Start a Domestic (WA) LP or LLLP Online

Certificate of Limited Partnership or Limited Liability Limited Partnership: Online Instructions

Purpose: A Certificate of Formation is used to create a new business entity that has not previously been registered with the Office of the Secretary of State; or is beyond its five (5) year reinstatement period.

Filing Fee: $180 in addition to an online processing fee.

Expedited Service: You may add expedited priority for an additional $100 at checkout, which is generally processed within three working days.

Select each section dropdown below for instruction and important information.

Unified Business Identifier (UBI)

If the business has previously registered with a Washington state agency (e.g., Department of Revenue, Labor & Industries, or Employment Security), it may already have a 9-digit UBI number.

• Select “Yes” to enter an existing UBI (do not use a UBI from a Sole Proprietorship or General Partnership).
• If the business does not have a UBI, select “No” to continue. A UBI will be assigned upon successful filing.

LLLP Election

Select "Yes" or "No" based on your determination to the question "Is the Limited Partnership an LLLP?"

Business Name

If you have a reserved name and a Name Reservation Number, select “Yes,” enter the number, and click “Get Name.” The reserved name will populate automatically. Then, select the appropriate business entity designation.

If you don’t have a reservation, enter a proposed business name and click “Look Up” to check availability.

• If the name is not available, enter a different one.
• If the name is available, you may proceed to the next step.

Note: Name availability is subject to final review by the Secretary of State. The system does not account for pending submissions.

In accordance with RCW 23.95.305, a Limited Partnership must contain the designation Limited Partnership or the abbreviation LP or L.P. If the designation is omitted, it will default to LP when processed.

• If this business has elected to become a Limited Liability Limited Partnership by checking the designated box, they must include Limited Liability Limited Partnership or LLLP or L.L.L.P. in the name.
  • If the designation is omitted and the election is selected, it will default to LLLP when processed.

Must not contain any of the following words or phrases: “Bank”, “banking”, “banker”, “trust”, “cooperative”, or any combination of the words: “industrial” and “loan”, or any combination of any two or more of the words: “building”, “savings”, “loan”, “home”, “association”, and “society”, or any abbreviation thereof. 

The Limited Partnership name must be distinguishable upon the records of the Secretary of State from any other business already registered with the Secretary of State’s Office.
 

Registered Agent Consent

Select the appropriate statement regarding your business' Registered Agent.

• This section defaults to "I am not the Registered Agent..." review the statement associated with this selection and confirm before proceeding.
• Select "I am the Registered Agent..." to allow the system to use your contact information.

Registered Agent

All businesses must designate a Registered Agent in Washington State, as required by RCW 23.95.415. The agent must consent to serve, and by selecting a consent option, the submitter affirms the listed statements.

Select Agent Type

Choose either a Commercial or Noncommercial Registered Agent.

Commercial Registered Agent: A business or individual registered with the Secretary of State to receive legal documents on behalf of entities.

• Use the search tool, select the agent from the results, and click “Select Agent.”

Noncommercial Registered Agent: A business or individual who agrees to receive legal documents but is not registered as a commercial agent.

• Click “Add New Agent” (even if search results appear) to ensure accurate entry.
• Enter and confirm the agent’s email address 
• Provide a physical street address in Washington State (no PO Boxes or PMBs) and mailing address (optional).
• Phone number (optional).

Certificate of Limited Partnership

If the business entity has a drafted a Certificate Limited Partnership, select “Yes” and upload the document. The Secretary of State does not record operating agreements or other internal governance documents. The uploaded certificate will not be file-stamped but will be included as an attachment to the system-generated PDF.

If uploaded documents conflict with the information entered in the online form, this filing will be sent back for corrections or clarification. This is a very common rejection for online submissions.

Duration

If no option is selected, the business will default to a perpetual duration, meaning it will continue until it is voluntarily or administratively dissolved.

Only one option may be selected:

• Perpetual (ongoing),
  or a 
• Specific date or number of years (after which the business will be administratively dissolved as recorded).

Effective Date

Choose when the filing should take effect:

• Date of Filing: The filing becomes effective on the date it is processed by our office.
  or a
• Future Date: You may select a future effective date, up to 90 days from the filing date.

General Partner

Enter the name and address of each general partner, then click “Add General Partner” General partners are the individuals who becomes a general partner in a limited partnership according to the rules in RCW 25.10.371 or was already a general partner when the limited partnership became subject to the current law under RCW 25.10.911.

• Do not include individual names in the business entity name.
• To add more general partners, repeat the process and click “Add General Partner” after each entry.
  • All added General Partners will appear in the list below the entry fields.

Principal Office

This is the location where the business keeps its records.

• Email: Enter and confirm the email address (required). ACP Participants: Only check the ACP box if you are enrolled in the Address Confidentiality Program and can provide your participant number. More information about the ACP program.
  • If you have trouble entering your address, uncheck the ACP box and try again.
• Street Address: Must be a physical address (no PO Boxes or PMBs). It does not need to be in Washington State. and mailing address (optional).
• Phone number (optional).

​Governors

This section is not required if submitting without the initial report.

List the individuals or entities responsible for governing the business.

• ​ Do not include individual names in the business entity name.
• To add a governor, select the type (individual or entity), enter the name, and click “Add Governor.”
  • Added governors will appear in the list below the entry fields.

Nature of Business

This section is not required if submitting without the initial report.

Provide the nature of business of the business entity.

• Standard selections are available in the drop-down list
  and/or
• Check “other” to unlock the text box and enter a brief description of the nature of business.

Return Address for this Filing

If entered, confirmation for this filing will be sent to this address in addition to the Registered Agent’s address.

Upload additional documents

Use this section to upload any required supporting documents.

Do not upload meeting minutes, ownership details, operating agreements, bylaws, or other internal governance documents, these uploads will be removed before the filing is completed.

Email Opt-In

Select the checkbox if the business entity elects to opt-in to email notifications from our office. All notifications will be sent to the email address on record.

Authorized Person

Provide the first and last name of the authorized person submitting the filing. Then select the checkbox next to “This document is hereby executed under penalty of law and is to the best of my knowledge, true and correct.”