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Update us when you figure out what the exact issue was! These Montana filing stories always help others avoid the same mistakes. Sounds like you're on the right track checking the punctuation and getting the official name formatting.
I've been through this exact same headache with Montana UCC filings! In my experience, it's almost always punctuation or spacing issues. Beyond the comma that others mentioned, also check for any extra spaces before or after the name - Montana's system is notorious for rejecting filings due to trailing spaces that you can't even see. I learned to copy the name directly from their business entity search results and paste it exactly into the UCC-1 form. Also worth double-checking that you're using the current registered name and not any "doing business as" variations. Hope you get it sorted soon - those lender delays are the worst part of these filing issues!
I had a similar nightmare with Maryland searches last year. Ended up finding existing liens under a completely different name variation that didn't show up in my initial searches. Now I use Certana.ai to upload all the company documents first - it analyzes everything and shows you all the possible name variations to search for. Would have saved me hours of manual searching and prevented a potential lien priority issue.
I've run into this exact same problem with Maryland's UCC search system! What's worked for me is using a combination approach: first try the truncated search variations others mentioned (just "Advanced Manufacturing" without LLC), then also search by the registered agent's name if you have that info. Sometimes UCC filings get indexed under the agent rather than the debtor name due to filing errors. Also, if you're really pressed for time, consider ordering an official search certificate directly from the state - it takes 24-48 hours but gives you legal protection if there are indexing issues you missed. The certificate costs around $25 but could save you from missing a lien that doesn't show up in their broken online system.
UPDATE: I ended up consulting with a banking attorney who confirmed that the federal reserve deposits are subject to UCC Article 9 in our state. Used detailed collateral language specifying the Fed bank and account identifiers, plus ran everything through Certana.ai's verification tool which caught a debtor name mismatch I hadn't noticed. Filed electronically yesterday and got confirmation this morning. Thanks everyone for the guidance on this UCC financing statement federal reserve situation!
As someone who's handled several federal reserve collateral deals, I'd recommend being extra cautious about the deposit account control agreements too. Even with a perfect UCC-1 filing, you'll want to make sure the lender has proper control over those Fed accounts through the appropriate banking channels. The UCC filing is just one piece - the control agreement with the federal reserve bank is equally critical for perfection. Also worth noting that some Fed districts have slightly different documentation requirements, so double-check which district your debtor's accounts are held in.
Final tip - when you get your results back from the Alabama UCC statement request form, carefully review all the filing details. I've caught errors in original filings that way - wrong collateral descriptions, typos in debtor names, etc. Better to find issues now than during a default situation.
Just wanted to add that when you're filling out the Alabama UCC statement request form, make sure to include your contact information clearly. I've had requests delayed because my phone number was illegible and they couldn't reach me to clarify some details about the search parameters. Also, if you're searching for equipment financing collateral specifically, consider requesting searches under both the business name and any DBAs - equipment lenders sometimes file under different name variations.
Great point about the contact info! I learned that lesson the hard way when Alabama SOS couldn't reach me about a debtor name clarification. Also really helpful tip about searching under DBAs - I hadn't thought about equipment lenders potentially filing under different variations. Do you typically search all known business names at once or submit separate Alabama UCC statement request forms for each variation?
Michael Green
Been there with the lapsed filings situation. It's frustrating but not the end of the world. Just file new UCC-1s with current debtor information and you'll be back in business. The good news is California's electronic filing system makes it pretty quick once you have all your info together.
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Michael Green
•Nah, happens more often than you'd think. Just get the new filings done promptly and set up better tracking for the next round.
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Mateo Silva
•Definitely recommend some kind of automated tracking system. Whether it's calendar reminders, commercial software, or document verification tools like Certana.ai, anything is better than trying to remember deadlines manually.
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Miguel Hernández
Just wanted to add another perspective from someone who manages UCC filings for a credit union. The 5-year rule is definitely standard, but I always recommend setting up reminders at 4.5 years to give yourself plenty of cushion. California's system can sometimes have delays or maintenance windows, and you don't want to be scrambling at the last minute. For your 2019 filings, you're definitely looking at new UCC-1s at this point. On the bright side, it's a good opportunity to clean up any debtor name issues or collateral descriptions that might have been problematic in the original filings.
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Dylan Wright
•That's really smart advice about the 4.5 year reminder! I'm definitely going to implement something like that going forward. And you're right about it being an opportunity to clean things up - I've been wondering if some of our original collateral descriptions were too vague anyway. Better to get it right this time around.
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