UCC Document Community

Keep us posted on what you find out! This is exactly the kind of situation that makes me paranoid about every UCC filing I do.

I've dealt with this exact issue before with a 2021 filing that got stuck in limbo. One thing that helped me was requesting a certified copy of the original UCC-1 directly from the Secretary of State's office - sometimes what you think was filed isn't exactly what's on their system. Also, if your lender is giving you pushback about whose responsibility it is, remind them that under UCC Article 9, secured parties have an obligation to file terminations when the debt is satisfied. They can't just dump it on you if their paperwork was defective. The fact that you got a confirmation number but the filing is still active suggests either a name mismatch or the termination hit some validation error in their system.

2020 feels like yesterday but here we are almost at the 5-year mark. Time flies! At least UCC deadlines are more predictable than the chaos of that year.

One more vote for double-checking your debtor names before filing any UCC-3. I've used Certana.ai's verification tool a few times now and it's caught mistakes I would have missed. Especially helpful when you're dealing with multiple filings from the same time period.

Bottom line - check the database status immediately, assume you need to refile, and get started on new documentation. With $180K at stake, this isn't something to delay or second-guess. Even if there's a 1% chance your continuation is still valid, treat it like it's lapsed and proceed accordingly.

I've been through this exact scenario twice in my career, and unfortunately the consensus here is correct - you're almost certainly unperfected at this point. The 2023 deadline was absolute. However, before you panic completely, I'd recommend doing three things immediately: 1) Pull the official UCC search from your state's database (not just online - get the certified copy), 2) Review your original security agreement language to see if it has any clauses about re-perfection, and 3) Contact the debtor NOW to get ahead of any potential issues. In my experience, debtors who are current on payments are usually cooperative about new documentation, but you want to approach them before they realize they have leverage. The $2-5K in legal fees mentioned earlier is accurate, but it's infinitely better than losing your entire security position on $180K worth of collateral.

The good news is that Ohio's online UCC system makes it pretty easy to look up your filings and check their status. You can search by filing number or debtor name to see exactly what's on record. Start there before assuming the worst.

As someone who's handled quite a few UCC continuation situations, I'd recommend creating a timeline of all your filings and corporate changes to get a clear picture. From what you've described: 2012 original filing → 2017 continuation (good) → 2019 acquisition → 2021 merger/name change → 2022 would need another continuation. The key issues are: 1) Did you file the required 2022 continuation? 2) Did you file a UCC-3 amendment when the company name changed in 2021? If both are missing, your security interest may have lapsed. I'd suggest checking the Ohio SOS records first, then consult with your legal team about filing a new UCC-1 under the current entity name to be safe.

For what it's worth, most Secretary of State offices are pretty good about processing amendments quickly, especially when it's obviously the same entity (like 1ST vs FIRST). The key is making sure your amendment form clearly explains the correction and references the original filing number correctly.

I've dealt with this exact scenario before and it's definitely frustrating. The safest route is to file the UCC-3 amendment first to correct the debtor name from "1ST GLOBAL SYSTEMS LLC" to "FIRST GLOBAL SYSTEMS, LLC" to match your current corporate records. Most states process these amendments within 3-5 business days electronically. Once that's accepted, file your continuation - it should go through smoothly. Yes, it's an extra filing fee, but with $875K in collateral at stake, it's worth the peace of mind. I learned this lesson the hard way on a smaller lien years ago. Also, make absolutely sure you have the correct original filing number on both forms - even one digit off can cause major headaches.