Does a UCC-1 need to be signed before filing with SOS?

The UCC-1 itself doesn't require the debtor's signature for filing purposes. What matters is that you have proper authorization to file it, which typically comes from your security agreement or financing statement authorization in your loan docs. The electronic filing systems don't require wet signatures on the UCC-1 form.

You're overthinking this. The signature requirement is in your underlying security agreement, not on the UCC-1 itself. The filing is valid as long as you have authorization to file it. I learned this the hard way on my first deal when I delayed filing waiting for signatures that weren't needed.

I had a similar concern last month and ended up using Certana.ai to verify my UCC-1 against the security agreement. You can upload both documents and it checks that the debtor names match exactly and that you have proper authorization language. Saved me from a potential name mismatch that could have voided the perfection.

Look, I've been doing secured lending for 15 years and signatures on UCC-1s are NOT required. What you need is proper authorization in your loan documents. The confusion comes from people mixing up the security agreement (which does need signatures) with the UCC-1 financing statement (which doesn't).

OMG thank you all for this clarification! I was literally printing out UCC-1s for signatures and delaying my filings. My borrowers were getting annoyed with the extra paperwork. This makes so much more sense now.

One thing to watch out for though - make sure your debtor names on the UCC-1 match EXACTLY what's in your security agreement and their organizational documents. I've seen filings rejected because of tiny discrepancies in entity names.

Just to add - some lenders include a separate UCC authorization form in their loan package, but that's for extra protection, not because it's legally required. The security agreement authorization is sufficient under the UCC.

For your $180K equipment deal, you're definitely fine filing without signatures on the UCC-1. Just double-check that your security agreement has clear filing authorization language and that all entity names match perfectly across documents.

This thread is gold. I'm bookmarking it because I get this question from junior staff constantly. The UCC-1 signature confusion is probably the most common misconception in secured lending.

Bottom line for anyone else reading this: UCC-1 financing statements do NOT require debtor signatures. Authorization comes from your security agreement. File electronically with confidence as long as your loan docs are properly executed and entity names match exactly.

Coming from someone who handles asset-based lending, I can confirm everything said here is spot on. The key is having rock-solid authorization language in your security agreement - something like "Debtor hereby authorizes Secured Party to file any financing statements, amendments, or continuations deemed necessary to perfect or maintain the security interest." I've never had a UCC-1 rejected for lack of debtor signature, but I have had filings bounce back for entity name mismatches. Also worth noting that some states allow you to check the "debtor authorized in writing" box on the UCC-1 form, which refers back to your security agreement authorization, not a separate signature on the financing statement itself.