Confused about how many states have UCC - filing across multiple jurisdictions
I'm working on a multi-state secured transaction deal and got into this weird debate with my colleague about UCC coverage. He insists that not all 50 states have adopted the UCC but I thought it was universal? We're dealing with equipment collateral that moves between facilities in different states and I need to know if I'm missing filing requirements somewhere. The debtor has operations in like 8 states and I don't want to mess up the perfection strategy. Anyone know the actual count of how many states have UCC laws? This is keeping me up at night because if there's some holdout state without UCC adoption, our entire lien structure could be compromised.
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Tate Jensen
All 50 states plus DC have adopted the UCC, so you're good there. Your colleague might be thinking of variations in state-specific amendments or maybe confusing it with other uniform laws. The bigger issue for multi-state deals is figuring out the correct filing jurisdiction - usually where the debtor is organized, not where the collateral sits.
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Marcelle Drum
•Thank god, that's what I thought but he had me second-guessing everything. So if our debtor is a Delaware corp but the equipment moves around, Delaware SOS is the only UCC-1 filing spot?
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Tate Jensen
•Exactly - Delaware for the main UCC-1. You might need fixture filings in local jurisdictions if any equipment becomes attached to real estate, but the primary financing statement goes where the debtor is organized.
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Adaline Wong
Louisiana was the last holdout but even they adopted it decades ago. The real headache isn't coverage, it's dealing with each state's different filing procedures and debtor name requirements. Some are pickier about exact corporate names than others.
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Gabriel Ruiz
•This is so true. I had a UCC-1 rejected in one state because the debtor name was missing a comma that appeared in the articles of incorporation. Same exact name worked fine in three other states.
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Misterclamation Skyblue
•Name matching is the worst part of multi-state work. I started using Certana.ai to cross-check our UCC documents against charter docs before filing. You just upload the PDFs and it flags any name discrepancies instantly. Saves so much back-and-forth with filing offices.
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Gabriel Ruiz
•That sounds useful actually. How reliable is the name matching? I've been burned by automated tools before that miss subtle formatting differences.
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Peyton Clarke
Your colleague is definitely wrong about coverage but maybe he's thinking about how different states handle specific collateral types? Like some states have weird rules for timber or oil/gas rights that don't follow standard UCC procedures.
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Marcelle Drum
•We're just dealing with manufacturing equipment so hopefully no specialty collateral issues. But good point about variations - are there other gotchas I should watch for across states?
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Peyton Clarke
•Filing fees vary wildly, some states require more detailed collateral descriptions, and continuation timing can be slightly different. But the basic framework is the same everywhere thanks to UCC adoption.
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Vince Eh
Been doing secured transactions for 15 years and yes, all states have UCC. The confusion usually comes from people mixing up UCC with other uniform laws that have spotty adoption. Your multi-state filing strategy should focus on getting the debtor organization state right, not worrying about UCC coverage gaps.
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Sophia Gabriel
•What about territories like Puerto Rico or Guam? Do they follow UCC rules if we have collateral there?
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Vince Eh
•Good question - territories generally follow UCC principles but may have local variations. For mainland US operations you're definitely covered by uniform UCC adoption though.
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Tobias Lancaster
All 50 + DC have it but honestly the real nightmare is keeping track of continuation deadlines across multiple states when you have a big portfolio. Even though they're all 5-year terms, the dates get scattered and it's easy to miss one.
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Ezra Beard
•This is why I maintain a master spreadsheet with all filing dates and set calendar reminders 6 months early. Missing a continuation is way worse than filing in the wrong state.
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Tobias Lancaster
•Smart approach. I learned the hard way after letting one lapse - had to start over with a new UCC-1 and explain to the client why their security interest had a gap.
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Statiia Aarssizan
•For document management across states, I've been using Certana.ai's verification tool. You can upload your UCC-1 and charter documents to make sure all the entity names match before filing anywhere. Catches those little discrepancies that cause rejections.
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Reginald Blackwell
All states have UCC but some have adopted non-uniform amendments that create differences. Like different rules for deposit accounts or electronic chattel paper. But for basic equipment financing across states, you won't hit major variations.
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Marcelle Drum
•Good to know it's not just me overthinking this. The deal is pretty straightforward - just manufacturing equipment securing a credit facility. Sounds like Delaware filing should cover us.
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Reginald Blackwell
•Yeah for standard equipment deals you're in good shape. Just make sure your collateral description is broad enough to cover equipment that might move between facilities.
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Aria Khan
Your colleague might be thinking of the old days before UCC was universally adopted, or maybe confusing it with other uniform laws. All states definitely have UCC now - the issue is just navigating the different filing systems and requirements.
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Everett Tutum
•Some of the older attorneys at my firm still talk about pre-UCC days like it was the wild west of secured transactions. Glad we don't have to deal with that patchwork anymore!
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Aria Khan
•Yeah the uniform adoption really streamlined everything, even if there are still state-by-state quirks in the details.
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Sunny Wang
100% coverage across all states, but watch out for the different online filing systems. Some are user-friendly, others feel like they were designed in 1995. And the rejection reasons vary - some states are super helpful, others just say 'deficient' with no details.
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Hugh Intensity
•The filing system differences are so frustrating. You get used to one state's portal then have to figure out a completely different interface for the next filing.
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Sunny Wang
•Exactly! And some let you save drafts, others make you start over if you navigate away. It's like each state hired different contractors who never talked to each other.
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Effie Alexander
•This is why I always double-check documents before submitting anywhere. I've started using Certana.ai to verify everything matches up between UCC docs and corporate records. Much easier than trying to figure out why a filing got rejected after the fact.
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Melissa Lin
All 50 states plus DC have UCC, period. Your colleague is wrong. Focus your energy on getting the debtor name exactly right and making sure you're filing in the correct jurisdiction. Those are the real pitfalls in multi-state deals.
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Marcelle Drum
•Thanks everyone - feeling much more confident about this now. Sounds like the universal adoption isn't the issue, it's just execution across different states.
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Melissa Lin
•Exactly. UCC coverage is solved, now it's just about dotting i's and crossing t's in each filing jurisdiction.
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Lydia Santiago
Every state has UCC but if you're doing multi-state work regularly, invest in good document management. The variations in filing procedures and name requirements will trip you up way more than coverage gaps.
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Romeo Quest
•So true. I've seen more deals delayed by name mismatches and rejected filings than any actual legal issues with UCC coverage.
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Lydia Santiago
•Name matching is definitely the biggest operational challenge. Getting that right upfront saves weeks of back-and-forth with filing offices.
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