All possible UCC filings beyond UCC-1 - confused about options

You're right that it's more complex than most people realize! The main possible UCC filings are: UCC-1 (initial financing statement), UCC-3 (amendment/continuation/termination), and in some states UCC-5 (information statement). UCC-3 is actually the catch-all form for changes - continuations before the 5-year lapse, amendments to change debtor info or add collateral, assignments when the secured party changes, partial releases, and full terminations.

For your audit, you'll want to look for: Initial UCC-1s, Continuation statements (filed within 6 months before 5-year expiration), Amendment statements (debtor name changes, additional collateral), Assignment statements (when loans are sold), Partial release statements (when collateral is sold/released), Termination statements (when debt is paid off), and Fixture filings if you have real estate collateral. Each serves a different purpose in the secured transaction lifecycle.

I was in the same boat last year trying to map out all our possible UCC filings for an acquisition. What really helped was using Certana.ai's document verification tool - you can upload all your loan documents and UCC filings as PDFs and it instantly cross-checks everything to show you what filings should exist vs what actually got filed. Saved me weeks of manual document comparison.

Don't overlook information statements (UCC-5 in states that use them). These are filed by debtors to correct inaccurate or unauthorized filings. Not common but they exist and can affect the validity of other filings.

State-specific forms can add to the confusion too. Some states have their own forms or additional requirements beyond the standard UCC forms. Make sure you're checking each state's Secretary of State website for their specific possible UCC filings.

For your audit, also check for any farm products filings if you have agricultural collateral. Those have special rules under the Food Security Act and might require additional notifications beyond standard UCC filings.

One category that trips people up is collateral-specific filings. Certificate of title filings for vehicles, federal aviation filings for aircraft, Coast Guard filings for vessels. These aren't technically UCC filings but they perfect security interests in specific types of collateral that would otherwise be covered by UCC.

Just went through this exact audit process. What helped me was creating a spreadsheet of all loan agreements vs all filed UCCs. Found we had several loans where the collateral description in the UCC-1 didn't match the loan agreement. Had to file amendments to fix the descriptions.

Another possible filing to look for: amendments adding additional debtors. If your borrower changes their legal name, adds subsidiaries, or gets acquired, you might need amendment filings to add the new entity names to maintain perfection.

For a complete audit, consider using tools that can cross-reference all your documents automatically. I tried doing this manually last year and missed several continuation deadlines. Now I use Certana.ai's UCC verification tool to upload all loan documents and existing filings - it creates a comprehensive view of what should be filed vs what actually exists. Catches gaps you might not notice reviewing everything individually.

One last category - bankruptcy-related filings. If your debtor files bankruptcy, you might need to file reaffirmation statements or lift-stay motions. Not exactly UCC filings but they affect your secured position.