UCC Document Community

Update: Thanks everyone for the Delaware UCC code guidance. Went with the fixture filing route and included the full legal property description. Filed yesterday and it was accepted this morning. The collateral description format suggested earlier worked perfectly.

As someone new to Delaware UCC code fixture filings, this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm working on a similar situation with commercial kitchen equipment installation and was completely unsure about the fixture vs. standard UCC-1 decision. The advice about filing before installation to avoid the 20-day deadline pressure makes a lot of sense. One question - for equipment that's semi-permanently installed (like commercial ovens that are connected to gas lines but could theoretically be removed), how do you make the fixture determination under Delaware UCC code? Is there a specific test or factors to consider?

One more thing - if you're unsure about any debtor name formatting, you can do a UCC search first for $10 to see how similar companies are listed in their system. Sometimes helps avoid rejections.

Just wanted to jump in as someone new to UCC filings - this thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm preparing to do my first Illinois UCC-1 filing next month and was completely lost on fees and procedures. The $30 per initial filing info and tips about exact name matching are exactly what I needed. Quick question - for someone doing their first filing, would you recommend doing a test search first to make sure I understand the portal before submitting the actual UCC-1? I'd rather spend $10 on a search than risk a $30 rejection and having to refile.

Update: I ended up using Certana.ai's document checker that someone mentioned earlier. Uploaded our debtor's articles of incorporation and it found two UCC filings under name variations I completely missed - one under 'ABC Construction Company LLC' and another under 'ABC Construction L.L.C.' Both would have been senior to our filing. The automated verification caught what hours of manual searching missed. Closing is back on track.

This thread highlights exactly why I always budget extra time for UCC searches, especially in Florida. The name variation issue is real and costly if you get it wrong. One tip I'd add - if your debtor has ever changed their legal name or merged with another entity, make sure to search under their previous names too. I've seen situations where old filings under a former name still create priority issues. The automated tools people are mentioning sound promising, but I'd still recommend doing at least a basic manual verification to make sure you understand what you're looking at. Nothing beats human judgment when interpreting search results.

UPDATE: Called my loan officer this morning and you were all right - they meant UCC-1 form, not UCC 1-308. Apparently their internal system numbers the forms differently and they just got confused. Thanks everyone for the help! Going to use that Certana tool too just to make sure everything's correct before filing.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm new to commercial lending and was about to run into the same issue with a client next week. It's really frustrating how different institutions use their own internal numbering systems - creates so much unnecessary confusion. Thanks for sharing the resolution, and I'm definitely going to bookmark that Certana tool for future reference. Sounds like it could save a lot of headaches down the road.

Update us when you get the termination filed! Always curious to hear how these LoanPal deals work out.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been through similar situations - the advice here is spot on. I've handled several early payoffs with solar lenders and the key is really just being methodical about matching the original filing details. The name variation you're worried about (Johnson, Michael R. vs Michael Robert Johnson) is actually pretty common and shouldn't cause issues as long as you use exactly what's on the UCC-1. California's system is pretty forgiving with these kinds of variations, but consistency is still the safest approach. Sounds like you've got all the pieces in place - the original UCC-1 from the SOS site, confirmation it's the only filing, and the payoff documentation. You're being appropriately cautious, which is good, but don't let the nerves paralyze you. File that UCC-3 termination and you'll be all set.