the Online Filings Index, by mail to the Office of the Secretary of State, Business Filings, P.O. Box 718, Frankfort, KY 40602-0718, and in person at 1025 Capital Center Drive, Suite 201, Frankfort, KY 40601. (502) 564-3490
LLCs
Kentucky uses separate domestic LLC organization forms and a foreign-entity authority form, and each filing requires a Kentucky registered office, a Kentucky registered agent, and written agent consent.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company (KLC) | Forms a domestic profit LLC and includes the initial Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent. | $40 |
| Articles of Organization Nonprofit Limited Liability Company (NLC) | Forms a domestic nonprofit LLC and includes the initial Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent. | $40 |
| Certificate of Authority (Foreign Business Entity) (FBE) | Registers a foreign profit LLC or foreign nonprofit LLC and includes the Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent. | $90 |
Corporations
Kentucky uses a domestic profit corporation incorporation form and a foreign-entity authority form, and both filings require a Kentucky registered office and registered agent.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Articles of Incorporation Profit Corporation (PAI) | Forms a domestic profit corporation and includes the initial Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent. | $40 articles fee + organization tax; minimum total $50 for 1,000 shares or fewer |
| Certificate of Authority (Foreign Business Entity) (FBE) | Registers a foreign profit corporation and includes the Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent. | $90 |
Nonprofit Corporations
Kentucky uses a separate nonprofit incorporation form and the same foreign-entity authority form for foreign nonprofit corporations, and both filings require Kentucky registered-agent information.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Articles of Incorporation Non-profit Corporation (NAI) | Forms a domestic nonprofit corporation and includes the Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent. | $8 |
| Certificate of Authority (Foreign Business Entity) (FBE) | Registers a foreign nonprofit corporation and includes the Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent. | $90 |
Limited Partnerships
Kentucky uses a domestic limited partnership certificate and a foreign-entity authority form for foreign limited partnerships, and both filings require a Kentucky registered office and registered agent.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Certificate of Limited Partnership (Domestic Business Entity) (KNP) | Forms a domestic limited partnership and includes the initial Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent, with an election for limited liability limited partnership status. | $40 |
| Certificate of Authority (Foreign Business Entity) (FBE) | Registers a foreign limited partnership and includes the Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent, with an election for limited liability limited partnership status. | $90 |
Limited Liability Partnerships
Kentucky uses separate domestic and foreign LLP qualification forms, and each filing requires a Kentucky registered office, a Kentucky registered agent, and written agent consent.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Statement of Qualification (Domestic Limited Liability Partnership) (KNL) | Registers LLP status for an existing domestic partnership and includes the initial Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent. | $40 |
| Statement of Foreign Qualification (Foreign Limited Liability Partnership) (FNL) | Registers a foreign LLP and includes the Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent. | $90 |
Additional Entity-Specific Filings in Kentucky
Kentucky also publishes separate registered-agent-bearing forms for professional entities and public benefit corporations.
Professional Limited Liability Companies
Kentucky uses a separate organization form for domestic professional LLCs and the foreign-entity authority form for foreign professional LLCs.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Articles of Organization Professional Limited Liability Company (PLC) | Forms a domestic professional LLC and includes the initial Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent. | $40 |
| Certificate of Authority (Foreign Business Entity) (FBE) | Registers a foreign professional LLC and includes the Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent. | $90 |
Professional Service Corporations
Kentucky uses a separate incorporation form for domestic professional service corporations and the foreign-entity authority form for foreign professional service corporations.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Articles of Incorporation Professional Service Corporation (KPS) | Forms a domestic professional service corporation and includes the initial Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent. | $40 articles fee + organization tax; minimum total $50 for 1,000 shares or fewer |
| Certificate of Authority (Foreign Business Entity) (FBE) | Registers a foreign professional service corporation and includes the Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent. | $90 |
Public Benefit Corporations
Kentucky uses a separate public benefit corporation incorporation form that includes registered-agent designation.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Articles of Incorporation Public Benefit Corporation (BAI) | Forms a domestic public benefit corporation and includes the initial Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent consent. | $40 articles fee + organization tax; minimum total $50 for 1,000 shares or fewer |
Kentucky Registered Agent Consent Forms
Kentucky publishes a separate consent form that may be filed when the registered agent does not sign the main formation, qualification, or change filing.
