Who Can Be A Registered Agent In West Virginia?
A West Virginia registered agent is a state resident or business registered to operate in the state that will accept documents (annual reports, service of process, and other notices) on behalf of a corporation, Limited Liability Company (LLC), Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), or Limited Partnership (LP). A registered agent must have a physical address in West Virginia, as a P.O. box is not allowed.
What are the requirements to be a registered agent in West Virginia?
A registered agent in West Virginia can be any resident of the state who is 18 years or older, a registered West Virginia domestic business entity, or a foreign business entity authorized to do business in the state. An entity cannot designate itself as its own registered agent.
The registered agent needs to have a physical street address (often referred to as a registered office or principal office) in the state of West Virginia. This can be your home address, the address of a family member, an accountant or attorney, the address of the business, or a professional registered agent service. Any physical address in the state may be used, but PO Boxes and mail drop services are not acceptable since someone has to be available to sign for documents.
What are the duties of a registered agent in West Virginia?
The primary responsibility of a registered agent in West Virginia is designated under West Virginia state statute §31D-5-501. Under West Virginia state law, a registered agent accepts important legal notices and tax documents and then forwards them to the appropriate person in the business.
Can I be my own registered agent in West Virginia?
Yes! Any individual, owner, member, officer, director, etc., of a business entity that meets the state of West Virgina registered agent requirements can be a registered agent.
Why you may not want to be your own registered agent
Provided one of the members or officers live in West Virginia, it is less expensive to act as your own agent rather than hiring a service. While this is the route many businesses take, there are a few reasons to consider hiring a service.
Privacy – The address of the registered agent becomes public record and is available for anybody to see. This can be especially concerning if someone is doing business on the side, and they don’t want their employer knowing about the business. Also, if the business is sued, the notice will be delivered to the address on file. This could mean employees, customers, or even neighbors witnessing the event. There is also the remote possibility of a vindictive litigant or upset customer showing up at your house.
Availability – West Virginia requires the registered agent to be available at the principal address during regular business hours. The biggest issue with availability, especially if a home address is used, is if the agent goes on vacation or is otherwise away for some period of time and can’t be reached.
If the Business Expands to Additional Locations – If the business has a physical presence in multiple states (offices, warehouses, employees, etc.), a foreign entity registration will often need to be filed with those states. A registered agent will need to be appointed with a physical address in each state.
Due Date Reminders – Registered agent services provide annual report reminders and updates on any state requirements.
How much does a registered agent cost in West Virginia?
Depending on the services provided, a commercial registered agent service typically costs between $100-$150 per year. Northwest Registered Agent is a popular service that charges $125 per year and offers several extras such as document scanning and mail forwarding and Harbor Compliance has a basic service starting at $99.
Some entity formation companies, like IncFile, includes registered agent service at no cost for the first year when you register your corporation or LLC with them.
What happens if you don’t have a registered agent in West Virginia?
Not only is a registered agent required when forming an LLC or corporation, but you must maintain a registered agent to keep the entity in compliance. Besides the requirement of designating a registered agent at the time of formation, there are several reasons to have one:
Not Receiving Legal Notices – If the listed registered agent cannot receive legal notices, this lawsuit will still proceed. If a process server is unsuccessful in reaching the company’s registered agent, the court can proceed with the case. This could result in a judgment being placed against the business without the owners knowing.
Administrative Dissolution – In West Virginia, if the business doesn’t have a registered agent, the state can dissolve the entity.
Penalties and Fees – By not maintaining a current registered agent, penalties and state fees can be levied against the entity and, in some cases, the owners too. Once an entity is no longer in good standing with the state, the owners may lose their liability protection and are at risk personally.
Entity Closure – Waiting too long to remedy the lack of a registered agent may result in the administrative closure or dissolving of the entity, which will strip the owners of personal asset protection should the business be sued.
How much does a registered agent cost in West Virginia?
If you act as your own Registered Agent, there is no cost. Depending on the services provided, a commercial registered agent typically costs between $100-$150 per year. Northwest Registered Agent’s service is $125 per year and offers several extras such as document scanning and mail forwarding.
Some entity formation companies, like IncFile, include a Registered Agent at no cost for the first year when you register your corporation or LLC with them.
Is a registered agent liable for the actions of the business?
The only liability a registered agent faces is from a lack of timely transmission of correspondence. If the registered agent is negligent in sending documents promptly, and the entity suffers a financial loss, the registered agent is responsible for paying those damages.
Can a registered agent sign on behalf of an LLC?
Unless the registered agent is also authorized to sign on behalf of the entity, they are not legally allowed to sign.
Does a sole proprietor need a registered agent?
Only entities registered with the West Virginia Secretary of State, such as corporations and LLCs, need to register a registered agent. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships do not.
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