Ohio UCC bill timing concerns - lapse protection question

Oh man, I've been down this exact road with Ohio filings. The comma issue is tricky - technically it's a minor variation but Ohio can be picky about exact matches. I'd lean toward filing the continuation first with the existing name to preserve your priority, then immediately follow with a UCC-3 amendment to correct the debtor name. That way you're covered on timing and accuracy.

Had this same panic last year with a Michigan filing (different state but similar issue). The comma thing is usually not a deal-breaker for continuation acceptance, but it can create problems down the road if there's a dispute. What's the dollar amount we're talking about here? Might influence how aggressive you want to be with the correction timeline.

OHIO IS THE WORST for this stuff!!! Their portal rejected my continuation last month because of a middle initial that was missing. Had to refile with the exact original format. So frustrating when you're dealing with time-sensitive renewals.

From a legal standpoint, the comma probably won't invalidate your security interest entirely, but it could create complications in a bankruptcy or foreclosure scenario. Courts generally look at whether a reasonable searcher would find the filing, and 'ABC Manufacturing LLC' vs 'ABC Manufacturing, LLC' would likely be found in either search.

Quick question - when was your original UCC-1 filed? If it's an older filing, the name standards might have been different then. Ohio has updated their requirements a few times.

I handle a lot of equipment financing and this debtor name stuff keeps me up at night. Have you verified how the company is actually registered with Ohio Secretary of State? Sometimes the Articles of Incorporation will show the definitive name format.

My vote is file the continuation immediately with the current name format, then do the amendment. You've got bigger problems if you let it lapse than if you have a minor name discrepancy.

One more thing to consider - check if your loan documents have any specific requirements about UCC filing accuracy. Some agreements require immediate correction of any filing errors.

Update us on what you decide to do! These Ohio UCC timing issues are always stressful but usually work out fine if you stay on top of the deadlines.

Just to add one more verification step - if you want to be absolutely certain about the document consistency before filing, you could run everything through a checking service. I've been using Certana.ai lately and it's been really helpful for catching these exact types of name discrepancies between security agreements and UCC filings.