| Form | Description | Filed By | Filing Fee |
| Statement of Consent of Registered Agent (CRA) | Documents the registered agent’s written consent for a domestic or foreign business entity and is filed with the Secretary of State rather than retained internally. | Registered agent | $0 |
Changing a Kentucky Registered Agent or Registered Office (Filed by Entity)
Kentucky uses one entity-filed statement of change for a registered agent change, a registered office change, or both together.
| Form | Description | Filing Fee |
| Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office Address (RAC) | Changes the registered agent, the registered office, or both, and the filing instructions state that online filing is available. | $10 |
Registered Agent Resignation and Rejection Forms in Kentucky
Kentucky provides a state-issued resignation filing for a registered agent, and the current business-entity forms do not publish a separate rejection-of-appointment form.
| Form | Description | Filed By | Filing Fee |
| Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent (SRA) | Resigns the appointment of the registered agent for a domestic or foreign business entity. | Registered agent | $0 |
The resignation becomes effective on the 31st day after filing.
FAQ
Where can I find all current Kentucky Secretary of State business forms?
Current business-entity forms are published in the Business Forms Library.
Online filing access is provided through the One Stop Business Portal and the Online Filings Index.
Current filing charges are listed on the Business Filings Fees page.
Is the registered agent consent form required to be filed with the Kentucky Secretary of State?
Kentucky publishes a separate Statement of Consent of Registered Agent (CRA), and that separate document is filed with the Secretary of State when it is used.
Many Kentucky formation and registration forms also contain a consent signature block for the registered agent. When the registered agent signs the main filing, a separate CRA is not required.
What form is used to change a registered agent in Kentucky?
The required change form is the Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office Address (RAC).
The filing fee is $10. Filing methods are the same as described above.
What is the difference between the entity-filed change form and the agent-filed change form in Kentucky?
Kentucky publishes an entity-filed Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office Address (RAC), which the business uses to change its registered agent, its registered office, or both.
Kentucky does not publish a separate business-entity form that lets a registered agent update the agent’s own name or address across multiple represented entities in one filing.
When a registered agent no longer wishes to serve, the agent uses the Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent (SRA). That resignation becomes effective on the 31st day after filing.
Is there a fee to form a nonprofit corporation in Kentucky?
Yes. The filing fee for the Articles of Incorporation Non-profit Corporation (NAI) is $8.
For comparison, the Articles of Incorporation Profit Corporation (PAI), the Articles of Incorporation Professional Service Corporation (KPS), and the Articles of Incorporation Public Benefit Corporation (BAI) each carry a $40 articles fee plus organization tax, with a minimum total of $50 for 1,000 shares or fewer.
The Business Filings Fees page does not list a separate online convenience fee for these filings.
What forms are used to register an out-of-state LLC in Kentucky?
An out-of-state LLC uses the Certificate of Authority (Foreign Business Entity (FBE).
That form covers foreign profit LLCs, foreign nonprofit LLCs, and foreign professional LLCs. The filing fee is $90.
The filing requires a Kentucky registered office, a Kentucky registered agent, and written consent from the registered agent on the form or by separate consent filing.
What forms are used to form or register a partnership in Kentucky?
A domestic limited partnership uses the Certificate of Limited Partnership (Domestic Business Entity) (KNP). The filing fee is $40, and the form includes the Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent-consent fields.
A domestic limited liability partnership uses the Statement of Qualification (Domestic Limited Liability Partnership) (KNL). The filing fee is $40, and this filing registers LLP status for an existing partnership rather than creating a new partnership entity.
A foreign limited liability partnership uses the Statement of Foreign Qualification (Foreign Limited Liability Partnership) (FNL). The filing fee is $90, and the form includes the Kentucky registered office, registered agent, and agent-consent fields.
A foreign limited partnership uses the Certificate of Authority (Foreign Business Entity) (FBE). If the foreign limited partnership elects limited liability limited partnership status, that election is made on the same FBE filing rather than through a second Kentucky partnership form.
Can I file Kentucky SOS forms online?
Yes. Kentucky provides online filing through the One Stop Business Portal and the Online Filings Index.
The online services pages state that online filings are available for new business filings, annual reports, amended annual reports, renewal of assumed names, statements of change of registered agent or registered office, statements of change of principal office, and reinstatement applications. The online instructions also state that a typed filer name is accepted as the original signature for electronic submission.
The Business Filings Fees page does not list a separate expedited business-entity filing fee or a separate online convenience fee for these filings.