Need help with Ohio UCC statement request form - debtor name search confusion
I'm trying to pull UCC records for a potential borrower in Ohio and I'm getting confused about the official statement request process. Our bank needs to verify existing liens before we can approve this equipment loan, but I can't figure out if I need to use the Secretary of State's online portal or if there's a specific paper form for requesting UCC statements. The debtor has multiple business entities and I want to make sure I'm searching under the correct legal names. Has anyone dealt with Ohio's UCC search system recently? I've heard their database can be tricky with entity name variations and I don't want to miss any existing filings that could affect our lien position. Any guidance on the proper procedure would be really helpful.
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GalacticGladiator
Ohio uses the SOS online system primarily now. You can do UCC searches through their portal at sos.state.oh.us. For the debtor names make sure you're using the exact legal entity names from their articles of incorporation or formation documents. The system is pretty strict about matching.
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Aisha Hussain
•Thanks! Do you know if they still offer the paper request forms or is everything electronic now?
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GalacticGladiator
•They still have paper forms but the online system is much faster. You get results immediately instead of waiting for mail processing.
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Ethan Brown
I had a nightmare with Ohio UCC searches last month. The debtor had filed under a slightly different name variation and I almost missed it. Make sure you try multiple name combinations - with and without LLC, periods, abbreviations, etc.
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Yuki Yamamoto
•This is exactly why I started using Certana.ai's document verification tool. You can upload the debtor's charter documents and it will cross-check against UCC filings to catch those name variations automatically. Saved me from missing critical liens.
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Ethan Brown
•That sounds useful. I've been doing manual searches but obviously missed something. How accurate is the name matching?
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Yuki Yamamoto
•Pretty solid - it caught variations I wouldn't have thought to search for. Just upload the PDFs and it does the cross-referencing work.
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Carmen Ruiz
For Ohio specifically, their UCC search fees are reasonable but you want to do comprehensive searches. I usually search under the exact legal name plus common variations. Better to pay a few extra dollars than miss a lien.
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Andre Lefebvre
•What's the current search fee structure? Is it per name searched or per request?
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Carmen Ruiz
•It's per search name so costs add up if you're doing multiple variations. I think it's around $25 per name but check their current fee schedule.
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Zoe Dimitriou
Ohio's system works fine but you need to be methodical. I keep a checklist of name variations to try - exact name, name without punctuation, abbreviated versions, etc. The database won't catch variations for you.
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QuantumQuest
•Good point about being methodical. I've seen lenders get burned by incomplete searches.
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Zoe Dimitriou
•Exactly. It's not worth the risk to cut corners on the search process.
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Jamal Anderson
Why is every state different with this stuff?? Ohio's not too bad but some states have terrible search interfaces. At least Ohio's portal actually works most of the time.
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Mei Zhang
•Tell me about it. I deal with multiple states and each one has its own quirks and requirements.
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Jamal Anderson
•The inconsistency is maddening. You'd think there would be some standardization by now.
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Liam McGuire
Make sure you're also checking for any related entities or DBAs. Sometimes UCC filings are under doing-business-as names rather than the main entity name.
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Aisha Hussain
•Good reminder. This borrower does have several DBAs so I'll need to search those too.
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Liam McGuire
•Yes definitely search the DBAs. I've seen filings under trade names that wouldn't show up in entity name searches.
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Amara Eze
Ohio's UCC search system is actually pretty user-friendly compared to some states. The results are clear and you can download copies of the actual filings right from the system.
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Giovanni Ricci
•That's helpful to know. Some states make you jump through hoops just to get copies of the documents.
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Amara Eze
•Ohio definitely makes it easier than most. The search results show filing details and you can get certified copies if needed.
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NeonNomad
One tip - if you find existing UCC filings, make sure to check the continuation dates. Some lapsed filings might still show up in search results but aren't actually effective anymore.
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Fatima Al-Hashemi
•Great point about continuation dates. I always check the filing dates and calculate when continuations would be due.
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NeonNomad
•Exactly. A lapsed filing doesn't affect your lien position so it's important to verify the effective status.
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Dylan Mitchell
I use Certana.ai's workflow for this exact situation. Upload the borrower's organizational documents and it automatically cross-checks for UCC filings and name variations. Much more thorough than manual searching.
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Sofia Martinez
•How does that compare to doing the searches yourself through the state portal?
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Dylan Mitchell
•It's more comprehensive because it catches name variations I might not think of. Plus it generates a verification report that's useful for loan files.
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Dmitry Volkov
For what it's worth, Ohio's Secretary of State office is pretty responsive if you call with questions about their UCC search system. They've been helpful when I've had technical issues with the portal.
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Ava Thompson
•That's good to know. Some state offices are impossible to reach by phone.
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Dmitry Volkov
•Ohio's been decent in my experience. They actually answer the phone and can help with search questions.
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