Urgent: Report BOI before the federal deadline to avoid $591/day penalties. File before 1/1/2025
Order $89 to $99 West Virginia registered agent service online for immediate access to our Agent of Process address and state forms. No additional charges.
Your business must appoint a West Virginia registered agent to receive documents in legal matters, including notice of lawsuit. Our reliable registered agent service fulfills this requirement. You get:
Appointing a West Virginia registered agent with the secretary of state is a wise move if you want to reduce the risk of legal setbacks while operating in the state. The agent helps ensure you don’t miss service of process and other official notices, allowing a prompt response to any legal issues.
In this guide, you’ll learn all about a registered agent’s responsibilities and the benefits of appointing one. As you have several options when choosing your West Virginia agent, we’ll help you make the best decision for your organization.
You’ll also learn about Harbor Compliance—a commercial registered agent service provider that can help your organization run in accordance with West Virginia law.
A registered agent—known as an Agent for Service of Process in West Virginia—is an individual or legal entity in charge of receiving lawsuits, subpoenas, court summons, and government correspondence on behalf of your organization. The agent then forwards the received documentation to you so that you can act accordingly.
Note that service of process can be sent directly from the West Virginia secretary of state to your organization’s principal address if you don’t appoint a registered agent. This might cause significant discomfort in case of litigation, as you may be served legal notices in front of your employees or clients. By naming a registered agent, you can have someone accept the notices on your behalf and enjoy more privacy.
It’s crucial to find a responsible point of contact with the state because missing service of process can have severe consequences and even prevent your organization from operating in West Virginia. For instance, failure to appear in court due to a missed notice can lead to default judgment—the ruling made without you present, typically in the plaintiff’s favor.
According to Section 31D-5-501 of the West Virginia Business Corporation Act (Section 31B-1-108 of the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act for LLCs), any of the following three parties can serve as registered agents:
While you have various options when appointing an agent, many organization leaders avoid individual registered agents and opt for a commercial service provider. The main reason is that commercial agents have a more elaborate system in place and the necessary expertise to ensure the organization they’re representing doesn’t miss official notices.
You can appoint a registered agent when forming your organization with the Business and Licensing Division of the West Virginia secretary of state. The relevant section is included in your Articles of Incorporation if you’re forming a profit or nonprofit corporation or Articles of Organization if you’re establishing a Limited Liability Company (LLC).
Along with a registered agent, you can list a registered office to which you want your notices delivered, which will be the same address as your registered agent’s business (physical) office.
If you wish to change your registered agent , you can submit the Application to Appoint or Change Process, Officers, and/or Addresses Form (Form AAO). You can either file the paper form or complete the change online through West Virginia’s One Stop Business Center.
The Form AAO can also be used to maintain your agent, which means keeping all their contact information up to date.
Note that if you partner with a commercial registered agent service provider, they will take upon themselves to update the secretary of state in the event of moving to a new address or rebranding under a different name. This is a benefit you won’t enjoy with a non-commercial registered agent. In such cases, you’ll be responsible for keeping in touch with the agent and updating the state whenever that company or person changes locations.
If you need a trusted partner for managing service of process documentation, look no further than Harbor Compliance. Our Registered Agent Service is a convenient way to ensure your notices are received and delivered timely and efficiently.
By engaging with us, you get:
Harbor Compliance can also help you meet any state’s regulatory requirements through an array of services:
| Service | Overview |
|---|---|
| Harbor Compliance Suite | Our rich Software as a Service (SaaS) solution encompasses tax, entity, license, and record management alongside additional tools you can access wherever you have an internet connection. |
| Business licensing support | Whether you need help with charitable registration, disclosure statements, nonprofit incorporation, or 501(c) tax exemption, Harbor Compliance makes the process a breeze. |
| Business licensing |
Besides helping you obtain general business licenses, we can help you manage industry-specific ones, including:
|
| Entity lifecycle management | Obtaining your EIN, amending your formation documents, filing initial and annual reports, and various other processes can be streamlined with our services. |
From a legal perspective, there’s not much difference between appointing yourself or another individual as your agent and partnering with a commercial provider. Still, the service quality you get from the latter is typically much higher than an individual can offer. There are notable differences to keep in mind in the following four aspects:
With Harbor Compliance, you’re in complete control over the amount of work you wish to outsource. You can choose our fully-managed services or take a more DIY approach to naming Harbor Compliance your registered agent. It all comes down to whether you are:
If you’re forming a corporation, nonprofit, or LLC, Harbor Compliance can complete the registration on your behalf and make sure you meet all the regulatory requirements.
