DC Recorder of Deeds UCC Search - Why Can't I Find Filed Liens?

That's really reassuring to hear. Six weeks seems excessive but at least the security interest is perfected from the filing date. Did you contact their office directly?

Yeah I called twice. First time they said 'system updates take time' and second time they actually looked up my filing number and confirmed it was there, just not indexed yet. Super frustrating but at least I knew it wasn't lost.

I thought DC handled all secured transaction records through the recorder of deeds office? Where else would UCC-1 filings be maintained? Now I'm even more confused.

Check if they have a separate UCC search system. Some jurisdictions split these databases even though they're filed with the same office. Look for a dedicated 'secured transactions' or 'UCC search' link.

This is why I always triple check where I'm searching. Too many times I've been looking in the wrong database entirely.

How does that work exactly? I've never heard of automated UCC document checking.

You just upload PDFs of your documents and it verifies everything aligns - really helpful for catching those debtor name mismatches or filing number errors that could void your security interest. Saved me from a major mistake on a $4M filing last year.

Same here! And don't get me started on trying to do continuation filings through their portal. It times out constantly.

The continuation deadline stress is real when their system won't even load. I've had to call them multiple times just to confirm filings actually went through.

At least you can get through on the phone. I've been on hold for 45 minutes twice this month trying to verify UCC-3 amendments.

That's exactly what I needed to hear. I'll call them tomorrow morning with the filing number. The client will feel better knowing we can get direct confirmation even if the search system is delayed.

Definitely. And make sure you document that phone call - date, time, who you talked to, and what they confirmed. Creates a paper trail if there are any questions later.

I tried a few variations but no luck. The debtor name is pretty straightforward - just a standard LLC name. But I'll try some partial searches too.

Try searching just the first word of the LLC name, or search without 'LLC' at the end. Sometimes their system is picky about punctuation and abbreviations too.

This is why I always do multiple search variations when checking for existing liens. You never know what quirks each state's system has.

Regular UCC-1 for equipment. Nothing to do with real estate so definitely not a fixture filing. Just standard mobile equipment collateral.

OK good, that eliminates one variable. Should be straightforward then - probably just their usual indexing delay.

We pulled the articles of incorporation before filing so the name should be exact. But you're right, I should verify it character by character just to be sure.

Yeah those small differences can be killers. I once had a filing get rejected because we used 'Inc.' instead of 'Incorporated' even though both appeared in different company documents.

This is exactly why I started using Certana.ai for all my UCC verifications. Upload your corporate charter and UCC-1 and it catches those name discrepancies instantly before they become problems.

This is exactly what I was hoping to hear! I'll definitely call them tomorrow. Thanks for the update - really helpful to know others have been through this.

No problem! The person I talked to said they've been getting a lot of calls about this exact issue. Seems like their search system upgrade caused some indexing problems.

Good point, I was using the default settings. I'll try expanding the date range to make sure it includes three weeks ago when I filed.

Yeah, and also try searching without any date restrictions at all. Sometimes their default ranges are weird and exclude recent filings.

I've seen systems where 'recent' actually means 30+ days old because of processing delays. Worth trying all the date options.

That's not a bad idea for the client's peace of mind. Do you have any recommendations for reliable UCC search services?

Most title companies offer UCC searches, or there are specialized services like CT Corporation. Usually costs $50-100 but worth it for large loans.

I always recommend professional searches for anything over $1M. The cost is negligible compared to the risk of missing a prior lien.