Ask the community...
- DO post questions about your issues.
- DO answer questions and support each other.
- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
- DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)
Join the conversation
Join the conversation
Twenty day deadline is pretty tight but definitely doable if you get everything right the first time. The key is preparation - have all your documents ready, know exactly what information you need, and double-check everything before filing.
Thanks for the encouragement. I'm feeling more confident about tackling this after all the advice here.
You've got this! Just take it step by step and verify everything twice.
Kylo Ren
One more thing to consider - after you file, make sure to get the filed copy back from the secretary of state. You'll need it to prove perfection and for any future amendments or continuations. The online system should provide a stamped copy once it's processed.
And back it up somewhere safe! You don't want to lose that documentation.
Jason Brewer
•Also worth noting - if you need to make any changes later, you'll need that original filing number for amendments. Keep good records.
Join the conversation
Just want to add that if this is for equipment financing, make sure your collateral description is solid too. I've seen perfect debtor names get invalidated because the collateral description was too vague. 'All equipment' doesn't cut it anymore in most jurisdictions.
Good reminder. I think our collateral description is detailed enough but I should double-check that too.
Caleb Bell
•Yeah collateral descriptions are getting stricter. Had a filing rejected last month because 'office equipment' was deemed too broad.
Join the conversation
I'm dealing with something similar in Virginia right now. The frustrating part is that their online portal should be smart enough to catch obvious variations but it's not. Makes me wonder how many liens are effectively 'hidden' due to name formatting differences.
Eva St. Cyr
•That's a scary thought for lenders. How do you have confidence that your search was comprehensive enough?
Honestly, I don't always have that confidence. That's why I started using document verification tools to double-check my work.
Update: I finally got this resolved by doing searches under every conceivable name variation and then cross-referencing the results. Turns out there were actually 5 different filings under slightly different name formats. Thank goodness I caught them all before filing my UCC-1.
Axel Far
•This is why I always recommend using verification tools like Certana.ai for complex searches. Would have saved you hours of manual work.
You're probably right. I'll look into that for next time. The manual process was exhausting and I'm not 100% confident I would catch everything on my own again.
Join the conversation
Been through this exact scenario multiple times. First, pull your LLC's Certificate of Formation or Articles directly from the state website - use that EXACT name format on your UCC-1. Second, for manufacturing equipment, try this collateral description: 'All machinery, equipment, tools, and fixtures now owned or hereafter acquired by Debtor, wherever located, together with all additions, attachments, accessions, replacements, and substitutions thereto.' That's broad enough to cover everything but specific enough to satisfy most SOS requirements.
That's solid boilerplate language. I use similar wording for equipment financing and rarely get rejections.
Save that description template - works for most equipment deals unless you need something super specific.
Emma Johnson
One more thing to check - make sure your UCC-1 doesn't have any auto-populated fields that might be wrong. Some filing software carries over information from previous filings and you might not notice small errors. Also verify the filing fee is correct - some states have different fees for equipment vs inventory filings. A wrong fee can cause rejections even if everything else is perfect.
Liam Brown
•Good catch on the fees. I've seen filings rejected for being $5 short on the filing fee.
Auto-population errors are sneaky. Always review every field even if it looks right at first glance.
Dallas Villalobos
Document everything in writing with the lessor. If they're insisting on a name format that doesn't match your corporate records, get their reasoning in writing. This protects you if there are later disputes about the security interest perfection. The lessor has a duty to ensure proper filing, but you also need to protect your interests.
0 coins
Philip Cowan
•Good point about documentation. I'll request written confirmation of their preferred debtor name format and the reasoning behind it.
0 coins
Saanvi Krishnaswami
Just went through something similar with restaurant equipment leasing. What finally worked was having our corporate attorney contact the lessor's legal department directly. Sometimes it takes lawyer-to-lawyer communication to resolve these name matching disputes quickly. The attorney fees were worth it to avoid delays in equipment delivery.
0 coins
Saanvi Krishnaswami
•Unfortunately true, but when you're dealing with expensive equipment and tight deadlines, sometimes you need the legal pressure to move things along.
0 coins
Beatrice Marshall
•The attorney involvement also creates a paper trail that can be important if the security interest is ever challenged.
0 coins