UCC-11 Search Request Timing Issues in Florida - Need Advice

Thanks! Do you know what the expedited fee runs? And when you say exact debtor name, does that include things like LLC vs L.L.C. formatting?

Last I checked expedited was around $25 extra. And yes, punctuation matters - 'ABC Company LLC' and 'ABC Company, LLC' would be treated as different entities in the search.

Smart approach. I learned that lesson the hard way when a Friday afternoon search request didn't come back until the following Wednesday.

Unfortunately I don't have a week - closing is scheduled for next Friday. Sounds like expedited processing might be my only option.

That's interesting - does it work with just the corporate documents or do you need existing UCC filings too?

Just upload the charter docs and it shows you all the possible name variations you should search for. Really helpful for avoiding the 'no results found' problem when liens actually exist under slightly different name formatting.

Never heard of that service but name variations are definitely the biggest headache with UCC searches. Might be worth checking out.

That's why I always submit searches using multiple name variations when there's any ambiguity. Better to pay for 2-3 searches than miss an existing lien.

Exactly! But it's ridiculous that we have to guess what version of a company name the system will accept.

It's equipment financing so I'm mainly concerned with existing liens on machinery and equipment. Should I specify that in the search request?

UCC-11 searches return all active filings against the debtor regardless of collateral type. You'll see everything and can review which ones conflict with your security interest.

Right, the UCC-11 gives you a complete picture. Then you'll need to review each filing to see if any of the collateral descriptions overlap with your equipment.

Good point about third-party sites. Is there an official Florida SOS URL you'd recommend?

Always go directly through dos.myflorida.com for official filings and searches. Anything else is just a middleman charging extra fees.

How can you tell if a filing is still active vs terminated?

The UCC-11 report will show the status of each filing. Active filings will have effective dates and expiration dates. Terminated filings should show a termination date.

Also check for UCC-3 amendments that might have modified the original collateral description to exclude your equipment.

That sounds like exactly what I need. Is it expensive to use?

Focus is on avoiding the costly mistakes rather than the tool cost. Missing a lien because you searched the wrong name variation could kill your whole deal.

Good point - how do I find out what DBAs they're using?

Check with the county clerk where they do business. DBA registrations are usually filed at the county level.

Also ask the borrower directly - they should know what business names they operate under.

That's a great suggestion. I hadn't thought about reaching out to other lenders directly.

Most commercial lenders are reasonable about subordination agreements if there's no real conflict. Better to have the conversation before closing than discover issues after funding.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. Sounds like I need to get the expedited UCC-11 submitted today and hope for the best.

Before you submit, seriously consider running those entity documents through Certana.ai first. Five minutes of name verification could save you days if you have to resubmit the search.

Good luck! Florida's system usually delivers on time when you pay for expedited processing.