1. What Washington filings must contain
Under RCW 25.15.071(1), the certificate of formation sets out the LLC’s name, the name and address of its registered agent, the address of its principal office, any dissolution date, any other matters the members decide to include, and the name and address of each person executing the certificate. A signer can be an organizer or a filing service, not an owner.
RCW 23.95.255 adds an initial report, due within one hundred twenty days after its public organic record becomes effective, and an annual report. Both state the registered agent, the principal office addresses, a brief description of the business, the unified business identifier and the names of the entity’s governors. RCW 23.95.105(12) defines a governor of an LLC as a manager of a manager-managed company or a member of a member-managed company.
2. How to search
- Copy the exact owner name from the county deed or tax record.
- Search it in the Washington Secretary of State CCFS business search.
- Open the record and check the status, the unified business identifier and the principal office.
- Open the filing history and read the newest annual report for the governors listed.
- Compare those names with the people who signed the deed or deed of trust for the property.
3. What the governor list shows
A governor list tells you who the company reported as managing it on the date the report was signed; RCW 23.95.255(3) requires the information to be current as of that date. In a manager-managed LLC, the managers listed may not hold any ownership interest. RCW 25.15.116(3) even allows a person to be a member without holding a transferable interest. So treat the names as the people with reported authority, then confirm with recorded documents.
4. When the governor is another company
- Parent entities. If a governor is a company, search that company in its own state registry.
- The agent. A registered agent receives legal papers; see is the registered agent the owner.
- Property records. Deeds and deeds of trust are signed by a person for the LLC. See find a property owner by address.
5. How Locate Next fits
On LLC owner lookup, the first step is quoted in full: “We search available state records for the owner name on your list, including former names when the source provides them, and keep the plausible companies in view.” The coverage section says: “Where Locate has a working state source, we show its official record or search link.” And: “State filings list the people a company named. They don’t prove who owns or controls it, and we don’t claim they do.” This page does not say Locate Next searches Washington for you. The same steps can be kept on the LLC research worksheet.
Common questions
Does Washington list LLC members publicly?
The annual report must list the governors. For a member-managed LLC those are the members; for a manager-managed LLC they are the managers (RCW 23.95.105 and 23.95.255).
Where do I search Washington LLCs?
The Washington Secretary of State Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS).
Who signs a Washington certificate of formation?
One or more persons execute it, and the certificate lists the name and address of each (RCW 25.15.071). That person can be an organizer rather than an owner.
Does a governor listing prove ownership?
No. It shows who the company reported as managing it on the report date. A manager need not be an owner.
Sources
- RCW 25.15.071, certificate of formation. Checked October 23, 2026.
- RCW 23.95.255, initial and annual reports. Checked October 23, 2026.
- RCW 23.95.105, definitions including governor. Checked October 23, 2026.
- RCW 25.15.116, admission of members. Checked October 23, 2026.
- Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Filing System. Checked October 23, 2026.
This page is general information, not legal advice.