MN UCC search showing weird results - debtor name variations causing issues
Running into some confusing stuff with MN UCC search results. I'm trying to verify existing filings before we submit a new UCC-1 for a commercial equipment loan, but the search is pulling up multiple variations of our debtor's business name that don't exactly match what we have in our loan docs. Some show as 'ABC Manufacturing LLC' others as 'ABC Manufacturing, LLC' (with the comma) and one shows 'A.B.C. Manufacturing LLC' with periods. All have different filing numbers but seem to be the same entity based on the addresses. Is this normal for Minnesota's system? Our loan agreement specifically references 'ABC Manufacturing LLC' without the comma, so I want to make sure our new filing matches perfectly to avoid any perfection issues. The borrower insists they've only used one legal name but these search results are making me second-guess everything. Anyone dealt with similar name variation issues in MN UCC searches?
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Evelyn Xu
Yeah this is pretty common actually. Minnesota's UCC search pulls up 'similar' results so you're seeing legitimate variations plus potential data entry errors from different filers over the years. The key thing is you need to match your debtor name EXACTLY to what's in your security agreement. Don't try to match old filings if they used different punctuation.
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Sophia Russo
•That makes sense but how do I know which of these existing filings are actually valid? Some of them might be from previous lenders and I don't want to miss any existing security interests.
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Evelyn Xu
•You'll need to pull copies of each filing to see the actual collateral descriptions and dates. Look for any that haven't been terminated or lapsed due to non-continuation.
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Dominic Green
I've seen this exact issue with Minnesota searches. The real problem is when you file your UCC-1 with 'ABC Manufacturing LLC' but there's already a perfected security interest filed under 'ABC Manufacturing, LLC' with the comma. Technically different debtor names in the system even though it's the same company.
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Hannah Flores
•Wait, so the comma actually matters legally? I thought that was just formatting.
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Dominic Green
•Punctuation can definitely matter for UCC filings. Courts have ruled that exact debtor name matching is required for proper perfection. A comma difference could potentially invalidate your security interest.
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Sophia Russo
•This is exactly what I was worried about. So I need to verify the exact legal name before filing?
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Kayla Jacobson
Had a similar nightmare last month. Spent hours trying to figure out which name variation was 'correct' for our debtor. Finally discovered this tool called Certana.ai that lets you upload your charter documents and loan agreements, then it cross-checks everything automatically. Saved me so much time and caught a discrepancy I would have missed. You just upload PDFs and it verifies the debtor names match across all your documents before you file.
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Sophia Russo
•That sounds helpful - does it work with Minnesota filings specifically?
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Kayla Jacobson
•Yeah it works with any state. The tool focuses on document consistency rather than state-specific rules. It caught that our articles of incorporation had a slightly different name format than our security agreement.
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William Rivera
This is why I always pull the Secretary of State records first before doing any UCC work. You need the official registered name from the business entity filing, not what the borrower thinks their name is or what's on their business cards.
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Grace Lee
•Good point but even SOS records can have variations if the company has filed amendments over the years.
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William Rivera
•True, you want the most recent active filing status. Minnesota's business entity search will show you the current registered name.
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Sophia Russo
•I did check the SOS business records and it shows 'ABC Manufacturing LLC' without the comma, which matches our loan docs. So I think we're good there.
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Mia Roberts
Been filing UCCs for 15 years and Minnesota is actually one of the better states for this stuff. At least their search function shows you variations. Some states you have to know the exact name or you get zero results.
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The Boss
•Really? I find MN's system frustrating because it gives you TOO many results sometimes.
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Mia Roberts
•Better too many than missing something important. I'd rather wade through extra results than have a hidden prior filing surprise me later.
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Evan Kalinowski
Whatever you do, don't just guess at the debtor name. I've seen lenders lose their security interest because they filed under a 'close enough' name variation. The UCC is super strict about exact debtor name matching for perfection purposes.
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Victoria Charity
•How exact is exact though? Like if the legal name has 'Inc.' but everyone calls it 'Incorporated' - does that matter?
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Evan Kalinowski
•Yes, it absolutely matters. You need to use the exact legal name as registered with the state. 'Inc.' vs 'Incorporated' could be the difference between a perfected and unperfected security interest.
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Jasmine Quinn
The confusion here is probably because different lenders used different versions of the company name over the years. Some might have filed based on trade names, others used the legal entity name, some made typos. It's a mess but you can only control your own filing accuracy.
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Sophia Russo
•So I should ignore the other variations and just file under the correct legal name?
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Jasmine Quinn
•Exactly. File under the proper legal entity name as registered with Minnesota Secretary of State. Let the other filers worry about their own potential perfection issues.
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Oscar Murphy
This thread is making me paranoid about my own filings now. I usually just match whatever name the borrower puts on the loan application without double-checking the SOS records. Probably should start being more careful about that.
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Evelyn Xu
•Yeah you definitely want to verify the legal entity name independently. Borrowers often use trade names or shortened versions that aren't their actual registered legal name.
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Nora Bennett
•I learned this lesson the hard way when we had to deal with a bankruptcy and our UCC filing was challenged because the debtor name didn't match the legal entity exactly.
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Ryan Andre
Another vote for using document verification tools. I started using Certana.ai after a similar name matching issue cost us a lot of time and stress. The automated cross-checking catches these discrepancies before you file instead of finding out about problems later.
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Lauren Zeb
•Is it worth the cost though? I mean, manually checking documents isn't that hard if you're careful.
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Ryan Andre
•For me it's worth it because it's fast and catches things I might miss when I'm rushed. Plus it creates a verification record which is helpful for compliance documentation.
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Daniel Washington
Update us on what you decide to do! I'm dealing with a similar situation in Illinois and curious how this turns out for you.
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Sophia Russo
•Will do. Planning to file under 'ABC Manufacturing LLC' since that matches both our security agreement and the current SOS registration. Seems like the safest approach based on everyone's advice here.
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Daniel Washington
•That sounds right. Better to be conservative with debtor names than risk perfection issues later.
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Aurora Lacasse
•Smart approach. I always tell people - when in doubt, match the Secretary of State records exactly.
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