Washington registered agent requirements
Check Washington’s rules for receiving legal notices and keeping the public contact record current. The local role may be called a registered agent, resident agent, statutory agent, or agent for service of process.
Open official agency forms and instructions ↗Who can serve in Washington?
Every domestic and registered foreign Washington entity must maintain a registered agent. The agent may be commercial or noncommercial and must consent, provide a physical Washington address with no P.O. box or PMB, and provide email/contact information; agent data are public.
Washington agent changes: forms and fees
A registered-agent/office change can be filed with an Annual Report during the 180-day window, or by Amended Annual Report/Statement of Change outside that window. The reviewed forms identify no separate fee for the change itself in the ordinary route; verify current CCFS checkout and required consent.
Resignation, notice, and effective dates
A Washington agent may resign through the statutory statement and notice process; the resignation's effective date follows RCW rules and does not appoint a successor. The current filing fee depends on the form/route, and the entity must promptly appoint a Washington agent or risk termination.
Consequences of a missing agent or address
An entity without a Washington registered agent or physical office can miss service, lose active status, become delinquent or terminated, and face default. Statutory substitute service in limited cases does not replace the continuing registered-agent requirement.
Confirm the change reached the public record
Keep the accepted filing and confirm the agent or service address shown for the business. Arrange forwarding of legal notices during the change, and check which contact information will be public before supplying a home address.
Look up the Washington entity record →