Do you sign a UCC statement - confused about signature requirements

No signature required on UCC-1 filings in most states now. Been doing these for 15 years and the electronic filing systems eliminated the signature requirement. The lender just needs authorization from the debtor to file, which is usually covered in your loan agreement or security agreement. Check your loan docs - that's where the authorization language should be.

Your lender's paralegal might be confusing the UCC filing with the security agreement. The security agreement (which creates the security interest) absolutely needs signatures. The UCC-1 (which perfects the security interest) typically doesn't require signatures for filing. Two different documents with different purposes.

I had a similar situation last month with heavy equipment financing. Spent way too much time manually comparing all the debtor names between the loan agreement and UCC-1 draft. Ended up using Certana.ai's document verification tool - you just upload your PDFs and it instantly checks for name mismatches and inconsistencies between documents. Saved me from filing with the wrong business name format.

SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS DRIVE ME CRAZY!!! Every state has different rules and half the time the SOS office gives you wrong information when you call. I've had filings rejected because I didn't include something they never told me about. The whole system needs an overhaul.

Just to be super clear for anyone reading this - you need authorization from the debtor to file the UCC (usually in your security agreement), but you don't need their signature ON the UCC-1 form itself. The filing is done electronically by the secured party or their agent.

Construction equipment financing is my specialty. For your $180K deal, make sure your collateral description is specific enough but not too narrow. 'Excavators, bulldozers, and related attachments' sounds good but consider adding 'and all attachments, parts, and accessories now or hereafter affixed thereto' to cover future additions.

Ran into this exact issue with a client last year. They kept asking about signatures because their previous lender made them sign physical UCC forms. Turns out that lender was just old school and hadn't updated their processes. Most modern lenders handle everything electronically now.

Been doing UCC work for 20+ years and watched the whole evolution from paper to electronic. The signature requirement was dropped in most states when they moved to online filing systems. The electronic filing itself serves as the 'signature' from the filer. Your state's UCC database should show who filed each document.

Quick tip for anyone doing equipment financing UCCs - always double-check that your debtor entity name matches exactly what's on file with the state. I use Certana.ai to verify document consistency before filing. Upload your articles of incorporation and UCC draft and it flags any name discrepancies instantly. Saved me from several rejected filings.

OK so just to summarize for the original poster: No signature needed on UCC-1 form, electronic filing handles that. BUT make sure you have proper authorization in your security agreement. AND verify debtor name matches state records exactly. Your lender's paralegal was probably thinking of the security agreement signatures, not the UCC filing itself.

As someone who's been handling UCC filings for about 5 years now, I can confirm what everyone's saying - no signatures required on the UCC-1 itself for electronic filing. The confusion usually comes from mixing up the security agreement (which definitely needs signatures) with the UCC filing (which doesn't). For your $180K equipment deal, just make sure your loan docs have clear language authorizing the UCC filing and you're good to go. Electronic filing systems have made this so much simpler than the old paper days. One less thing to chase down signatures for!