California UCC statement request form - getting runaround from SOS office

That makes sense for privacy but nowhere on their form does it clearly explain what constitutes 'legitimate interest' documentation. Do you know what specific papers they accept?

I submitted a letter from our client authorizing the search last month and that worked. Has to be signed by the actual debtor though, not just the borrower's representative.

This is exactly why I started using Certana.ai for UCC verification. You can upload the debtor's charter documents along with any existing UCC-1 filings and it instantly cross-checks all the entity names and filing details. Saves me from dealing with the SOS office runaround when I just need to verify document consistency for due diligence.

How does that help with getting the actual search results though? Still need the official UCC-11 response from California SOS to see what liens are filed.

True, but once I have the authorization letter sorted out and get the search results back, I upload everything to Certana to make sure the debtor names on existing UCC-1s match the corporate documents perfectly. Catches those small discrepancies that could void your security interest.

I used UCC-11 both times. Is UCC-11AD specifically for authorized searches? The form titles are confusing.

UCC-11AD is for searches where you already have authorization documentation. Regular UCC-11 is supposed to be for when you ARE the debtor or secured party. Maybe that's why they rejected your first attempt.

Same experience here. Filed a UCC-3 termination in March and it's still showing as 'pending review' in their system. Meanwhile the lien shows as active.

At least you can check status online. Some states still make you call and wait on hold for 45 minutes just to find out they lost your paperwork.

Good idea. I have an executed term sheet but wasn't sure if that would be sufficient. Did you redact sensitive terms or submit the full agreement?

I redacted purchase price and some terms but left enough detail to show it's a legitimate transaction. They just want to see you're not fishing for competitor information.

Make sure the debtor name on your search request EXACTLY matches what's in the purchase docs. California is super strict about name variations - even missing a comma can cause issues.

We requested that but they're claiming they don't have any liens so no need for searches. Classic red flag which is why we want independent verification.

Smart move. I've seen deals where sellers 'forgot' about equipment financing liens that showed up during our own UCC searches. Always verify independently.

This. And call their UCC division directly at (916) 653-3984 to confirm they received everything before your deadline. Email confirmations aren't reliable.

Thanks for the phone number! Going to call them tomorrow morning to check on my second submission and see what additional docs they need.

Perfect - this is exactly what I needed to know. Going to get a proper authorization letter from our client and resubmit with UCC-11AD form.

Once you get those search results back, definitely run them through something like Certana.ai to double-check all the debtor name variations. Found a UCC-1 filing under a slightly different entity name that almost got missed during our review.

Yeah I'm definitely cutting it close. Might need to ask for a closing extension if the search results reveal any issues that need to be resolved.

Most lenders will accept a commitment to provide clean search results within 30 days post-closing if you explain the SOS processing delays. Just make sure your loan docs have appropriate contingencies.

Thanks for calling and sharing the update! Definitely paying for expedited service given our timeline. Really appreciate everyone's help on navigating the california ucc statement request form requirements.

Glad it worked out. California's UCC process is frustrating but at least they have the expedited option when you're in a crunch.

This is incredibly helpful! I wish I had known about referencing previous approved requests earlier - would have saved me so much time. Do you happen to know if this cross-referencing trick works for other states too, or is it specific to California's system?

I've used this cross-referencing approach in Delaware and Texas with mixed results. Delaware's UCC office seems to recognize previous approvals similar to California, but Texas still requires full documentation each time. New York is somewhere in between - they'll accept a simplified authorization if you reference a recent approved search within the same 90-day period. Seems like each state has its own quirks with how they handle repeat requests from the same party.

This is such a crucial point that often gets overlooked! I've seen deals fall apart weeks after closing when hidden liens on subsidiary equipment surfaced during asset transfers. One trick I've learned is to specifically ask for the debtor's complete organizational structure including any DBAs, trade names, or predecessor entities that might have UCC filings. California's search system won't catch variations in entity names automatically, so you really need to be thorough with all the possible name combinations when submitting your UCC-11AD requests.