UCC Document Community

We ended up having to get our assignment documentation notarized after the first rejection, even though Article 9 doesn't specifically require notarization. Some SOS offices seem to prefer extra authentication on assignment papers.

I went through something similar with a rejected assignment filing last year. The frustrating thing is that Article 9's written assignment requirements seem straightforward in theory, but the practical implementation can be tricky. What really helped us was creating a standardized assignment template that includes all the required elements: clear identification of the original security agreement, specific collateral description, assignor's signature with date, and most importantly, explicit language stating the assignor's intent to transfer their security interest. We also learned to always reference the original UCC-1 filing number prominently in the assignment document. Since implementing this approach, we haven't had any more rejections. For your $340k collateral situation, I'd definitely recommend getting the documentation perfect before refiling - the priority risk isn't worth cutting corners.

In my experience, when clients mention weird form numbers like this, 90% of the time they're looking at outdated information or confusing different types of filings. I'd just start with what you know they need (probably a UCC-1 for the equipment financing) and work backwards from there.

I've run into this exact scenario before! Last year I had a client insisting they needed a "UCC 15" form for a vehicle financing deal. After some digging, it turned out they were looking at an old template from their previous lender that had internal reference numbers that didn't correspond to actual UCC forms. Illinois definitely uses the standard UCC-1, UCC-3, and UCC-5 forms like everywhere else. My guess is your client either has outdated paperwork or is mixing up form numbers from different filing systems. I'd recommend just walking them through what you actually need for the equipment financing - likely a standard UCC-1 to perfect the security interest - and let them know that "UCC 11" isn't a real form in Illinois or any other state I'm aware of.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I'm going to start with organizing all my documentation properly and then approach the acquiring bank's legal department with a formal written request. If that doesn't work within 30 days, I'll file a complaint with the state banking regulator. Really appreciate all the different perspectives on this - I had no idea there were so many potential approaches to the problem.

One thing I'd add is to check if your state has a specific statute of limitations on how long UCC filings remain effective. In most states, UCC-1 filings lapse after 5 years unless a continuation statement is filed. Since your loan was from 2017 and it's now 2025, the filing might actually be expired already, which could simplify your refinancing situation. Your new lender should be able to verify this, and an expired filing typically doesn't need a formal termination. Worth checking before you go through all the hassle of tracking down the acquiring bank.

Sounds like you've got a solid plan forming. Entity conversion = new UCC-1, careful debtor name verification, broad collateral description for manufacturing inventory, and continuous perfection timing. The key is executing it all flawlessly with that loan amount at stake.

One additional consideration for your manufacturing client - if they have any equipment subject to federal regulations (like FDA equipment for medical devices or OSHA-regulated machinery), make sure your collateral description doesn't conflict with any regulatory restrictions on transfers or liens. I've seen UCC filings challenged where the collateral was subject to special federal oversight. Also, given the substantial loan amount, you might want to consider getting a UCC search done immediately before filing to see what other liens are already on record against both the old LLC and new corporation entities.

Update: I ended up doing searches under 5 different name variations and found two existing UCC-1 filings I would have missed. One was under the company's old name before they changed it, and another was under an abbreviation. Both are still active. Thanks for all the advice - definitely saved me from a major headache!

This thread is incredibly valuable for anyone doing UCC searches! I'm relatively new to this and just wanted to add that NY also allows for wildcard searches using the asterisk (*) symbol, which can help catch variations you might not think of. For example, searching "ABC Company*" would find "ABC Company Inc", "ABC Company LLC", "ABC Company Incorporated", etc. Just be prepared for a lot of results to sort through, but it's another tool in the toolkit for comprehensive searches.