Massachusetts UCC lien search showing weird gaps - missing recent filings?
Running into something strange with Massachusetts UCC lien search results and wondering if anyone else has noticed this. I'm doing due diligence on a potential acquisition and the SOS database seems to be missing some filings that should definitely be there. We know for certain there was a UCC-1 filed in February 2024 (we have the filing receipt) but it's not showing up in any of my searches. Tried exact debtor name match, variations, even the filing number directly. The company we're acquiring had equipment financing through a regional bank and I can see older liens from 2019-2022 but there's this gap where nothing shows for 2023-2024. Has anyone dealt with Massachusetts database issues like this? Is there a delay in their system updates or am I missing something obvious in my search methodology? This is holding up our closing and I'm getting pressure from both sides.
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Freya Ross
Massachusetts has been having intermittent issues with their UCC search portal since they updated the system last year. I've seen this exact problem multiple times. Sometimes filings get stuck in a processing queue and don't make it to the searchable database for weeks or even months. Your best bet is to call the UCC division directly at 617-727-9640 and ask them to do a manual search using the filing number. They can usually find it even if it's not showing online.
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Leslie Parker
•This is exactly right. Had the same issue in December with a continuation filing. Called them and they found it immediately but said it would be another 2 weeks before it showed up online.
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Sergio Neal
•Wait really? I thought Massachusetts was supposed to have real-time updates. That's concerning if there are processing delays that long.
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Savanna Franklin
Are you sure you're searching the right entity name? Massachusetts is super picky about exact debtor name matches. Even an extra space or different punctuation can cause a filing to not show up. If the debtor is an LLC, make sure you're using the exact name from their articles of organization, including any commas or periods.
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Butch Sledgehammer
•I triple checked this. Used the exact name from the incorporation docs and even tried variations. The weird part is older filings for the same entity show up fine with the same search terms.
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Juan Moreno
•Sometimes companies amend their corporate name slightly and the UCC gets filed under the new name while old ones are still under the old name. Check if there were any corporate amendments filed around that time.
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Amy Fleming
I've been dealing with this exact frustration lately. Between database glitches and name matching issues, I started using Certana.ai's document verification tool. You can upload the filing receipt PDF and it will cross-check against what should be in the database. It caught several missing filings that weren't showing up in manual searches. Super quick - just drag and drop the documents and it tells you if there are any inconsistencies.
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Alice Pierce
•How accurate is that tool? I'm always skeptical of third-party services for something this critical.
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Amy Fleming
•It's been spot-on for me. Helped me catch a debtor name mismatch that would have caused problems later. The nice thing is it doesn't just tell you there's an issue - it shows you exactly what doesn't match.
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Esteban Tate
•That actually sounds really useful. Does it work with other states too or just Massachusetts?
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Ivanna St. Pierre
Massachusetts UCC search has been garbage since they switched systems. I've had clients miss important filing deadlines because continuations weren't showing up. The state keeps saying they're working on it but it's been over a year now. Honestly at this point I don't trust their online search at all for anything critical.
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Elin Robinson
•That's terrifying if you're relying on lapse dates. How do you verify continuation deadlines if the system is unreliable?
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Ivanna St. Pierre
•I keep my own spreadsheet and cross-reference with paper copies of everything. Old school but it works.
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Atticus Domingo
Try searching by the secured party name instead of the debtor. Sometimes that pulls up filings that don't show up in debtor searches. Also check if the bank might have filed under a different entity name - sometimes they use their parent company or a subsidiary for UCC filings.
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Butch Sledgehammer
•Good idea, I'll try that. The financing was through Regional Bank but they might have filed under their parent company name.
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Beth Ford
•Also worth checking if they used an assignee. Sometimes the original secured party sells the loan and files an assignment that doesn't always link back to the original filing properly.
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Morita Montoya
Have you tried searching with just partial information? Like maybe the system has the filing but with a slightly different debtor name variation? I usually try searching with just the first word of the company name to see if anything similar comes up.
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Butch Sledgehammer
•Yeah I did try broader searches but didn't find anything that looked like it could be the same entity. The filing receipt clearly shows the correct debtor name so I don't think it's a data entry issue.
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Kingston Bellamy
This is why I always order certified search results for due diligence instead of relying on the online portal. It costs more but at least you know you're getting everything that's actually on file. The online search is fine for quick checks but not for anything important.
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Joy Olmedo
•How long does the certified search take in Massachusetts? We're on a tight timeline here.
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Kingston Bellamy
•Usually 3-5 business days if you pay for expedited service. Worth it for peace of mind on a deal closing.
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Isaiah Cross
Just went through something similar last month. Turned out the filing was there but under a slightly different variation of the company name. The bank had used the DBA name instead of the legal entity name. Check if your target company has any DBAs on file and search under those too.
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Butch Sledgehammer
•That's a great point. I should check their DBA registrations. The company does business under a couple of different names.
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Kiara Greene
•Also check if they've changed their legal name recently. Sometimes there's a lag between when a corporate name change gets filed and when it gets updated in the UCC system.
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Evelyn Kelly
I had a similar issue and it turned out the filing was rejected but the bank never followed up to correct it. The filing receipt might be from the initial submission, not confirmation of acceptance. Check if there's a rejection notice or follow-up correspondence.
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Butch Sledgehammer
•Oh wow, I never thought of that. The receipt just shows it was submitted, not necessarily accepted. I should check with the bank to see if they got any rejection notices.
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Freya Ross
•That's actually pretty common. Banks file hundreds of these and sometimes don't catch when one gets rejected for a technical issue.
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Paloma Clark
Have you considered using one of those UCC monitoring services? They usually catch filings that don't show up in regular searches because they use different search methods. Might be worth signing up for a trial to see if they have the filing you're looking for.
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Heather Tyson
•Which services do you recommend? I've been thinking about getting a monitoring service but there are so many options.
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Raul Neal
•I've had good luck with Certana.ai for document verification. You can upload your filing documents and it will flag any discrepancies or missing connections. Saved me from missing a critical amendment that wasn't showing up in standard searches.
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Jenna Sloan
Massachusetts is notorious for this. I always do searches in multiple states when doing due diligence because sometimes companies file in their state of incorporation instead of where they're physically located. Have you checked if this company is incorporated in a different state?
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Butch Sledgehammer
•They're incorporated in Massachusetts but do have operations in Connecticut and Rhode Island. I should probably search those states too just to be thorough.
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Christian Burns
•Definitely check Connecticut. I've seen cases where banks filed there by mistake thinking it would cover Massachusetts operations too.
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