All you need to do is choose your business structure and order the formation service. When you do, we’ll submit the necessary filings and appoint ourselves as your West Virginia registered agent.
You can also get our Registered Agent Service separately and go through the formation process independently. In this case, you can appoint us in three steps:
Besides filling out and filing Form AAO with the secretary of state on your own, you can change your West Virginia registered agent while ordering our service.
Before you check out, you’ll see an option to add Change of Registered Agent service. When you check this box and complete the purchase, our team will make the change for you and ensure we’re listed as your registered agent.
Our foreign qualification service lets organizations outside of West Virginia expand to the state without legal roadblocks. After you complete the steps outlined in the online wizard, we’ll file everything on your behalf and obtain your West Virginia Certificate of Authority.
As we complete your foreign qualification, we’ll list ourselves as your registered agent to become your official point of contact with the state.
Located in nearby Beckley, WV!
Appoint us as your West Virginia registered agent when you incorporate your business or form your LLC. Sign up for registered agent service and file using the state forms and instructions in your Client Portal. The forms are pre-filled and signed as required by the state.
Appoint us as your agent when you apply for a certificate of authority to transact business in West Virginia. Sign up for West Virginia registered agent service and file using the forms and instructions in your Client Portal. The forms are pre-filled and signed as required by the state.
Changing your registered agent to us is easy. Sign up for West Virginia registered agent service and file using the forms and instructions in your Client Portal. The forms are pre-filled and signed as required by the state.
Harbor Compliance is a provider of nationwide registered agent service. We can help you consolidate your agent representation and achieve cost savings. Our specialists manage the process to change registered agents so that virtually no work is required on your part. We will complete the state filings to appoint us as your registered agent. Additionally, we can extend your subscription term so that you avoid double payment for any portion of your current contract. There’s no reason to wait. Simply contact us for consolidation and we’ll take care of the rest. If you have registered agent appointments spanning multiple states or entities, contact us today.
To learn more about registered agents in West Virginia, check out some commonly asked questions below. You can also visit our Information Center to explore additional resources.
While a registered agent may not be legally required in West Virginia, appointing one gives you more peace of mind due to increased privacy and constant availability to receive important notices when you or another individual might be unable to.
Unlike some states, West Virginia doesn’t keep a public list of registered agents on the secretary of state’s website. You can browse registered agents online or consult your professional circle to find the best option.
There’s no formal process for becoming a West Virginia registered agent—you only need to give your consent to a legal entity to be named their agent.
You can change your registered agent or registered office by submitting the Form AAO to the Business and Licensing Division of the West Virginia secretary of state.
A registered agent plays a critical albeit subtle role in ensuring your organization operates without interruptions. By choosing Harbor Compliance, you can rest assured knowing that vital notices such as lawsuits or court summons will never be missed.
If this sounds appealing, order our Registered Agent Service. You can also reach out to us and inquire about additional services in our diverse portfolio.
Navigating West Virginia’s regulatory framework can be daunting, so Harbor Compliance is there to clear the air. If you’d like to check if your organization is running in accordance with the law, get your FREE Harbor Compliance Score™.
Regardless of the results, our award-winning software can help you meet state requirements and avoid legal challenges. To see how it works, schedule a demonstration
If you need a registered agent outside of West Virginia, consult the following table:
