West Virginia lesson 2 of 6
Appoint your West Virginia registered agent
Every West Virginia LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical in-state address, named directly on Form LLD-1 at formation.
Who can serve
The registered agent can be a West Virginia resident individual, or a domestic or foreign business entity authorized to do business in West Virginia, with a registered office address in the state where the agent can be reached during business hours. A post office box alone does not satisfy the registered office requirement.
What the agent does
The registered agent receives service of process, official notices from the Secretary of State, and correspondence tied to the LLC's compliance status, including annual report reminders. West Virginia law allows the Secretary of State to move toward administrative dissolution when a company fails to maintain a registered agent, so an outdated appointment is a real compliance risk, not just an inconvenience.
The registered agent's address is public record on the Secretary of State's business organization search.
Changing the agent
File a statement of change of registered agent or registered office with the Secretary of State whenever the appointment changes, either through the One Stop Business Portal or on paper, rather than waiting for the next annual report.
Key takeaways
- The registered agent needs a physical West Virginia address, not a PO box.
- Failing to maintain a registered agent is a statutory ground for administrative dissolution.
- File a change of registered agent as soon as the appointment changes, through the One Stop Business Portal or on paper.
Official sources
Or let us file your West Virginia LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company (Form LLD-1), act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team