A West Virginia registered agent service offers legal protection for your business and helps you avoid potential problems. This includes protecting your business from lawsuits filed against it, receiving tax refunds, accepting service of process, avoiding delays in filing documents with West Virginia Secretary of State and much more. In short, a registered agent service helps protect your business.
There are many benefits associated with registering a business in West Virginia. For one thing, there is no annual fee for registration. You pay only once, and the state keeps track of all of your information. If you register online, you can do so 24/7. Also, you don’t need to hire a lawyer to file paperwork with the secretary of state. All you need is a West Virginia registered agent service.
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What Do West Virginia Registered Agents Responsible For?
A registered agent is someone you hire to accept legal documents and process payments on behalf of your small business. If you are incorporated, it is required that you appoint one person to act as your registered agent. This person must maintain an office location where he/she accepts official mail and processes payments. In addition, the agent must file important papers like articles of incorporation and annual reports with state agencies.
Your registered agent is ultimately responsible for keeping track of all paperwork filed with the state. He/she is also responsible for making sure your company complies with tax laws and regulations.
If you do not know what a registered agent does, here are some examples:
• Accepting payment requests and invoices
• Filing important papers with state agencies
• Making sure your company complies tax law
• Keeping track of important papers
What Rules of Law Apply to West Virginia Registered Agents?
There are two main categories of legal entities that use registered agents: those who accept service of processes and those who represent others in court.
A registered agent accepts service of processes if he/she is a natural person, partnership, corporation, trust, or any type of organization. If you are representing yourself in court, you must hire an attorney or law firm to do it for you.
An attorney cannot act as a representative of another unless he/she is licensed to practice law in the state where the court is located.
How do I modify my registered agent in West Virginia?
Changing your registered agent is very simple. All you have to do is follow our step-by-step guide. Just go to the Secretary of State’s Office web site and select the “Change Your Registered Agent” link. Fill out the form and mail or send us a fax. We’ll update your information within 24 hours. And that’s it!
You don’t have to file any paperwork. Simply complete the form, mail or fax it to us, and we’ll take care of everything else.
We strive to make registering an office address for a business as quick and easy as possible. If you’re looking to incorporate a business in West Virginia, you’ll find that our online system makes it very simple to do so. You don’t need to print anything out; all the necessary documents are already filled out for you. You simply need to fill out some personal information and sign where indicated. Once you’ve completed the form, you’ll receive an email confirmation that your application has been submitted.
Many fees are associated with filing an office address for a corporation. Some states require that you pay a fee to register your office address, while others offer free services. In addition to the initial fee, additional annual renewal fees may depend on how long you choose to keep your registered agent status.
We have you covered for those who want to register a limited liability company or a domestic limited partnership in West Virginia. Our online system provides all of the necessary forms for you to complete. Simply select the type of entity you’d like to register and follow the instructions. After filling out the form, you can download it directly into our system.
All of the forms are pre-filled with the required information. There’s no need to submit original copies of any of the forms.
WV Registered Agent Requirements
The West Virginia Secretary of State requires that every corporation and limited liability partnership file a certificate of authority with the state before doing business in the state. This requirement applies even if the entity does not do business in West Virginia. In addition, the secretary of state maintains a list of registered agents for each company and LLC. If you fail to register a representative Annual with the secretary of state, he or she cannot accept service of process on
West your behalf.
A registered agent represents a company or LLC in court proceedings. When a lawsuit is filed against a company, it is served on the registered agent. If a person files suit against another party, the plaintiff sends a copy of the complaint to the defendant and a summons requesting that the defendant serve his or her answer to the plaintiff. The registered agent accepts the service of process on behalf on the company.
If a company fails to appoint a registered agent, the company is considered to be “doing business without a permit.” Doing business without a permit is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
West Virginia Business Filings
Domestic West Virginia LLCs have no filing fees. They do require a $50 filing fee to file standard documents with the Secretary of State. This includes the articles of organization, annual reports, amendments, etc. Corporations must pay $130.68 for an online filing. Standard filings are processed in 10 business days.
Annual Reporting
The state requires annual reports for all businesses doing business within West Virginia. These reports must include information about the business owners, officers, directors, partners, shareholders, managers, members, employees, contractors, suppliers, customers, vendors, affiliates, subsidiaries, joint ventures, and agents.
Fees:
$25 per year for LLC filing fee
$50 per year for the corporate filing fee
Late Fees:
$100 plus interest for a corporation
$25 for LLC late fees
West Virginia Compliance
Every company in West Virginia must register with the state. This includes corporations, LLCs, partnerships, sole proprietorships, limited liability companies, etc. If you don’t know what type of entity you’re operating under, we can help you figure it out. We’ll ensure you’re up to date on filing requirements and penalties for failing to comply.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent In West Virginia?
Being your own registered agent in WV is possible. You just have to pay $0. However, most small businesses opt to hire a registered agent after considering the registration agent requirements. Why? Because even though being your own registered agent won’t cost you anything, having a West Virginia registered agent’ name and address become part of the public record, and the registered agent is required to be available to accept service during normal business hours five days a week.
Can I Use Your WV Registered Office Address For Everything On My Business Filing?
You’re probably asking yourself why we recommend listing your office address on your business filings. Well, it’s because there are certain things you want to do to protect your privacy. If someone wants to find out where you live, they can look up your home address online, see what schools you attend, and even learn about your family members. This information could damage your reputation if it gets into the wrong hands.
We know that some people don’t mind having their house address listed publicly, but others prefer to keep their personal lives separate from their professional life. So, how can you use our West Virginia registered office address without putting your home address on every single thing you file?
The answer is simple. You can use our address as your “business address.” When you register your business name with us, you’ll receive a letter confirming your registration. In addition, you’ll receive a copy of your West Virginia Secretary of State’s Business Registration Certificate. This certificate confirms that your business is officially registered with the state. And, since you’ve already filed your paperwork with the county clerk, you can simply add our address to your filing.
James Rourke is a business and legal writer. He has written extensively on subjects such as contract law, company law, and intellectual property. His work has been featured in publications such as The Times, The Guardian, and Forbes. When he’s not writing, James enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.
