How to do a UCC search - getting inconsistent results across state portals

This is so true - I learned this the hard way when I missed a filing because I searched under the company's trade name instead of their registered LLC name.

California's system is particularly strict about punctuation and spacing in entity names. Texas is more forgiving but you still need to be precise.

YES! And don't forget to search both individual names and entity names if you're dealing with personal guarantors or sole proprietorships.

That's exactly what I'm struggling with - how do you keep track of all the name variations across multiple states? It's becoming a nightmare to manage.

How does that work exactly? Do you upload PDFs and it searches automatically?

Yeah, you just upload the charter documents or existing UCC forms and it cross-references against state databases using the exact legal names. Much more reliable than trying to guess name variations manually.

That sounds too good to be true honestly. How accurate is it compared to manual searches?

Good point about name changes. I've seen cases where UCC filings were under the old entity name even after amendments were filed.

Florida's system shows name history which is helpful, but Texas doesn't always make it obvious when there have been entity amendments.

This is crucial - especially for smaller companies where the owner might have personal guarantees or individual filings mixed in.

I hadn't thought about legacy databases. How far back do you typically search?

I go back at least 10 years to catch any filings that might have lapsed but could still affect priority. Better safe than sorry in secured lending.

Fixture filings are the worst because they're usually in county records, not state UCC databases. Completely separate search required.

I always forget about fixture filings until it's too late. Need to build that into my search checklist.

Wait, the address affects search results? I thought UCC searches were just by debtor name.

Most states are name-based but some older systems or specific search functions use location data. It's worth checking if your search results seem incomplete.

I think you might be confusing UCC with real estate searches. UCC databases are typically indexed by debtor name, not address.

I've looked into those but they're expensive and I need to do these searches frequently. Looking for something more cost-effective for routine due diligence.

The commercial services are good for final closing searches but not practical for preliminary due diligence work.

That's exactly what I'm worried about - missing filings due to name variations. How long did the automated search take?

Just a few minutes after uploading the PDF. Much faster than manually checking each state portal and more thorough than I could be manually.

Ok I'm convinced to try it. Better than spending hours on state websites and still missing things.

Great advice. I keep spreadsheets with search results and screenshots of the search screens showing zero results when applicable.

Good point about documentation. I'll start keeping better records of my search methodology and results.

California is notorious for this. Their search function is very literal about punctuation and spacing.

This thread has been incredibly helpful. I'm going to try the automated tool and also implement a more systematic manual search process with better documentation. Thanks everyone!

Glad the Certana suggestion was useful. It really does eliminate a lot of the guesswork in multi-state searches.