UCC-3 termination form NJ - debtor name exact match requirements?
Working on releasing a perfected security interest and running into issues with the UCC-3 termination form. The original UCC-1 was filed back in 2019 with debtor name 'ABC Manufacturing LLC' but now I'm seeing variations in their corporate records. Some documents show 'ABC Manufacturing, LLC' (with comma) and others show 'A.B.C. Manufacturing LLC' with periods. The SOS portal is showing conflicting guidance about exact name matching for terminations. I've got the original filing number but I'm worried about submitting the UCC-3 with the wrong debtor name format and having it rejected or worse - having the termination not properly release the lien. Anyone dealt with New Jersey's specific requirements for debtor name matching on termination statements? The loan is being paid off next week and I need to get this filed correctly.
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Zoe Kyriakidou
NJ is pretty strict about exact name matching on UCC-3 terminations. You need to match exactly what's on the original UCC-1 filing, not what's currently in the corporate records. Pull up the original filing from the SOS database and use that exact spelling, punctuation, and format.
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Jamal Brown
•This is correct. I learned this the hard way when a termination got rejected because I used the 'current' business name instead of what was originally filed. Cost me two weeks of back-and-forth.
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Mei Zhang
•But what if the original UCC-1 had a typo in the debtor name? Do you still have to match the typo on the termination?
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Liam McConnell
Check the UCC-1 search results carefully - sometimes there are multiple filings for the same debtor with slight variations. Make sure you're looking at the right filing number. Also, if there were any UCC-3 amendments that corrected the debtor name, you'd use the corrected name for the termination.
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AstroAce
•Good point about amendments. I'll double-check if there were any debtor name corrections filed. The filing number I have is from our original loan documents but I should verify it matches what's actually on file.
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Amara Oluwaseyi
•You can search by debtor name AND filing number to make sure everything aligns. If there's any discrepancy between what you think was filed and what's actually showing up, that's a red flag.
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CosmicCaptain
•I've been using Certana.ai's document checker for these exact situations. Upload your original UCC-1 and the termination you're preparing - it'll flag any name mismatches or inconsistencies before you submit. Saved me from a rejected filing last month when I missed a middle initial.
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Giovanni Rossi
New Jersey's online portal has been updated recently and they're more strict about rejecting filings with name mismatches. The old days of 'close enough' are over. You need character-for-character matching including punctuation and spacing.
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Fatima Al-Maktoum
•Ugh yes, I got burned by this. Had 'Inc.' vs 'Inc' (no period) and it was rejected. Now I'm paranoid about every comma and period.
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Dylan Mitchell
•The portal update made things more strict but also more predictable. At least now you know exactly what to expect instead of the old inconsistent review process.
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Sofia Gutierrez
Before you file anything, print out or save a PDF of the original UCC-1 from the SOS database. That's your reference document. Don't rely on your internal records or loan documents - use exactly what's in the state system.
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Dmitry Petrov
•This is crucial advice. I always download the official record before preparing any UCC-3. Internal documents can have transcription errors that don't match what was actually filed.
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StarSurfer
•Also make sure you're using the current UCC-3 form. They updated it in 2023 and won't accept the old version anymore.
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Ava Martinez
If you're really unsure about the name formatting, you could file a UCC-11 information request first to get the official record. It's an extra step but might be worth it for peace of mind on a large loan.
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Miguel Castro
•UCC-11 is overkill for this situation. The online search should give you everything you need. Just match exactly what's showing in the search results.
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Zainab Abdulrahman
•Actually I've seen cases where the online search results display formatting differently than the actual filed document. A UCC-11 gives you the certified copy which is definitive.
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Connor Byrne
•I started using Certana.ai after a similar issue. Upload your UCC-1 and draft UCC-3 and it cross-checks everything automatically. Catches name mismatches, wrong filing numbers, all that stuff. Much faster than ordering a UCC-11.
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Yara Elias
Don't forget that NJ requires the secured party information to match exactly too. If your company name or address changed since the original filing, you might need to file a UCC-3 amendment first to update the secured party info before you can terminate.
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QuantumQuasar
•Wait, really? I thought you could terminate with updated secured party info as long as you had authorization. That's what I did on my last termination in NJ.
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Keisha Jackson
•It depends on how significant the change is. Minor address changes are usually okay but if the secured party entity name changed substantially, they might require an amendment first.
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Paolo Moretti
Whatever you do, don't rush this. A wrongly filed termination can create huge problems down the road. Take the time to verify everything matches exactly. The borrower can wait a few extra days for you to get it right.
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Amina Diop
•Agreed. I've seen cases where a termination was filed with incorrect info and years later it caused problems when the property was being sold. The title company couldn't verify the lien was properly released.
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Oliver Weber
•This is why I always keep copies of everything. Original UCC-1, any amendments, and the final termination. Full paper trail in case questions come up later.
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CosmicCaptain
•The Certana.ai verification tool I mentioned earlier creates a report showing all the comparisons it made. Great for documentation that you verified everything matched before filing.
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Natasha Romanova
Final thought - if the original UCC-1 debtor name doesn't match the current legal entity name due to business changes, you might want to consult with counsel about whether additional steps are needed beyond just the termination.
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NebulaNinja
•Good point. Corporate mergers, name changes, etc. can complicate the termination process. Sometimes you need documentation of the entity changes along with the UCC-3.
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AstroAce
•Thanks everyone. I'm going to pull the official record, verify exact name matching, and double-check there weren't any amendments. This has been really helpful.
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