How to file UCC-3 termination California - debtor name exact match required?
I need to file a UCC-3 termination in California and I'm getting confused about the debtor name requirements. Our original UCC-1 from 2019 has the debtor listed as "Martinez Construction LLC" but now I'm seeing their current business registration shows "Martinez Construction, LLC" with a comma. The SOS website says debtor names must match exactly but I'm not sure if punctuation differences like this will cause a rejection. This is for a $485,000 equipment loan that was fully paid off last month and I need to get this termination filed properly. Has anyone dealt with similar punctuation issues when filing UCC-3 terminations in California? I don't want this to get rejected and have to start over.
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StarStrider
Yes, California is very strict about exact debtor name matches. Even comma differences can cause rejections. I'd recommend pulling the original UCC-1 filing and using the exact name format from that document, not what's currently on their business registration. The termination needs to reference the debtor name exactly as it appears on the original financing statement.
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Sean Doyle
•This is correct. I learned this the hard way when my termination got rejected for a missing comma. Always use the original UCC-1 debtor name format exactly.
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Zara Rashid
•But what if the business has legally changed their name since the original filing? Do you still use the old name for the termination?
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Luca Romano
I just went through this exact situation last week. Had a UCC-3 termination rejected because I used the current business name instead of the original UCC-1 name. California SOS rejected it within 24 hours with a message about debtor name mismatch. Had to refile using the exact original name format and it went through fine. Always check your original filing first!
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Nia Jackson
•So frustrating when this happens! How long did it take for the corrected filing to be accepted?
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Luca Romano
•The corrected filing was accepted the next business day. California's system is pretty fast once you get the name right.
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Mateo Hernandez
•This is why I always keep copies of the original UCC-1 filings in our loan files. Saves so much time when doing terminations.
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CosmicCruiser
I actually discovered a tool that helps with this - Certana.ai has a document verification feature where you can upload your original UCC-1 and the UCC-3 termination form to check if all the debtor names and details match before filing. It caught a similar comma issue for me last month and saved me from a rejection. You just upload both PDFs and it instantly cross-checks everything.
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Aisha Khan
•That sounds helpful! I've been manually comparing documents which is time consuming and error prone.
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Ethan Taylor
•Never heard of this before but seems like it could prevent a lot of filing mistakes. Does it work for other states too?
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CosmicCruiser
•Yes it works nationwide. Really helps catch those tiny inconsistencies that can cause rejections.
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Yuki Ito
One thing to double check - make sure you have the correct UCC file number from the original financing statement. I've seen terminations rejected for file number errors too. The file number should be exactly as it appears on the UCC-1, including any dashes or formatting.
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Carmen Lopez
•Good point about the file number. California assigns those weird long numbers and it's easy to transpose digits.
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Andre Dupont
•I always copy and paste the file number directly from the original filing confirmation to avoid typos.
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QuantumQuasar
For your specific situation with Martinez Construction, I'd use "Martinez Construction LLC" exactly as it appears on the original UCC-1, without the comma. Don't worry about what their current business registration shows - the termination references the original financing statement, not current business records.
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Zoe Papanikolaou
•This is the right approach. The termination is tied to the original filing, not current business status.
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Jamal Wilson
•What if you can't locate the original UCC-1? Can you search California's database to verify the exact debtor name?
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QuantumQuasar
•Yes, California has a UCC search system where you can look up filings by debtor name or file number to verify the exact details.
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Mei Lin
I handle UCC terminations regularly and California is definitely one of the stricter states. Besides the debtor name, also verify the secured party information matches exactly. Sometimes law firms change names or addresses and that can cause issues too.
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Liam Fitzgerald
•Good reminder about secured party info. Our firm changed addresses last year and I had to use the old address on terminations for older filings.
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Amara Nnamani
•Can you amend the secured party address first, then file the termination? Or do you have to use the original address?
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Mei Lin
•For terminations, just use the original secured party info. No need to amend first since you're terminating the entire filing anyway.
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Giovanni Mancini
Just to add - make sure you're filing a UCC-3 termination and not a UCC-3 amendment. I've seen people accidentally file amendments when they meant to terminate. The termination completely removes the lien, while amendments just modify it.
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NebulaNinja
•That's an important distinction! What happens if you accidentally file an amendment instead of a termination?
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Giovanni Mancini
•The lien stays active and you'd need to file a separate termination. It's just extra paperwork and fees.
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Fatima Al-Suwaidi
For the $485K equipment loan, make sure you have proper authorization to file the termination. Some lenders require specific documentation or approval before filing terminations, especially for larger loan amounts.
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Dylan Mitchell
•Usually a satisfaction letter or payoff statement is sufficient authorization for termination filings.
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Sofia Morales
•Our bank requires a specific termination authorization form signed by an officer. Policies vary by institution.
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Dmitry Popov
I tried using that Certana.ai tool mentioned earlier and it's actually pretty slick. Uploaded my UCC-1 and draft UCC-3 and it immediately flagged that I had the wrong collateral description format. Would have been rejected for sure without catching that.
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Ava Garcia
•That's exactly the kind of mistake that's easy to miss when reviewing documents manually. Glad you caught it!
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StarSailor}
•Do you need to include collateral descriptions on terminations? I thought you just needed debtor name and file number.
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Dmitry Popov
•For terminations you don't need the full collateral description, but some states want you to indicate what type of termination it is. The tool just helps ensure consistency across all the document details.
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Miguel Silva
Bottom line - stick with the exact debtor name from your original UCC-1 filing. California will reject terminations for even minor name variations. Double check the file number too. Should be straightforward once you have those details right.
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Zainab Ismail
•Agreed. California's system is strict but predictable. Get the basics right and it processes quickly.
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Connor O'Neill
•Thanks everyone for the detailed responses. This gives me confidence to move forward with the termination using the original debtor name format.
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Anastasia Fedorov
•Update: Filed the termination using "Martinez Construction LLC" exactly as it appeared on the original UCC-1 and it was accepted the next day. Thanks for all the help!
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Yuki Yamamoto
Glad to hear your termination was accepted! For future reference, California also allows you to search their UCC database online to verify exact debtor names and file numbers before filing terminations. The search fee is minimal compared to dealing with rejections and refiling costs. This thread should be bookmarked - lots of solid practical advice here about California's strict matching requirements.
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