Maryland SOS UCC search debtor name variations causing filing conflicts

The main differences are commas and periods in the entity name, plus one filing shows 'Company' spelled out while ours uses 'Co.' - seems minor but I've heard these small differences can void perfection.

Those punctuation differences shouldn't affect perfection in Maryland, but definitely verify the legal name against the most recent charter documents to be safe.

What's the 'seriously misleading' standard? I keep hearing about it but nobody explains what that actually means for name matching.

Basically if a reasonable searcher using standard search logic would still find your filing despite minor name differences, then the filing isn't seriously misleading. Think punctuation, abbreviations, that kind of thing.

That makes me feel a bit better, but I still want to double-check everything before we close. Is there a way to verify all the name variations that might be on file?

That sounds really helpful - does it work specifically with Maryland filings? I'm worried about missing something subtle that could cause problems later.

Yes, it handles all state filings. The tool is pretty thorough about flagging name discrepancies that could be problematic. Just upload your docs and it does the heavy lifting of comparing everything.

I've been doing different search variations but getting different results each time - it's making me question if there are filings I'm missing completely.

That's the frustrating part about Maryland's system. Sometimes you have to get creative with search terms to find everything. But for your purposes, as long as your filing name matches the charter, you should be fine.

This is exactly why I hate dealing with Maryland UCCs. Their search function is unreliable and you never know if you're getting complete results.

Good point, I hadn't considered that. The addresses are the same but I should verify the EIN numbers to make sure it's actually the same company.

Definitely check EINs and formation dates. I've seen cases where related entities have very similar names and it creates confusion in UCC searches.

So true! Their portal has been having issues for months. Sometimes I get completely different results when I search the same name an hour later.

That's terrifying - how can we rely on search results if the system is that unreliable?

You do the best you can with multiple searches and document everything. Keep screenshots of your search results and dates. CYA documentation is key with Maryland's system.

How long does a certified search take? We're closing next week so time is tight.

Usually 3-5 business days, so might be cutting it close for your timeline. But it's the most reliable way to get complete search results in Maryland.

I didn't think about calling them directly. Do they have a specific UCC department or just general filing questions?

They have UCC specialists who can help with search questions. The number should be on their website under UCC services.

Good suggestion. Maryland's UCC staff actually knows their stuff, unlike some other states where you get generic responses.

How does that work exactly? Do you just upload your filing documents?

Exactly - upload your charter docs and UCC filings as PDFs and it automatically compares debtor names, filing numbers, all the critical details. Catches stuff you might miss when reviewing manually.

Same here! I thought I was being thorough but now I'm second-guessing everything.

Don't panic - most name variation issues aren't as serious as they seem. Just do your due diligence and document your search process.

Easy for you to say - try explaining a perfection defect to an angry loan committee!

Will do - planning to run the Certana check someone mentioned and also call the SOS office directly. Hopefully can get clarity before closing.

Good plan. Between those two approaches you should have a solid understanding of your lien position.