Having a registered agent is a requirement in Washington state. This agent can be a person or company; their role is to ease communication between the business and the state by serving as an intermediary. In their capacity, they accept service of process and receive compliance updates and tax notices. Given that you must have one under Washington state law, you must update the state if you change your agent.
Who Can Serve as a Registered Agent in Washington State?
Before you change your agent, you should understand the criteria your new agent should meet:
- They must be at least 18 years old and capable of entering into contracts. If dealing with a company, ensure its incorporation is in Washington state, as this gives it the right to stand in as your agent,
- They must have a physical address in Washington state. Please note that a physical address differs from a P.O. Box. Ensure that the agent has a location where they can receive official correspondence,
- They must be available during regular office hours. Government officials will only serve you with papers during this timeframe. You must thus choose an agent who will be available during these hours; else, you can fail to receive crucial paperwork, and
- They must be residents of Washington state.
If you can find an agent who meets these requirements, you can elect them as a replacement for your current agent.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Washington State
When forming an LLC, you elect an agent by listing their details in your certificate of formation. And when you do this, you pay $200, including the election and other crucial formation details. But must you go through this process again to change your agent? Not even a bit!
Changing your agent is as simple as any of these options:
OPTION 1
If you are not within your filing period, you can change your agent as follows:
- You must fill in the statement of change form, also referred to as the designation of registered agent form. This document outlines the details of your new agent, updating the state of the change. Please note that your new agent must sign this form, indicating their consent to represent you,
- You must then file the document with the state, allowing the authorities to take note of the change to ensure you get your correspondence to your new address. The forms of filing are as follows:
- Online: You can fill out the form online and submit it via the state portal,
- Mail: You can download the form from the portal, fill it out, and send it to the address below:
Washington Office of the Secretary of State
Corporations and Charities Division
801 Capitol Way S.
Olympia, WA 98504-0234
- In Person: You can download and fill out the statement of change form and present it in person to the address listed above.
And voila! You will have a new agent!
OPTION 2
If you are close to your filing period deadline, you can kill two birds with one stone by updating your agent information in your annual report. You can do this online or via mail at $60, enabling you to avoid late filing fees and the possibility of automatic dissolution. You will not incur any filing fees when using any of these methods. Better yet, if using Passportology, you will not pay any service fees as we offer a free change of agent service. You can switch today and enjoy centralized access to all your official documents!