Building Access, Routing & Statutory Intake Notes
- Located in the historic Dolliver Building at 801 Capitol Way South (corner of 8th Ave SE and Capitol Way S) in downtown Olympia, one block south of C T Corporation System.
- Features a public walk-in customer service counter on the main floor for statutory service of process deliveries.
- Requires specific statutory authority (e.g., RCW 46.64.040 nonresident motorist, unregistered foreign entity, or court order/statutory trigger under RCW 23.95.450) plus the Secretary of State's statutory service fee per defendant.
- Two duplicate copies of the process and supporting declaration/cover sheet are typically required at the counter.
Statutory Substituted Service at the Dolliver Building (801 Capitol Way S, Olympia)
The Washington Secretary of State — Corporations and Charities Division, housed in the historic Dolliver Building at 801 Capitol Way South, Olympia, WA 98501 (Thurston County), serves as the statutory agent for substituted service of process under several specific provisions of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).
Unlike routine registered agent serves, you cannot simply walk into the Secretary of State's office to serve any business you want; the Secretary of State only accepts service of process when expressly authorized by a Washington statute or court order—such as when a business entity fails to appoint or maintain a registered agent in Washington, when the registered agent cannot with reasonable diligence be found at the registered office (where statutory substituted service is still authorized), for unregistered foreign entities transacting business in Washington without authority, or under Washington's Nonresident Motorist Statute (RCW 46.64.040).
Nonresident Motorist Service (RCW 46.64.040) & Entity Substituted Service Rules
One of the most frequent statutory filings at the Dolliver Building is service under RCW 46.64.040 (Washington's Nonresident Motorist / Absent Resident Motorist Statute). When a nonresident driver—or a Washington resident who subsequently departs the state or conceals themselves after an auto collision on Washington highways—cannot be personally served after due diligence, RCW 46.64.040 appoints the Secretary of State as their lawful attorney for service of summons.
Important procedural warning for RCW 46.64.040: serving the Secretary of State at 801 Capitol Way South is only half of the statutory requirement! Under RCW 46.64.040, you must deliver duplicate copies of the summons and complaint (along with the statutory SOS fee and attorney declaration of due diligence) to the Secretary of State, AND forthwith send notice of such service and a copy of the summons to the defendant by registered mail (with return receipt requested, or certified mail endorsed for personal delivery), AND attach the defendant's return receipt or an affidavit of mailing/compliance.
Walk-In Olympia Counter Delivery & Fee Advancement
Because mailing statutory service packets to the Secretary of State can result in multi-week administrative processing delays—putting plaintiffs at severe risk of missing the strict 90-day tolling deadline under RCW 4.16.170—Washington litigation attorneys rely on our Thurston County process servers to walk statutory service packets directly up to the Dolliver Building counter at 801 Capitol Way South.
Our Olympia servers verify that your packet includes the required duplicate copies, cover letter/declaration citing the exact RCW authority, and the statutory Secretary of State service fee check, obtaining an immediate counter-stamped receipt and executing a Washington GR 13 Declaration of Service the same day.
Flat-Rate Service Tiers for WA Secretary of State (Dolliver Building)
Frequently Asked Questions: WA Secretary of State (Dolliver Building)
Can the Washington Secretary of State accept service if I haven't tried to serve the LLC's registered agent first?
No. For represented entities, you must first attempt service on the registered agent listed on CCFS. Only if the entity has failed to maintain an agent, or the agent cannot with reasonable diligence be found at the registered office (and the governing statute/court order authorizes SOS service), will the Dolliver Building counter accept substituted service.
How close is the Dolliver Building to C T Corporation System in Olympia?
They are just one block apart on Capitol Way South! C T Corporation System is at 711 Capitol Way South, and the Secretary of State's Dolliver Building is at 801 Capitol Way South. If an agent is rejected or defunct, our Olympia team can pivot immediately.
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