UCC Document Community

Update: Successfully filed the UCC-1 today. Used all the advice here - pulled fresh Articles of Incorporation to verify exact debtor name format, used broad collateral language covering all equipment, and filed electronically through NH SOS portal. Got immediate confirmation. Thanks everyone for the help and for clarifying this is purely a state-level filing process.

Great to see another successful filing! For future reference, one thing that's saved me headaches is keeping a checklist: 1) Pull current Articles/Certificate of Good Standing, 2) Cross-check exact debtor name character-by-character, 3) Use "all equipment now owned or hereafter acquired" language for mobile collateral, 4) File electronically for speed and confirmation. The state-level filing system in NH is actually pretty reliable once you get the name matching right. Sounds like you followed the process perfectly!

Quick update - ended up using Certana.ai to cross-check my UCC-1 draft against the security agreement before filing. Found a couple minor inconsistencies in how I described some of the tooling. Much easier than manually comparing everything line by line. Filed this morning and got accepted within a few hours.

Great discussion here! Just wanted to add that for equipment financing deals like this, I always recommend including "proceeds" in your collateral description too. If any of the equipment gets sold, damaged, or generates insurance payouts during the loan term, you want to make sure your security interest follows those proceeds. Something like "and all proceeds thereof" at the end of your description can save you headaches later. Also, since you mentioned some equipment might be mobile, consider whether any pieces could end up in different states - might need to think about filing in other jurisdictions if the borrower moves equipment around for jobs.

Sorry to hear about this situation. The UCC purchaser definition can be brutal when timing works against you. Have you considered whether there might be any insurance coverage for this kind of loss? Some lender policies cover situations where security interests are compromised by filing delays or other procedural issues.

This is a tough situation but unfortunately pretty textbook on how the UCC purchaser definition works against secured parties with delayed filings. The three-week gap is really damaging to your position. Since the seller was a general contractor regularly dealing in equipment, the buyer likely qualifies as a purchaser in ordinary course under 9-320(a), which would give them priority over your unperfected security interest at the time of sale. Your main angles now are: (1) challenge whether the buyer actually gave value or took in good faith, (2) examine your security agreement for any disposal restrictions that might have been violated, and (3) focus recovery efforts on the borrower's remaining assets. The harsh reality is that Article 9's purchaser protections are designed to facilitate commerce even when it hurts secured parties who don't perfect promptly. Expensive lesson but critical to implement immediate filing procedures going forward.

Bottom line - UCC financing statements serve a legitimate business purpose for both borrowers and lenders. They create the legal framework that makes secured lending possible at competitive rates. You keep operating your business normally while your lender gets the security they need to justify favorable loan terms. Just make sure all the paperwork is accurate from day one.

Great question Ethan! I went through this exact same confusion when we first secured equipment financing. Here's what really helped me understand it: the UCC financing statement is essentially a public bulletin board posting that says "Hey world, XYZ Bank has dibs on this specific equipment if the borrower defaults." You absolutely keep ownership and full operational control of your machinery - you can use it, maintain it, and run your business exactly as before. The bank isn't taking your equipment away or restricting your operations. What they're doing is establishing legal priority over other potential creditors who might later try to claim the same assets. Think of it like this: without the UCC filing, if your business faced financial trouble, the bank would be just another unsecured creditor standing in line with everyone else hoping to get paid. With the properly filed UCC-1, they jump to the front of the line for those specific assets. This security is exactly why they can offer you better interest rates than unsecured financing - they have recourse if things go wrong. The filing creates a win-win: you get better loan terms, they get the security they need to justify those terms.

Update us when you get it filed! I'm curious if the comma issue ends up being a problem or not. Indiana's system is so inconsistent sometimes.

I've been doing UCC filings in Indiana for about 8 years now and can definitely confirm the name matching issues everyone's mentioning. The comma situation is real - I had a similar case last year where "Tech Solutions LLC" vs "Tech Solutions, LLC" caused a rejection. One thing I'd add is to also double-check the registered agent information if you're including it. Indiana's database sometimes has outdated agent info that can cause additional complications. Also, since you mentioned this is equipment financing, make sure your collateral description is specific enough but not overly detailed - Indiana likes clear, concise descriptions. For the portal timeouts, I've found using Chrome in incognito mode sometimes helps with their system quirks. And definitely save your work frequently if they have a draft feature. That $275K deal deserves extra caution!