What Is an Agent for Service of Process in West Virginia?

An agent for service of process is an individual or business entity authorized to receive legal documents, service of process, and official correspondence on behalf of a business entity in West Virginia. Every LLC, corporation, nonprofit, and similar entity registered with the West Virginia Secretary of State is generally expected to maintain an agent for service of process in the state. West Virginia Registered Agent provides this service for $99 per year.

What Agents for Service of Process Do

Your agent serves as the official contact point between your business and courts, government agencies, and other parties that need to deliver legal documents. When someone files a lawsuit against your business, when the West Virginia Secretary of State sends compliance notices, or when tax authorities need to reach your entity, these communications go to your agent.

The agent receives these documents during normal business hours and forwards them to you. This creates a reliable system for important communications that may have legal deadlines or call for immediate attention — court summons, annual report reminders, tax notices, and more.

Because agent information appears on public records maintained by the West Virginia Secretary of State, anyone can search and find your agent's name and address. This public accessibility is the main reason business owners choose professional agent services — to keep their personal address private.

West Virginia's Agent Requirements

The West Virginia Secretary of State sets specific requirements for who can serve as an agent and how they operate.

Who Can Serve Individuals must be West Virginia residents. Business entities must be authorized in the state. These are straightforward requirements similar to most states.

Address and Availability Agents are generally expected to maintain a physical location in West Virginia. Here's where West Virginia offers unique flexibility: a PO box is acceptable as long as a physical location is also provided. This makes West Virginia one of the few states allowing PO boxes in combination with a physical location.

The agent must be in person during normal business hours to accept service of process and official documents. This consistent availability ensures that courts and government agencies can reach your business when needed.

Which West Virginia Businesses Need an Agent

LLCs, corporations, nonprofits, and most other business entities registered with the West Virginia Secretary of State typically need an agent for service of process from formation onward. This requirement continues throughout your entity's existence.

Out-of-state businesses registering to operate in West Virginia also need a West Virginia agent with an address in the state. Even if your company is based elsewhere, your West Virginia registration creates the obligation to maintain a West Virginia agent.

Sole proprietorships and general partnerships that haven't formally registered with the state generally don't need agents, as they operate under the owners' personal legal capacity.

The Privacy Problem with Serving as Your Own Agent

West Virginia residents can serve as their own agent for service of process. But there's a significant downside: privacy.

Your personal or business address becomes public record with the West Virginia Secretary of State. Anyone can search these records online and find your address. If you work from home, your home address appears in public databases accessible to anyone.

Process servers can show up at your door during normal business hours to deliver legal documents. This can be disruptive and uncomfortable, especially if your agent address is your home.

Unwanted mail and visitors may follow once your address is publicly available. Marketing companies, solicitors, and others who search public records can find and contact you.

When you're responsible for agent duties, important documents can get overlooked or misfiled. Professional services have systems to ensure documents are processed and forwarded promptly.

You must be available during normal business hours to receive documents. Travel, remote work, or simply being busy means you risk missing service of process or critical legal documents.

Benefits of Professional Agent Service

Professional agent services solve these challenges while maintaining compliance with West Virginia Secretary of State requirements.

Privacy Protection This is the main benefit. Our West Virginia address appears on public filings instead of yours. Your home or business address stays off public records. Your personal information remains private.

Same-Day Document Forwarding When documents arrive at your registered office, we scan and email them to you the same day. Immediate notification means you're aware of legal matters and compliance deadlines without delay. Access everything through your secure online portal.

Reliable Availability We maintain presence during normal business hours every business day. Whether you're traveling, working remotely, or focused on running your business, documents get received when they arrive.

Compliance Tracking We monitor West Virginia filing deadlines, including annual report requirements. West Virginia annual reports are due between January 1 and June 30 each year, with a $25 filing fee plus a $1 convenience fee for online filing. File after July 1 and you face a $75 penalty. Our reminders help you file on time and avoid penalties.

Address Stability If your business moves locations, shifts to remote work, or changes office space, your agent address stays constant. This stability simplifies compliance and eliminates filing address updates with the state every time your situation changes.

West Virginia Registered Agent Service

West Virginia Registered Agent provides professional agent for service of process service throughout West Virginia for $99 per year. Our focus is privacy — keeping your address off public records.

Our service includes:

• Registered office address in West Virginia that meets state requirements
• Same-day document scanning and forwarding
• Compliance reminders and alerts
• Online document portal for secure document access
• Privacy protection with our address on public filings

Whether you're forming a new West Virginia entity or need to change agents for an existing business, the process is straightforward. Sign up takes a few minutes. We provide the West Virginia registered office address you need for state filings.

To change your agent, file a change form with the West Virginia Secretary of State. The filing fee is $15.

Get Started — $99/year

Questions about agent for service of process requirements or how our service works? Check our FAQ page or reach out Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm ET.

This is not legal advice. West Virginia Registered Agent is not a law firm. Consult an attorney for legal guidance.