§ 24.03.302. Administrative dissolution -- Grounds -- Notice -- Reinstatement--Fee set by rule -- Corporate name -- Survival of actions
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.
Sections: Previous 24.03.255 24.03.260 24.03.265 24.03.270 24.03.290 24.03.295 24.03.300 24.03.302 24.03.3025 24.03.303 24.03.305 24.03.307 24.03.310 24.03.315 24.03.320 Next
Last modified: April 7, 2009