Washington, D.C., Registered Agent for Your LLC

District of Columbia Registered Agent Requirements

• Every LLC, both foreign and domestic, must have a Registered Agent with a registered office within the District of Columbia at all times
• The Registered Agent can be a domestic or foreign (licensed to transact business in the state) artificial legal entity (Corporation, LLC, LP, or LLP) or a natural person.
• The Registered Office must be in the District of Columbia and located at a street address (a P.O. Box only is not acceptable)
• If the Registered Agent is a person, they must live in the District of Columbia.
• If the Registered Agent is a company, they must be authorized to conduct business in the District of Columbia.
• The Registered Agent must be available in person to sign for any correspondence during normal business hours.

This includes:

Correspondence from the Washington, D.C., Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs

Service of process notices (e.g., if your LLC is sued or required to appear in court)

Tax forms and requests to complete permits, company filings, and reports

Official state and federal government correspondence and notices

• An always-available Washington, D.C., Registered Agent who can receive correspondence, documents and legal proceedings on your LLC’s behalf
• Email notification whenever we receive documents for your business
• Automatic forwarding of all legal correspondence, documentation and information directly to you
• A digital dashboard where you can access, store and retrieve any information we’ve received for your business

If you don’t assign or provide details of a Registered Agent to the District of Columbia, there are several possible ramifications, including:

• Getting sued or served and not knowing about it. You could lose to a default judgment in your absence if your LLC is sued and you don’t respond.
• Falling out of good standing with the Washington, D.C., DCRA. The state may revoke your right to do business if you don’t respond to certain correspondence (such as a request for your annual report).
• Losing your status as an LLC in the District of Columbia. A Registered Agent is evidence to the state that your business exists. Without it, you could lose your business entity protections and your LLC may be dissolved.

• The Registered Agent’s name and address are part of the public record and available through the Washington, D.C., DCRA's website. You should use a Registered Agent service if you prefer that these pertinent details remain private.
• The Registered Agent must have a physical street address in the District of Columbia. If you’re forming an LLC outside the state, you’ll need to use an in-state Registered Agent.
• Someone must always be available during business hours at the Washington, D.C., address to sign for important documents and correspondence.
• If you change your business address or move out of state, you need to file additional documentation with the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs for the new address. This isn’t necessary if you use a Registered Agent service, making a move or address change much more smooth.