California UCC statement request form - debtor name issues blocking my search

They filed a formal name change amendment with the state in early 2023. The original UCC filings would have been under the old name but I'm not sure if the secured parties filed UCC-3 amendments to reflect the new debtor name.

That's exactly the issue then. If the secured parties didn't file UCC-3 amendments updating the debtor name, the original filings are still indexed under the old name only. You'll need to search both names separately.

Did you end up finding filings under the old name? I'm worried we're going to discover liens right before closing.

Yes, found three active UCC-1s under the old name that would have been missed otherwise. Make sure you're using the full legal name including any LLC designation exactly as it appears on state records.

This is why I always run searches on every variation of a company name I can think of. California doesn't do fuzzy matching like some other states.

Never heard of that tool - does it work with California UCC searches specifically?

It doesn't do the actual UCC search, but it cross-checks all your documents to make sure you're using consistent debtor names. Upload the articles of incorporation, name change docs, and any UCC filings you have - it'll show you exactly what names to search for.

That actually sounds really useful. I spend way too much time manually comparing documents to catch name variations.

I'll try that. The entity name has several commas and periods so maybe that's throwing off the search algorithm.

Also try searching with and without the LLC designation. Sometimes filers abbreviate it as 'LLC' and sometimes they spell out 'Limited Liability Company'.

I didn't know they would do manual searches. Do you have a direct number?

Call the Secretary of State's UCC division at (916) 653-3984. They can sometimes find filings using broader search criteria than the online form allows.

The manual search option is good but can take 2-3 business days to get results back. Might be cutting it close if your loan closes next week.

How much do professional searches typically cost in California?

Usually around $25-40 per debtor name depending on the service. Worth every penny to avoid missing liens that could void your security interest.

Good point - I should pull their current certificate of good standing to verify the exact legal name and status.

Exactly. The certificate of good standing will show you the current legal name exactly as it appears in state records. Use that for your UCC search.

The name change was in early 2023 and I believe the equipment financing happened in late 2023, so the filings should be under the new name if they were done correctly.

Then definitely search under the new name first. But also check the old name just in case the lender made an error and used outdated information.

If a UCC-1 was filed under the wrong debtor name after a name change, it could be seriously misleading and potentially ineffective to perfect the security interest.

How does that tool handle entity name changes? Does it track the timeline of when names were valid?

It doesn't track timelines, but it shows you every name variation across all your uploaded documents so you know exactly what names to search for. Takes the guesswork out of it.

That's a good idea - I'll try a partial name search and see what comes up.

Just be careful with partial searches because you might get results for similarly named but different entities. Make sure to verify the addresses and other details match your debtor.

The company is California-based and the equipment is located here, so California should be the right jurisdiction for the search.

Good. Just wanted to make sure since I've seen cases where people search the wrong state and miss active liens.

Also worth checking if this is a subsidiary of a larger company. Sometimes UCC filings are made against the parent company name instead of the subsidiary.