A corporation shall
be administratively dissolved by the secretary of state upon the
conditions prescribed in this section when the corporation:
(1) Has failed to file or complete its annual report within
the time required by law; or
(2) Has failed for thirty days to appoint or maintain a
registered agent in this state; or
(3) Has failed for thirty days, after change of its
registered agent or registered office, to file in the office of
the secretary of state a statement of such change.
A corporation shall not be dissolved under this section
unless the secretary of state has given the corporation not less
than sixty days' notice of its delinquency or omission, by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the registered
office, or, if there is no registered office, to the last known
address of any officer or director as shown by the records of the
secretary of state, and unless the corporation has failed to
correct the omission or delinquency before expiration of the
sixty-day period.
When a corporation has given cause for dissolution under
this section, and has failed to correct the delinquency or
omission as provided in this section, the secretary of the state
shall dissolve the corporation by issuing a certificate of
administrative dissolution containing a statement that the
corporation has been dissolved and the date and reason for which
it was dissolved. The original certificate of administrative
dissolution shall be filed in the records of the secretary of
state, and a copy of the certificate shall forthwith be mailed to
the corporation at its registered office or, if there is no
registered office, to the last known address of the corporation
or any officer, director, or incorporator of the corporation, as
shown by the records of the secretary of state. Upon the filing
of the certificate of administrative dissolution, the existence
of the corporation shall cease, except as otherwise provided in
this chapter, and its name shall be available to and may be
adopted by another corporation after the dissolution.
Any notice provided by the secretary of state under this
section shall be designed to clearly identify and warn the
recipient of the contents thereof. A delinquency notice shall
provide a succinct and readable description of the delinquency or
omission, the date on which dissolution will occur, and the
action necessary to cure the delinquency or omission prior to
dissolution.
A corporation which has been dissolved by operation of this
section may be reinstated within a period of three years
following its administrative dissolution if it completes and
files a current annual report for the reinstatement year or if it
appoints or maintains a registered agent, or if it files with the
secretary of state a required statement of change of registered
agent or registered office and in addition, if it pays a
reinstatement fee as set by rule by the secretary plus the full
amount of all annual fees that would have been assessed for the
years of administrative dissolution had the corporation been in
active status, including the reinstatement year plus any
penalties established by rule by the secretary of state. If,
during the period of dissolution, another person or corporation
has reserved or adopted a corporate name which is identical to or
deceptively similar to the dissolved corporation's name, the
dissolved corporation seeking reinstatement shall be required to
adopt another name consistent with the requirements of this
chapter and to amend its articles of incorporation accordingly. When a corporation has been dissolved by operation of this
section, remedies available to or against it shall survive in the
manner provided in RCW 24.03.300 and the directors of the
corporation shall hold the title to the property of the
corporation as trustees for the benefit of its creditors and
members.
[1994 c 287 § 8; 1993 c 356 § 5; 1987 c 117 § 3; 1986 c 240 § 42; 1982 c 35 § 97; 1971 ex.s. c 128 § 1; 1969 ex.s. c 163 § 9.]
NOTES:
Effective date -- 1993 c 356: See note following RCW 24.03.046.
Intent -- Severability -- Effective dates -- Application -- 1982 c 35: See notes following RCW 43.07.160.