What is a Certificate of Formation in Washington State?

What is a Certificate of Formation in Washington state?
When you form a Washington LLC, you file a Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State. This filing legally creates your limited liability company. A Washington Certificate of Formation is a fairly simple form, but it does require specific information about your company and its owners.

You must submit a Certificate of Formation to the Washington Secretary of State’s office if you intend to launch a business in the state of Washington. In some states, this document is sometimes referred to as the articles of organization. Your limited liability corporation (LLC) is legally recognized as existing in the state of Washington by the Certificate of Formation.

Important details regarding your LLC, such as the name and address of your company, the name and address of your registered agent, and the names and addresses of the LLC’s members, must be included in the Certificate of Formation. The Washington Secretary of State’s office accepts online and postal submissions of the Certificate of Formation. The Certificate of Formation must be filed with a $180 filing fee.

How can I obtain a copy of my Washington State articles of incorporation?

The Washington Secretary of State’s office can provide you with a copy of your articles of incorporation if you require one in the state of Washington. A copy may be requested in person, by mail, or online. A copy of the articles of incorporation is available for $20.

How do I print my Washington State business license in relation to this? You can print a copy of your Washington State business license from the department of revenue’s website if you already have one. You must sign in to your account and choose “Print License” from the menu. You can submit an online application for a business license through the website of the Washington State Department of Revenue if you don’t already have one.

How long does it take in Washington to approve an LLC?

Depending on the filing procedure, a Certificate of Formation in Washington State requires a different amount of processing time. The processing time for online filings is normally 3-5 business days. The processing period for mail-in filings is normally 7 to 10 business days. You can ask for quicker processing if you pay an extra cost.

Is Washington State’s LLC operating agreement required?

Although an operating agreement is not required by Washington State law, it is strongly advised. An operating agreement is a legal document that spells out your LLC’s ownership and management structure as well as the members’ obligations. An operating agreement can shield the assets of the LLC in the event of legal problems and help members avoid disagreements and miscommunications.