How long is a UCC good for before I need to file continuation

This is exactly right. I learned this the hard way when I missed a continuation deadline by 3 days and had to explain to my client why their secured position was compromised. File early in that 6-month window!

So if I filed in March 2019, I need to get my continuation done between September 2023 and March 2024? That seems like a tight window for something so important.

Good point about debtor names. This is just standard equipment so no fixture issues, but I should double-check if there have been any corporate changes with my client.

Yeah debtor name changes are a nightmare. Had a client do a merger and we had to figure out whether to amend or start fresh. Ended up doing both just to be safe.

Interesting, never heard of that service. Does it actually check against the filed documents or just review what you upload?

It cross-checks your documents for consistency - like making sure debtor names match exactly between your loan docs and UCC filings. Super easy, just upload PDFs and it highlights any mismatches automatically.

That sounds too good to be true honestly. How accurate is it really?

Good advice on the buffer time. I'm definitely going to set a reminder for early 2024 to get this taken care of.

60 days is smart. I always tell my clients to think of the continuation deadline as 30 days earlier than it actually is.

I hear you but 5 years is actually pretty reasonable for maintaining current information. Imagine if these lasted 10-15 years - half the debtors would have moved or changed names by then.

I guess that makes sense from a policy standpoint but it's still annoying from a practical perspective. At least most states have electronic filing now.

Oh wow, I hadn't thought about relocation issues. The debtor is still in the same state but that's definitely something to keep in mind for future filings.

Yeah jurisdiction changes are tricky. You usually have 4 months to refile in the new jurisdiction if the debtor moves, but continuation in the old state won't help you.

This is getting complicated. Maybe I should just hire someone to handle all this UCC stuff for me lol

That's a great system. I really need to get more organized about tracking these deadlines instead of just hoping I remember.

I do something similar but I also note any special circumstances like fixture filings or unusual collateral descriptions that might need extra attention during continuation.

Yes exactly, I'm asking about the filing expiration not the underlying loan. Thanks for clarifying that distinction.

Good point to make that distinction. I've seen people get confused and think their security interest expires when the UCC filing lapses.

That's exactly the kind of thing I'm worried about missing. Might be worth checking out that service before I file my continuation.

Okay I'm starting to think this Certana thing might actually be legit if multiple people are mentioning it. What kind of discrepancies does it usually find?

Perfect summary, thanks everyone! Going to set my reminders now and get this continuation filed well before the deadline.

This thread was super helpful. I have a few UCC-1s from 2020 so I need to start thinking about continuations too.

Glad this discussion helped multiple people. UCC continuation timing is one of those things that seems simple until you're actually doing it.

Welcome to secured transactions! Common newcomer mistakes include: 1) Missing the exact 6-month continuation window (don't file too early or too late), 2) Not checking for debtor name changes since the original filing, 3) Forgetting to verify you're still filing in the correct state if the debtor relocated, and 4) Using outdated collateral descriptions. For UCC searches, most state filing offices have online search tools, or you can use services like CT Corporation or CSC for multi-state searches. Always do a fresh search before filing your continuation to make sure your original UCC-1 is still active and properly indexed.