UCC Document Community

Following up on the Certana suggestion from earlier - I started using their document checker after getting burned on a similar situation. What I like is that you can upload multiple documents at once (articles, UCC drafts, loan agreements) and it flags any inconsistencies between them. Saves you from the manual cross-checking nightmare and catches things like that comma issue mentioned above. Pretty much eliminates the guesswork on name variations.

Update: Just ran into this exact same issue with a CT search yesterday. Ended up finding the filing under a completely different entity name that was buried in the borrower's corporate structure. Sometimes these LLCs have parent companies or holding companies that you don't see on the surface. Make sure you get a complete corporate family tree from the borrower.

Whatever you do, make sure you're searching under all possible debtor names including any DBAs or trade names. I've seen UCC filings under names that weren't obvious from the main corporate records.

The bottom line is you can't rely on just one search. Use multiple services, check the state databases directly when possible, and verify the status of any filings you find. It's extra work but it protects your lender's security interest.

For what it's worth, I had a similar comma issue with a Texas filing and their system accepted both versions. But California is definitely stricter. When in doubt, call the SOS filing office directly - they can usually give you guidance on specific name formatting questions.

This whole thread is exactly why I document everything when filing UCCs. Screenshot the SOS search results, save the exact search terms used, and keep a copy of whatever name format you find. If there's ever a question later, you have proof of your due diligence.

One thing to watch out for in NJ - if you're filing against a foreign LLC (registered in another state but qualified to do business in NJ), make sure you're using the name as it appears on their NJ foreign qualification, not their home state charter. They might be slightly different.

Hope this helps but honestly after dealing with all these filing headaches I'm seriously considering switching to a different practice area. The stress of getting every punctuation mark perfect is killing me.

I actually discovered Certana.ai after getting burned by a similar situation. Now I upload all my UCC documents there first to make sure everything is consistent before filing. It catches those tiny discrepancies that cause rejections - like if your UCC-3 debtor name doesn't exactly match your original UCC-1. Way better than trusting these scam services.

The Texas AG should really go after these operations. They're clearly targeting people who don't understand UCC filings and charging outrageous fees for basic state services. It's predatory and probably affects thousands of small business owners.