The Washington secretary of state is an independently elected constitutional officer under the executive arm of the government of the State of Washington. Certification, filing, and preservation of public records and the registration and regulation of businesses and charities are part of the role of the secretary of state. 

The secretary of state is the keeper of the seal of Washington, through the corporations’ division of the office of the secretary, the secretary of state registers a variety of business entities. The secretary of state’s role is to the company register which includes corporations, cooperatives, limited liabilities companies, limited liabilities partnerships, limited partnerships, assumed business names, and trademarks.  Other task includes the regulation of charities and charitable trusts. The secretary of state in Washington is not responsible for commissioning notaries or recording liens or financial statements under the Uniform Commercial Code. These functions are the duties of the Washington state department of licensing. The homepage of the website of the Washington Secretary of State Corporation Division provides links to video tutorials on how to perform certain functions.

Business name search

To check for a business entity in Washington, search for the secretary of state website, locate business search or advanced business search, input the name of the business entity or UBI number, and click on search, you will be directed to the result page to see if the result match with the business name you are looking for. The business search is used to check business availability. 

Information Center 

This section of the website provides information on the specific task you want to carry out, here are the following:

• Search for business
• Order copies and certificate
• Start a business for: 

• profit corporation
• limited liability company (LLC)
• nonprofit corporation
• limited partnership (LP, LLLP)
• Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

• Manage a business 
• Close a business entity

Trademarks

Any word, name, symbol, or device used by an entrepreneur to identify the goods made or sold by the entrepreneur and used to distinguish the goods from that of others is a trademark. Trademark registration provides the registered user with the exclusive use of the trademark and protects them against infringement upon the owner’s right, the trademark can be registered with:

1. The U.S Trademark and Patent Office, to gain the broadest protection
2. The Washington secretary of state’s office is to be used exclusively within the state
3. In both the federal and state office; for combined use

Apostille

This is an authentication issued to document for use in some countries that participated in the Hague Convention of 1961. A certificate of authentication can be obtained if the document is to be used in a country that did not participate in the convention. The secretary of state corporation division provides the apostille and authentication service to citizens and foreign nations for use in other countries or states. To obtain the apostille, you are required to send the following information:

1. Original notarized document or certified copy to be authenticated that includes the original certification
2. Each document costs $15 which is paid in dollars to the secretary of state
3. Apostille or certificate of authentication request form which includes:

• the name of the country requesting documents
• phone number
• information on where the documents are to be mailed after processing
• name of the person requesting 

Assistance

The Washington secretary of state assists business owners through online feedback for the corporation, consumer protection, and 24/7 contact support.