What Is an LLC Amendment (and How to Change Your LLC Name)?
Plain-language explainer. For official filing fees in every U.S. jurisdiction, see the Amendment Fees by State and Articles of Amendment Filing Fees by State matrices. Not legal advice.
Short answer
An amendment is a filing that changes information in your LLC's or corporation's original formation document. The document is usually called articles of amendment (or a certificate of amendment), and it updates the official record the state holds for your entity.
Changing your LLC name
The most common reason to amend is a name change. In most states you file articles of amendment naming the old and new names and pay the state filing fee; the change takes effect when the state accepts it. Before filing, confirm the new name is available in the state and meets naming rules (for example, including a required “LLC” designator).
What an amendment is not
An amendment changes an existing entity; it does not create a new one and does not move the entity to a different state (that is domestication or re-formation). It is also distinct from your internal operating agreement, which is not filed with the state.
What it costs
States set the amendment filing fee by statute, and LLC and corporation fees often differ. The per-state, per-entity-type fees — with standard and expedited turnaround where published — are in the Amendment Fees by State matrix.
Not legal advice
Name availability, naming rules, and which form applies are state-specific and can change. Confirm with the state before filing.
See also: Amendment Fees by State (matrix) · What is a registered agent?
Frequently asked questions
Is changing my LLC's name an amendment?
In most states, yes — a name change is filed as articles of amendment to the formation document. A few states use a separate form, which the fee matrix notes per state.
What else can an amendment change?
Anything fixed in the original formation filing: the entity name, registered office or agent (sometimes a separate filing), management structure, purpose, or — for corporations — authorized shares.
Do I need to amend my operating agreement too?
Possibly. The state amendment updates the public record; your internal operating agreement is a separate document. Material changes often warrant updating both, but the operating agreement is not filed with the state.
What does an amendment cost?
Fees vary by state and entity type. See the Amendment Fees by State and Articles of Amendment Filing Fees by State matrices for the official fee in all 51 jurisdictions.
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Explore methodology, datasets, and related matrices cited on this page.