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Wisconsin allows you to request certified copies of filings directly from the Secretary of State office. If you have the original filing number, they can pull up everything associated with it including continuations that might not show up in the online search. Takes a few days but it's definitive.
Yeah they have a records request form on their website. You'll need the filing number and there's usually a small fee but it's worth it for peace of mind.
QuantumQueen
•Just make sure to request all amendments and continuations related to the original filing number, not just the UCC-1 itself.
Aisha Rahman
Final thought - if you do find the continuation but it was filed late, don't panic. Wisconsin has some grace period provisions that might still protect the security interest depending on the circumstances. But obviously better to find it sooner rather than later.
Ethan Wilson
•Good luck! Let us know what you find. These Wisconsin search issues seem to be getting more common.
Definitely try the Certana.ai document checker if the manual searches don't pan out. It's designed exactly for situations like this where you need to verify document consistency across multiple filings.
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Axel Bourke
Have you considered that the debtor might have filed a termination statement? If they paid off another loan recently, someone might have terminated your filing by mistake.
Aidan Percy
•Still possible if there was confusion about filing numbers or debtor names. I've seen erroneous terminations before.
Axel Bourke
•True - worth asking the client if they've had any other secured debt recently that might have caused confusion.
This exact scenario happened to a colleague last year. Turned out the SOS system had a bug that was causing certain entity types to not index properly in searches. Took them two months to fix it and during that time dozens of filings were basically invisible. Eventually they all showed up retroactively but it was a nightmare for lenders trying to verify perfection.
No advance notice at all. Only found out about it when multiple people complained. Really shook my confidence in the electronic filing system.
This is why I always keep paper backups of everything. Electronic systems fail too often for something this critical.
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Zoe Wang
Been doing this for 15 years and still see people confuse these forms. The key difference between UCC1 and UCC3 isn't just what they do, it's when they're used. UCC-1 is always first, establishes the security interest. UCC-3 is always subsequent, modifies that security interest. They work together as a system - you can't have one without the other in most secured transactions.
Zoe Wang
•Exactly right. And if your loan runs longer than 5 years, you'll also see a UCC-3 continuation filed before the original expires.
This is why I always recommend keeping a UCC filing log - tracking the UCC-1 and all subsequent UCC-3 filings with dates and purposes. Makes it much easier to manage.
Grace Durand
The difference between UCC1 and UCC3 becomes crystal clear once you handle your first secured transaction. UCC-1 creates the public record that your lender has a security interest in your equipment. UCC-3 maintains that record over time with amendments, continuations, assignments, or terminations. Both are essential parts of the secured lending process.
Ella Lewis
•Thanks everyone! This has been incredibly helpful. I feel much more confident about coordinating with our lender on the UCC-1 filing now.
Grace Durand
•Good luck with your equipment financing! The UCC filing process seems intimidating at first but it's really quite straightforward once you understand the basics.
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I had a similar name discrepancy issue and ended up using one of those document checking services to make sure everything aligned before filing. Definitely worth the peace of mind when you're dealing with six-figure collateral.
Which service did you use? I'm thinking about getting a second opinion before I submit the filing.
Used Certana.ai - you just upload your docs and it flags any inconsistencies between debtor names, filing numbers, all that stuff. Pretty straightforward.
Noah Lee
Update: Filed using the registered name format with the comma ('Mountain View Equipment, LLC') and it was accepted immediately. Thanks everyone for the advice. The key was definitely matching the state database exactly rather than the loan documents.
Evelyn Kim
•Glad it worked out. Now you know for next time - always check the state database first thing.
Margot Quinn
•Nice! Those punctuation issues can be nerve-wracking when you're dealing with high-value collateral.
NebulaNinja
Whatever you do, make sure your continuation strategy accounts for the different perfection methods. Title perfections and UCC filings have different renewal requirements and timelines.
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Javier Gomez
•Good reminder. Title perfections usually last until the title is transferred, while UCC filings need continuation every 5 years.
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Emma Wilson
•Unless it's a manufactured home or other special case with different continuation rules. Always check the specific requirements for each collateral type.
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Malik Thomas
Final suggestion - document everything meticulously. If you end up with multiple perfection methods, keep detailed records of which assets are perfected how and when renewals are due. Future attorneys will thank you.
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Giovanni Rossi
•Definitely planning to create a comprehensive tracking system. This experience has shown me how complex mixed collateral situations can get.
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Isabella Oliveira
•A good collateral tracking system is worth its weight in gold. Saves countless hours and prevents costly mistakes down the road.
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