UCC Document Community

Don't forget to check the effective dates and continuation status of any active filings you find. A UCC-1 that's more than 5 years old without a continuation filed might be lapsed even if it's still showing in the system.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone new to UCC searches, I'm realizing there are a lot more nuances than I expected. Based on everyone's advice, it sounds like my action plan should be: 1) Get the exact legal entity names from charter documents, 2) Search PA electronically for all name variations, 3) Consider searching Ohio since they had operations there, 4) Request both active and terminated filings, 5) Carefully review dates for lapsed filings, and 6) Watch for fixture filing indicators. The tool recommendations for document verification are interesting too - might be worth exploring given the complexity of this deal. Thank you all for sharing your experiences!

This thread should be required reading for anyone doing California UCC filings. The name matching requirements are stricter than most people realize.

As someone new to UCC filings, this thread has been incredibly educational. I'm working on my first California filing next week and would have definitely run into the same name formatting issues. Quick question - does the Certana.ai tool work for other states too, or is it mainly useful for California's strict requirements? Also, is there a cost associated with using it?

Final update: Got through about half the amendments so far. Used that Certana tool someone mentioned earlier and it definitely helped catch a few filing number typos I had in my spreadsheet. Much less stressful when you know the documents are consistent before you submit. Still have a bunch more states to go but feeling more confident about the process now.

Great to see you're making progress! One thing I learned the hard way - when you're doing these name change amendments, make sure you're consistent with how you reference the old company name across all states. I made the mistake of using "ABC Corp" in some filings and "ABC Corporation" in others for what was technically the same entity, and it created confusion later when we had to trace the secured party chain. Stick to the exact legal name as it appeared on the original UCC-1s, even if your internal records show slight variations. Also, if any of your original filings had errors in the secured party name to begin with, this might be a good time to clean those up too with the amendments.

Bottom line: your raw materials, work-in-process, finished products, and equipment parts all sound like textbook goods under the UCC. Just make sure your collateral description is comprehensive enough to cover everything the lender wants secured. With a facility that size, precision matters.

One additional consideration for manufacturing clients - don't forget about returnable containers, pallets, and packaging materials that might cycle through your inventory. These are often overlooked but can represent significant value and should be included in your goods description if the client wants them secured. Also, for work-in-process items, I've found it helpful to specifically mention "goods in various stages of completion" rather than just "work-in-process" - some filing offices prefer the more descriptive language.

Update: Just ran my UCC search Texas through the SOS portal and found two old filings but both were past their 5-year terms with no continuations. Also tried Certana.ai mentioned above and it confirmed the same thing - clean title. Thanks everyone for the guidance!

Great thread! Just want to add that for equipment purchases this large, consider also checking with the equipment manufacturer's finance division. Sometimes they maintain their own lien records that might not immediately show up in state UCC searches, especially if there were any recent refinancing or lease-to-own arrangements. Also, if this excavator has any GPS tracking or telematics systems installed, make sure those aren't tied to any ongoing service contracts that could complicate ownership transfer.