Registered Agents

A Registered Agent is a designated individual or entity consenting to accept legal documents, such as summons, complaints, and official notices on behalf of the business. This role is required by law for both domestic entities and registered foreign entities operating in Washington State.

Registered Agent FAQs

What is a Registered Agent?

RCW 23.95.105(35)

A Registered agent means an agent of an entity which is authorized to receive service of any process (such as legal Summons and Complaints), notice, or demand required or permitted by law to be served on the business entity. The term includes a commercial registered agent and a non-commercial registered agent.

Do I need a Registered Agent?

RCW 23.95.405: Entities required to designate and maintain registered agent. (wa.gov)

The following shall designate and maintain a registered agent in this state:

1. A domestic entity;
   and
2. A registered foreign entity.

Who can be Registered Agent?

Anyone who consents to receive all legal mail and accept Service of process on behalf of the entity/business.

What Registered Agent Information is required?

• Registered Agent Type (Commercial or Non-Commercial Registered Agent
• Physical Address in Washington State (No PMBs or PO Boxes)
• Contact Email Address
• Signed & dated consent to serve

How do I change or update our Registered Agent?

Each link below directs you to our Filings, Forms & Information page for details on the selected service type.

Updating Registered Agent Information: 

• If the business is within the Annual Report Filing Window (within 180-days of the Annual Report Due Date), an Annual Report can be filed.
• If the business is outside of the Annual Report filing window(more than 180-days before the Annual Report Due Date), an Amended Annual Report or Statement of Change can be filed.

What are the different types of Registered Agents?

RCW 23.95(4) creates two types of Registered Agent, the Non-Commercial Registered Agent, and the Commercial Registered Agent.

 

Non-Commercial Registered Agent: Any person or business with an address in Washington who agrees to accept legal mail on behalf of the entity/business. Businesses can appoint a position or office title to perform the service of the registered agent no matter who holds the position; the person holding the designated position at the time of the filing must sign the Registered Agent Consent Statement.

Visit our Forms page to access all Registered Agent forms and explore all available services and filings.

 

Commercial Registered Agent (CRA): A person or a business may be listed as a commercial registered agent by filing a Commercial Listing Statement with the agent’s name, physical address located in Washington State, and an email address. Changes can be made to the Commercial Registered Agent information for all represented businesses by filing a Statement of Change by Commercial Registered Agent.

Once registered, Commercial Registered Agents are added to a public list which is available in our Online Filing System, Corporations and Filing System (CCFS) login page. Businesses filing with the Secretary of State can hire Commercial Registered Agents to provide registered agent services.

Visit our Forms page to access all Registered Agent forms and explore all available services and filings

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What is the Registered Office?

 The registered office in the office address where the Registered Agent must be located during business hours.

The registered office address must be a physical address in Washington State. A mailing address in Washington State can be provided as well but is not required.

Does the Registered Agent address have to be in Washington State?

 Yes, it must be in Washington State and a physical address per state statute.

A registered agent is required to have a physical address (not a PO BOX or PMB) in the State so legal process can take place. The agent may also provide a PO Box address in addition to a physical address for receiving notice.

If you are unable to meet this requirement and do not have a physical address in the state of Washington, you can hire a Commercial Registered Agent to provide registered agent services. Commercial Registered Agents are added to a public list which is available in our Online Filing System, Corporations and Filing System (CCFS) login page.

How do I resign as Registered Agent?

In order to resign as the Registered Agent, you must file with the Secretary of State's office and follow the procedures under RCW 23.95.445.

• To resign, file a Statement of Resignation with the Secretary of State. Resignations take effect 31 days after filing is placed on record.

Why am I still showing as the Registered Agent? I resigned!

Both the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS) and our forms record the true effective date of the resignation.

Review the business’s filing history to verify the effective date of the resignation and the current date, or if another filing was filed.

Visit our CCFS Tools & Resource page for more information on reviewing the filing history of a specific business entity.

Statement of Resignations become effective 31 days from the filed/effective date.

If the resignation has not taken effect more than 31 days after the Statement of Resignation’s filed or effective date, contact the Secretary of State for assistance.

Why am I listed as a business' Registered Agent? I never agreed or gave consent!

Per RCW 23.95.415(2) in the event any individual or entity has been appointed registered agent without consent, that individual or entity may deliver to the Secretary of State a notarized statement attesting to that fact, and the name shall immediately be removed from the records of the Secretary of State.

Are you looking for other information?

Select the action are you taking on behalf of your business entity.