Are you unsatisfied with your Washington DC registered agent? Or perhaps you’re currently serving as your own registered agent, but would rather hire a professional registered agent service instead?
The state of Washington DC makes it rather easy to change your registered agent, but there are some details involved in the process that are worth reviewing.
In this guide, we’ll discuss all the relevant details of changing a registered agent in Washington DC.
Guru Tip: If you would prefer to have a professional service deal with the paperwork and take over registered agent duties, hire a Washington DC registered agent service. It’s just a small annual fee.
What Is a Washington DC Registered Agent?
Why is a registered agent required for every limited liability company (LLC) or corporation? It all comes down to the fact that the state needs to be able to contact an official representative of your business if they need to deliver important documents to you, especially service of process.
Without a registered agent, you could remain unaware of a lawsuit against your business progressing through the court system.
Who Can Be a Washington DC Registered Agent?
If you’re looking to change your company’s registered agent, it’s a good idea to know who is eligible to serve as one.
According to the District of Columbia’s Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs, a registered agent may be either a for-profit corporation that has been authorized by the District of Columbia to perform the services of a registered agent or an individual who is a resident of D.C. Whether a registered agent is an individual or a business entity, it is required to have a physical address (within D.C.) rather than a P.O. box. Additionally, in D.C. entities are not permitted to act as their own registered agents.
How to Change Your Registered Agent in Washington DC
If you would like to change your registered agent for any reason, the process is simple.
To designate a new agent you must simply complete and submit the District of Columbia’s Statement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent document (otherwise referred to as form RA-3). The form can be found on the third page of this compiled list of registered agent documents. The form will ask for the following information:
- The domestic or foreign filing entity name
- The name of the current registered agent
- The current agent’s address in D.C.
- The name of the new agent
- The new registered agent’s address
- The name and signature of an authorized person
In signing the document, the authorized person affirms that the new registered agent listed has consented to serve.
After completion, the document must be mailed along with the standard processing fee to the following address:
Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs
Corporations Division
PO Box 923000
Washington, DC 20090.
Change of Registered Agent Fee: $50
Should You Hire a Professional Washington DC Registered Agent Service?
Hiring a registered agent service like Northwest Registered Agent has some distinct advantages. First and foremost, compared to serving as your own agent, professional registered agent services allow you to keep your personal address private. They’re also much less expensive than hiring a lawyer or accountant to provide registered agent service.
An often-overlooked benefit is how easy it is to expand your Washington DC business into other states if you choose a professional registered agent. They typically have offices in all 50 states, so if you begin transacting business in an additional state, your same registered agent service can handle that for you.
If you’re interested in hiring a professional registered agent service, take a look at our guide to the top service providers.
Conclusion
The process for changing a registered agent in Washington DC isn’t a complicated one, but it’s certainly advisable to know exactly what you want to do ahead of time. If you know what you want going in, you’ll find that the process is really quite painless.
We hope this article answered your questions about changing your Washington DC registered agent!