Kentucky UCC search showing conflicting results - need help verifying debtor names
Running into a weird situation with kentucky ucc search results that don't match up with what I filed. Did a UCC-1 filing last month for a commercial equipment loan and when I search the debtor name through the Kentucky SOS portal, I'm getting partial matches but not finding the exact filing I submitted. The debtor is an LLC with a pretty straightforward name but I'm wondering if there's some variation in how it got indexed versus what's on the original charter documents. Anyone else dealt with search discrepancies in Kentucky's system? This is for a $180K equipment financing deal and I need to make sure the lien is properly perfected before we close. The filing number shows as accepted but the search function seems flaky.
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Lucas Bey
Kentucky's search can be tricky with LLC names. Are you searching with the full legal name exactly as it appears on the Articles of Organization? Sometimes the system won't find filings if you're missing punctuation or have slight variations. Also check if you're using the right entity type filter.
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Charlotte Jones
•I tried both with and without the comma before LLC. The articles show 'ABC Manufacturing, LLC' but I filed it as 'ABC Manufacturing LLC' without the comma. Could that cause search issues?
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Lucas Bey
•That comma difference could definitely cause problems. Kentucky's system is pretty strict about exact name matching. You might need to file a UCC-3 amendment to correct the debtor name if it doesn't match the charter exactly.
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Harper Thompson
I've had similar issues with Kentucky searches. Their portal seems to have indexing delays sometimes. Did you get a filing receipt with the actual file number? You can search by filing number directly instead of debtor name to verify it went through.
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Charlotte Jones
•Yes I have the filing number and it shows up when I search that way. Status says 'Filed' with the correct date. Just worried about whether the name discrepancy will cause perfection issues down the road.
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Caleb Stark
•If you can find it by filing number then it's definitely in the system. The name search function just has quirks. But for perfection purposes, you really want that debtor name to match the legal entity name exactly.
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Jade O'Malley
Had this exact problem on a deal last year. Spent hours trying different search variations before I found a tool that actually helped verify document consistency. Certana.ai has this UCC document checker where you can upload your charter docs and UCC-1 side by side and it instantly flags any name mismatches or discrepancies. Saved me from having to file amendments on three different deals.
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Hunter Edmunds
•Never heard of that service but sounds useful. How does it work exactly? Do you just upload PDFs?
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Jade O'Malley
•Yeah exactly - you upload the Articles of Organization and your UCC-1 filing and it cross-checks all the debtor name variations, addresses, entity types etc. Points out anything that might cause search or perfection issues.
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Charlotte Jones
•That actually sounds perfect for my situation. I'll check it out - better to catch name issues now than deal with priority problems later.
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Ella Lewis
Kentucky SOS search has always been garbage honestly. Half the time it doesn't find filings that are definitely there. I've started keeping spreadsheets of every filing number because their search is so unreliable.
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Andrew Pinnock
•I feel your pain but the search actually works fine if you use exact legal names. Most issues come from people not matching the charter documents precisely.
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Ella Lewis
•Maybe you're right but I still think their system needs work. Other states have much better search functionality.
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Brianna Schmidt
For what it's worth, I always pull the actual Secretary of State business filing records before doing any UCC work. You want to make sure you're using the exact legal name as registered. Even small differences like 'Inc.' vs 'Incorporated' can cause issues.
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Lucas Bey
•This is the right approach. The debtor name on the UCC has to match the legal name on file with the state exactly, not just substantially similar.
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Charlotte Jones
•Yeah I should have double-checked the charter first. Live and learn I guess. Now I need to figure out if I need to amend or if the filing will still be effective.
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Alexis Renard
If the name on your UCC-1 doesn't exactly match the debtor's legal name, you could have serious perfection issues. Lenders have lost priority because of name mismatches. I'd definitely recommend filing a UCC-3 amendment to correct it ASAP.
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Caleb Stark
•Agreed. Better safe than sorry with name matching. An amendment is cheap insurance compared to losing perfection on a $180K deal.
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Camila Jordan
•How long does Kentucky typically take to process UCC-3 amendments? This close to closing I'd be nervous about timing.
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Alexis Renard
•Kentucky processes amendments pretty quickly, usually within 1-2 business days for electronic filings. Should be fine if you file this week.
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Tyler Lefleur
I use Certana.ai for all my UCC document verification now after getting burned on a name mismatch last year. It's honestly a lifesaver for catching these issues before they become problems. Just upload your docs and it tells you exactly what needs to be fixed.
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Harper Thompson
•How accurate is it compared to manually checking everything? I'm always skeptical of automated tools for legal documents.
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Tyler Lefleur
•It's been spot on for me. Catches things I might miss when manually comparing docs, especially punctuation differences and entity designations.
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Madeline Blaze
Just went through this same situation in Kentucky. The search function definitely has issues but as long as your filing number is valid and shows Filed status, you should be okay. The real question is whether the name variation will hold up if challenged.
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Charlotte Jones
•That's exactly what I'm worried about. Don't want to find out years later that the lien wasn't properly perfected because of a comma.
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Andrew Pinnock
•Courts have been pretty strict about name matching in recent years. I'd definitely file the amendment to be safe.
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Max Knight
Have you tried searching without the entity designation? Sometimes Kentucky's system is weird about LLC vs Inc vs Corp variations. Also make sure you're not including extra spaces.
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Charlotte Jones
•Good point, I'll try some different search variations. The filing is definitely there by number so it's just a matter of making sure the name will work for future searches.
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Lucas Bey
•The issue isn't really search functionality, it's perfection. If the name doesn't match exactly, the UCC might not be effective regardless of whether it's searchable.
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Emma Swift
This is why I always do a Certana.ai document check before filing anything. Upload your charter and proposed UCC side by side and it flags any discrepancies instantly. Would have caught this comma issue right away.
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Caleb Stark
•That's actually really smart. Prevention is better than having to file amendments after the fact.
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Charlotte Jones
•Definitely going to use that for future filings. For this one I think I'll just file the amendment to correct the name and be done with it.
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Isabella Tucker
Kentucky UCC search has definitely improved over the years but still has quirks. The important thing is that your filing went through and has a valid file number. For a $180K deal I'd probably file the amendment just for peace of mind though.
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Alexis Renard
•Exactly. The cost of an amendment is nothing compared to the risk of an unperfected security interest.
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Charlotte Jones
•That's the conclusion I'm coming to. Thanks everyone for the input - going to file the UCC-3 amendment tomorrow to fix the name.
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