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West Virginia Registered Agent for Your LLC

Every business entity formed in West Virginia must appoint a person or business to act as a Registered Agent.

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What is a Registered Agent?

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Registered Agent

    Your West Virginia Registered Agent provides various services, including the acceptance of formal documents and correspondence from the West Virginia SOS.Your LLC must have a Registered Agent at all times. You’ll appoint one when you first formally register and start your business.


    You can also replace your existing West Virginia Registered Agent at a later date, provided there is a smooth transition between the old and new agents.

    West Virginia Registered Agent Requirements:

    • Every LLC, both foreign and domestic, must have a Registered Agent with a registered office within the State of West Virginia 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 state of West Virginia 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 West Virginia.
    • If the Registered Agent is a company, they must be authorized to conduct business in West Virginia.
    • The Registered Agent must be available in person to sign for any correspondence during normal business hours.

    Important: Note that the address for your West Virginia Registered Agent does not need to be the same as your West Virginia LLC business address.

    What a West Virginia Registered Agent Does

    A Registered Agent’s main function in West Virginia is to accept official documentation and correspondence.

    This includes:

    • Correspondence from the West Virginia Secretary of State
    • 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

    Having a Registered Agent also provides proof to the state that your business exists.

    Bizee Provides Free West Virginia Registered Agent Service for the First Year

    Bizee provides complete West Virginia Registered Agent service for any LLC that’s formed in the state. Even better, if you form your business through Bizee, your Registered Agent is completely free for the first year and only $119 a year after that.


    Bizee is authorized to conduct business in West Virginia and can legally act as your Registered Agent. Here’s what our Registered Agent service provides:

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

    Appointing a Registered Agent Service for Your LLC

    When you first form your LLC, you must appoint a Registered Agent. You can change it at any point after that. Here’s how to go about it.

    Assign a Registered Agent When You Form Your LLC

    Your business needs to have a Registered Agent as soon as it’s formed. You can do this two ways:

    01

    File Articles of Organization with the West Virginia Secretary of State

    When you formally create your business, you’re required to include details of your Registered Agent in your Articles of Organization.

    02

    Get a Free Registered Agent When You Form Your LLC with Bizee

    Establish your business through us, and you’ll get a free year of our Registered Agent Service. We’ll also complete and file your Articles of Organization for you with the information that you provide.

    Assign a New Registered Agent After Formation

    You can also assign someone else to be your West Virginia Registered Agent after you’ve formed your LLC. There are a couple of ways to achieve this.

    01

    Choose a new Registered Agent Service and let the West Virginia Secretary of State know

    Once you’ve chosen a new Registered Agent, you can login to your account with West Virginia Secretary of State to file the change online. Once you’ve filed the change, the Secretary of State will review and update your records. There is a $15 fee for this service.

    02

    We’ll file the change on your behalf when you sign up for Bizee’s Registered Agent service

    When you use our Registered Agent service, we take care of all the form filling and filing for you. We’ll collect important information about your business, complete the form on your behalf and then send it to the West Virginia Secretary of State. When we officially become your Registered Agent, we’ll let you know.

    West Virginia Registered Agent Search

    In certain situations, it may be useful to know the name of the Registered Agent that represents another LLC in West Virginia. You can search the West Virginia SOS business database to discover this information.


    If you can’t find the Registered Agent information there, you can request it from the Secretary of State.

    What Happens If You Don’t Have a Registered Agent?

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

    • Falling out of good standing with the West Virginia Secretary of State. 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).
    • 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.
    • Losing your status as an LLC in West Virginia. 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.

    Acting as Your Own Registered Agent

    You can be the Registered Agent for your LLC if you have a physical address in West Virginia. There can be some drawbacks to this approach:

    • Someone must always be available during business hours at the West Virginia address to sign for important documents.
    • The Registered Agent must have a physical street address in West Virginia. If you’re forming an LLC outside the state, you’ll need to use an in-state Registered Agent.
    • The Registered Agent’s name and address are part of the public record and available through the West Virginia Secretary of State's website. If you prefer that your details remain private, you should use a Registered Agent service.
    • If you change your business address or move out of state, you need to file additional documentation with the Secretary of State for the new address. This isn’t necessary if you use a Registered Agent service, making a move or address change much simpler.

    Other Useful Resources

    FAQs About West Virginia Registered Agents

    01

    Do I Need to Appoint a West Virginia Registered Agent?

    Yes. Most business entities (including LLCs) in the state are required to have a Registered Agent. This is mandated by the West Virginia Secretary of State. Find more information above.

    02

    When Should I Assign a Registered Agent?

    You must assign a Registered Agent when you first form your West Virginia business with the Secretary of State. You can change your agent afterward by filing the correct form. If you form your business through Bizee, we’ll file all the necessary forms on your behalf. You'll find more information above.

    03

    Can I Be My Own Registered Agent?

    Yes, but we don’t recommend it for the reasons listed above.

    04

    Does the Registered Agent for my West Virginia-Based LLC Need to have an Address in West Virginia?

    Yes. And if you use a company as your Registered Agent, that company must be legally able to conduct business in your state. You'll find more information above.

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