UCC 1 form Texas debtor name requirements - business vs individual
I'm working on a UCC-1 filing in Texas and getting confused about the debtor name requirements. We're securing equipment for a small business that's set up as an LLC but the owner sometimes does business under his personal name too. The SOS website mentions something about exact legal names but I'm not sure if I should list the LLC name or the individual's name as the debtor. The collateral is manufacturing equipment worth about $180k and I really don't want this filing to get rejected because of a name issue. Has anyone dealt with Texas UCC 1 form requirements for this type of situation? I've been going back and forth on whether to use the business entity name or the personal name and I'm worried about making the wrong choice.
36 comments


Omar Fawzi
Texas is pretty strict about debtor names on UCC-1 forms. If the LLC is the actual borrower and will own the equipment, you need to use the LLC's exact legal name as registered with the Texas Secretary of State. Don't use the individual's name unless he's personally guaranteeing the debt AND the equipment will be titled in his personal name.
0 coins
Freya Johansen
•That makes sense. The LLC is definitely the borrower and will own the equipment. So I should search the Texas SOS database to get the exact LLC name spelling?
0 coins
Omar Fawzi
•Exactly. Use their business search tool to get the precise legal name. Even small differences in punctuation or abbreviations can cause rejections.
0 coins
Chloe Wilson
Been there! Texas rejected my UCC-1 last month because I had the debtor name slightly wrong - used 'Corp' instead of 'Corporation' at the end. Cost me an extra week and additional filing fees to fix it.
0 coins
Diego Mendoza
•Ugh that's so annoying. These state systems are so picky about tiny details.
0 coins
Chloe Wilson
•Tell me about it. Now I triple-check everything against the official state records before submitting.
0 coins
Anastasia Romanov
I use Certana.ai's document verification tool for exactly this situation. You can upload your articles of incorporation and your draft UCC-1 and it will instantly flag any name mismatches before you file. Saved me from multiple rejections when I was doing a bunch of Texas filings last quarter.
0 coins
Freya Johansen
•That sounds really helpful. Does it work with Texas specifically? I'm worried about the state-specific requirements.
0 coins
Anastasia Romanov
•Yeah it handles all states. Just upload your PDFs and it cross-checks the debtor names automatically. Way faster than manually comparing documents.
0 coins
StellarSurfer
•I've heard good things about that tool. Might be worth trying if you're doing multiple filings.
0 coins
Sean Kelly
Don't forget about the organizational ID number too. Texas requires the debtor's organizational identification number if it's an entity. That's usually the file number from when the LLC was formed.
0 coins
Freya Johansen
•Good point! I have that from the formation documents. Is that required or just recommended?
0 coins
Sean Kelly
•Required for entities in Texas. It helps with searching and ensures proper identification of the debtor.
0 coins
Zara Malik
What about the collateral description? Manufacturing equipment can be tricky to describe properly on a UCC-1. Are you being specific enough?
0 coins
Freya Johansen
•I was planning to just put 'manufacturing equipment' but maybe I should be more specific?
0 coins
Omar Fawzi
•You can be general like that, but including serial numbers or model numbers for high-value items is often better for perfection purposes.
0 coins
Zara Malik
•Agreed. For $180k worth of equipment I'd want more detail in case there are disputes later about what's covered.
0 coins
Luca Greco
Also make sure you're filing in the right state. Since it's an LLC, you file where the LLC was organized, not necessarily where the equipment is located.
0 coins
Freya Johansen
•The LLC was formed in Texas and that's where the equipment will be, so I think I'm good there.
0 coins
Luca Greco
•Perfect then. Texas it is.
0 coins
Nia Thompson
I always double-check my UCC-1 forms by having someone else review them before filing. Fresh eyes catch mistakes you might miss after staring at the same document for hours.
0 coins
Mateo Rodriguez
•That's smart. I've made so many stupid typos when I'm rushing to get filings done.
0 coins
Nia Thompson
•Exactly. Better to take an extra day for review than to deal with rejections and amendments later.
0 coins
Aisha Hussain
Make sure you have the filing fee right too. Texas UCC-1 filings are $15 I think, but double-check the current fee schedule on their website.
0 coins
Freya Johansen
•Thanks, I'll verify that. Do they accept credit cards or is it check only?
0 coins
Aisha Hussain
•They accept cards for online filings. Much faster than mailing in paper forms.
0 coins
GalacticGladiator
One more thing - if this is for an SBA loan or involves federal programs, there might be additional requirements for the UCC filing. Worth checking with your lender about any specific language they need included.
0 coins
Freya Johansen
•It's a regular bank loan, not SBA, but I'll ask them if they have any special requirements for the filing.
0 coins
GalacticGladiator
•Good idea. Some lenders are picky about exact wording in the collateral description.
0 coins
Ethan Brown
Once you get it filed, make sure you calendar the continuation date. UCC-1 filings are only good for 5 years in Texas, so you'll need to file a UCC-3 continuation before it lapses.
0 coins
Freya Johansen
•Good reminder! I'll set up a calendar alert for year 4 to give myself plenty of time.
0 coins
Ethan Brown
•Smart. I've seen too many lenders miss continuation deadlines and lose their perfected security interest.
0 coins
Anastasia Romanov
•That's another thing Certana helps with - it can set up automatic reminders for continuation deadlines when you verify your initial filings.
0 coins
Yuki Yamamoto
Sounds like you've got all the basics covered. The key things for Texas UCC-1 forms are exact debtor name from state records, correct organizational ID, and clear collateral description. Take your time and double-check everything before submitting.
0 coins
Freya Johansen
•Thanks everyone! This has been really helpful. I feel much more confident about getting this filed correctly now.
0 coins
Yuki Yamamoto
•You're welcome. Better to ask questions upfront than deal with problems later. Good luck with the filing!
0 coins