Each corporation shall have and continuously maintain in this state:

     (1) A registered office which may be, but need not be, the same as its principal office. The registered office shall be at a specific geographic location in this state, and be identified by number, if any, and street, or building address or rural route, or, if a commonly known street or rural route address does not exist, by legal description. A registered office may not be identified by post office box number or other nongeographic address. For purposes of communicating by mail, the secretary of state may permit the use of a post office address in conjunction with the registered office address if the corporation also maintains on file the specific geographic address of the registered office where personal service of process may be made.

     (2) A registered agent, which agent may be either an individual resident in this state whose business office is identical with such registered office, or a domestic corporation, whether for profit or not for profit, or a governmental body or agency, or a foreign corporation, whether for profit or not for profit, authorized to transact business or conduct affairs in this state, having an office identical with such registered office, or a domestic limited liability company whose business office is identical with the registered office, or a foreign limited liability company authorized to conduct affairs in this state whose business address is identical with the registered office. A registered agent shall not be appointed without having given prior consent to the appointment, in the form of a record. The consent shall be filed with the secretary of state in such form as the secretary may prescribe. The consent shall be filed with or as a part of the record first appointing a registered agent. In the event any individual, corporation, or limited liability company has been appointed agent without consent, that person, corporation, or limited liability company may file a notarized statement attesting to that fact, and the name shall immediately be removed from the records of the secretary of state.

     No Washington corporation or foreign corporation authorized to conduct affairs in this state may be permitted to maintain any action in any court in this state until the corporation complies with the requirements of this section.

[2009 c 202 § 1; 2004 c 265 § 8; 1986 c 240 § 9; 1982 c 35 § 80; 1969 ex.s. c 163 § 1; 1967 c 235 § 11.]

NOTES:

     Intent -- Severability -- Effective dates -- Application -- 1982 c 35: See notes following RCW 43.07.160.