Washington's Business Corporation Act requires every corporation and LLC operating in Washington state to maintain a registered agent. There's no wiggle room here. A Washington registered agent is your business's official legal contact in the state.
The role of a registered agent is to receive legal documents, government notices, and service of process on behalf of your LLC or corporation. This ensures you don't miss critical deadlines that could put your business at risk. For companies operating across multiple states, a reliable registered agent becomes your early warning system for compliance issues.
A Washington registered agent acts as your official legal point person. They accept everything from tax notices to lawsuit papers on your behalf. They function as your business's mailbox for important documents that require timely attention.
Washington sets specific requirements for registered agents:
Your agent's information becomes public record through the Secretary of State's office. Many multi-entity businesses hire professional services to maintain privacy and ensure someone is always available when important documents arrive.
Online filing (fastest option):
Mail filing:
Important: Ensure your new agent provides written consent before filing. Avoid compliance gaps by confirming your new agent is active before terminating the previous one.
When appointing or changing a registered agent, you'll need:
To change your Washington registered agent, you'll need to file a Statement of Change form with the Secretary of State.
Washington does not charge a filing fee for registered agent changes, whether filed online or by mail. Expedited processing will cost you $50, though.
Note: While the state doesn't charge filing fees, professional registered agent services typically charge annual service fees for their ongoing services.
Washington law requires every LLC and corporation to maintain a registered agent. Beyond legal compliance, registered agents provide:
Modern digital registered agent services have improved this process with real-time notification systems and electronic document management. Companies managing entities in multiple states particularly benefit from instant access to critical information across jurisdictions.
Plus, missing legal notices can result in default judgments, administrative dissolution, or loss of good standing with the state.
Discern customers can digitally file their Washington annual reports and appoint a registered agent directly from the platform in minutes. We handle the paperwork, calculate fees automatically, and ensure your filings are submitted on time.
Our registered agent service includes automated compliance tracking across all 51 jurisdictions, so you never miss a deadline. Check out what else Discern can do to streamline your multi-state compliance.
.png){kind=small}