The 6 steps to change your registered agent in Washington. Source: Washington Secretary of State.
How to File
1
Prepare the Statement of Change form
Download and complete the Statement of Change form from the Washington Secretary of State website at https://www.sos.wa.gov. This form is used to update your registered agent information.
2
Obtain consent from your new registered agent
Before filing, ensure your new registered agent agrees to serve in this capacity and has a physical address in Washington state. Commercial registered agents will typically provide written consent.
3
Complete the form with accurate information
Fill out the Statement of Change form with your LLC's exact legal name, UBI number, current registered agent information, and new registered agent details including name and Washington address.
4
Pay the required filing fee
Submit the $30 filing fee along with your Statement of Change form. The Washington Secretary of State accepts payment by check, money order, or credit card for online filings.
5
File the form with the Secretary of State
Submit your completed Statement of Change form and fee to the Washington Secretary of State either online through their website or by mail to PO Box 40234, Olympia, WA 98504-0234.
6
Receive confirmation and update records
Once processed, you'll receive confirmation from the Secretary of State. Update your internal company records and notify relevant parties like banks and vendors of the registered agent change.
Ready to file your annual report?
Go directly to the Washington Secretary of State portal.
Your current registered agent is no longer available or has moved out of Washington
You want to switch to a professional registered agent service for better reliability
Your registered agent's contact information has changed and they can't fulfill their duties
You need to replace a registered agent who has resigned or is no longer responsive
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. It reports what each state publishes about filing deadlines, fees, and the consequences of missing them, with the sources this page cites. It cannot tell you what your own company owes: the date turns on when and where you formed, states change these rules between our reviews, and in several states an entity-level tax falls due in a year when no report does. Confirm your own dates with the filing office named on this page before you rely on one here, because the penalty for missing a deadline can be administrative dissolution of the company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Processing your registered agent change in Washington typically takes 3 to 5 business days for online filings submitted through the Washington Secretary of State's online portal, or 7 to 10 business days for paper filings sent by mail. You'll file Form UBI-2 (Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office) with the Washington Secretary of State's Corporations Division. Expedited processing is available for an additional $20 fee, reducing online processing to 1 to 2 business days. Useful if you need immediate documentation for banking or compliance purposes. During the processing window, your current registered agent remains officially responsible for receiving legal documents, so plan your transition carefully to avoid missed service of process. Once processed, the Secretary of State will issue a confirmation letter establishing your new registered agent's effective date. Submit your form immediately to prevent gaps in agent coverage that could jeopardize your LLC's legal standing.
Changing your registered agent in Washington costs $30 to file a Statement of Change (Form SS-1) with the Washington Secretary of State's Division of Corporations. This is the only mandatory state fee. There are no additional charges for the change itself. However, if you need faster processing, the Secretary of State offers expedited service for an extra $20, delivering results within one business day instead of the standard 5 to 7 business day turnaround. Some registered agent service companies may charge their own fees for handling the paperwork, typically $50 to $150 annually if you're switching to a professional service. For Washington LLC owners, budgeting $30 ensures your company maintains compliant registered agent status without unexpected costs. File your Statement of Change online through the Washington Secretary of State website (sos.wa.gov) to confirm your new agent's appointment and avoid service of process issues.
Yes, you can serve as your own registered agent in Washington if you meet two specific requirements: you must be a Washington resident and maintain a physical street address (not a PO box) within the state where you're available during standard business hours to receive legal documents and service of process.
This matters because your registered agent is legally responsible for accepting lawsuits, subpoenas, and official government notices on behalf of your LLC. If you choose to serve as your own agent, you'll need to list your home or business address on your Certificate of Formation filed with the Washington Secretary of State. The practical implication is that you'll receive all legal documents directly. There's no intermediary filtering or forwarding delays, but you also can't miss service of process without serious legal consequences for your LLC.
To change your registered agent to yourself, file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office (Form LLC-2) with the Washington Secretary of State, paying the $30 filing fee. Submit this form once you've confirmed your availability to handle document service consistently.
No, changing your registered agent won't affect your LLC's good standing in Washington, provided you file the required documentation with the Washington Secretary of State and maintain continuous registered agent coverage. When you submit Form LLC-5 (Statement of Change of Registered Agent) with the $30 filing fee, the change takes effect immediately upon acceptance. Your LLC remains in good standing throughout the transition. The critical practical implication is that you can't have a gap in registered agent representation; if your current agent resigns before you appoint a replacement, the Secretary of State may administratively dissolve your LLC for lack of a registered agent. To proceed, file your completed Form LLC-5 online through the Washington Secretary of State's Business Services portal or mail it to their Olympia office. Ensure your new agent's consent is documented and their Washington street address (P.O. boxes aren't permitted) is accurate before submission.
Yes, you can file your registered agent change online or by mail in Washington. The Washington Secretary of State's online filing system at sos.wa.gov allows you to submit Form 10.12 (Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office) electronically, which is the fastest option with immediate confirmation. The filing fee is $30 for online submission. Alternatively, you can mail the completed form to the Washington Secretary of State, Corporate Division, P.O. Box 41014, Olympia, WA 98504-1014, though mail processing typically takes 5 to 7 business days. Online filing eliminates mailing delays and provides instant proof of submission, which is critical since your registered agent change becomes effective immediately upon processing. To proceed, access the Secretary of State's online portal, upload your completed Form 10.12, pay the $30 fee by credit card, and save your confirmation number for your records.
Sources
Each entry below is a document recorded in our verified Washington sources, and each entry says what the document is. Some statutory text is read from an accurate mirror rather than from the state's own host, and those say so.
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Edmond Hui is a software engineer and serial entrepreneur based in New York who has founded multiple online businesses across e-commerce, media, and information publishing. Before transitioning into tech, he spent years as a commercial real estate professional closing deals totaling over 100,000 square feet, giving him firsthand experience with business formation and entity structuring. He built MyStateLLC to provide the free, state-specific LLC guidance he wished existed when forming his own companies.
