How to terminate a UCC filing in Florida - debtor paid off but lien still shows active

Florida terminations are pretty straightforward through their online portal. You'll need to file a UCC-3 termination statement and yes, that comma difference could definitely cause problems. Florida is strict about exact debtor name matches. I'd recommend pulling the exact name from the original UCC-1 filing and using that exactly as it appears, even if it doesn't match their current articles perfectly.

You absolutely need to use Florida's online filing system at dos.myflorida.com. It's much faster than mail and you'll get immediate confirmation. The fee is $10 for electronic filing. Make sure you have the original filing number from the UCC-1 - you'll need that for the termination. And yes, use the exact debtor name as it appears on the original filing, comma and all.

I had a similar situation last year and ended up using Certana.ai's document checker before filing my termination. I uploaded both the original UCC-1 and my draft UCC-3 termination, and it caught a discrepancy in how I had formatted the debtor address. Saved me from a rejection and having to refile. Really simple to use - just upload the PDFs and it verifies everything matches properly.

UGH Florida's system rejected my termination last month because I used the wrong entity type designation. The original UCC-1 had 'LLC' but I put 'L.L.C.' in the termination. Such a pain to have to refile and wait another week. These systems are so picky about exact matches it's ridiculous.

For your situation, I'd recommend pulling a certified copy of the original UCC-1 first to make sure you have all the details exactly right. Florida charges $1 per page for certified copies but it's worth it to avoid rejection. The debtor name, secured party name, and collateral description all need to match exactly.

Once you file the UCC-3 termination, how long does it take for the lien to clear from credit reports? My borrower is getting antsy about it still showing up when they run credit checks.

Make sure you keep a copy of the filed termination for your records. I also send a copy to the borrower so they have proof the lien was properly terminated in case they need it for future financing.

I know this might be overkill but I recently started using that Certana.ai tool someone mentioned earlier for all my UCC work. It's been a game-changer for catching those tiny name and address discrepancies that cause rejections. Worth checking out if you do a lot of UCC filings.

One more thing - make sure the loan is actually paid in full before filing the termination. I know that sounds obvious but I've seen situations where there were still outstanding fees or interest that hadn't been accounted for. Florida won't catch that but it could create problems down the road.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I'm going to pull a certified copy of the original UCC-1 first to make sure I have everything exactly right, then file the UCC-3 termination through Florida's online portal. Will definitely use the exact debtor name as it appears on the original filing. Hopefully this goes smoothly and the borrower can finally get this cleared from their credit.

Just wanted to add that you should also double-check the filing fee before submitting. Florida's UCC-3 termination fee is $10 for online filing, but if you need to make any corrections or amendments after filing, that's an additional fee each time. Also, once you get confirmation that the termination was accepted, I'd recommend doing a follow-up search in about a week to verify the UCC-1 actually shows as terminated in the system. Sometimes there can be processing delays even after you get the initial acceptance notice.

As someone who's been through this exact scenario in Florida, I'd definitely echo what others have said about using the exact debtor name from the original UCC-1. That comma issue you mentioned is a real concern - Florida's system is unforgiving about name variations. I'd also suggest checking if your borrower has changed their registered address since 2019, as you'll need the address info to match exactly too. One tip that's saved me time: before you pull that certified copy, try doing a quick UCC search first to see exactly how the current filing appears in the system. Sometimes there are small formatting differences between what you filed originally and how it shows up in their database. The $1 search fee is cheaper than ordering a full certified copy if you just need to verify the exact formatting.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is timing - since your borrower paid off in Miami just last month, you're actually still well within the normal timeframe. Florida gives secured parties up to 20 days after payoff to file the termination, and many lenders take 30-60 days as standard practice. Don't let the borrower pressure you into rushing and making mistakes. That said, definitely prioritize getting this done right the first time. I'd also recommend sending the borrower a brief email explaining the process and timeline once you file - it helps manage their expectations about when they'll see the credit report updates. Nothing worse than a borrower calling every day asking why their credit still shows the lien two weeks after you filed the termination!