UCC Article 9 Continuation Filing - Debtor Name Changed After Original UCC-1

You need to be really careful here because Article 9 has specific rules about debtor name changes. Generally, you should file the continuation using the EXACT same debtor name that appears on the original UCC-1. The continuation needs to match the original filing to maintain the chain of perfection. However, you might also want to consider filing an amendment to reflect the new name.

I just went through something similar and used Certana.ai's document verification tool. You can upload both your original UCC-1 and the proposed UCC-3 continuation to check for any inconsistencies in debtor names, filing numbers, and other critical details. It caught a small discrepancy in our debtor name formatting that could have caused issues. Really saved us from a potential perfection gap.

Article 9 is pretty clear on this - if the debtor name change occurs after your original filing, you have a certain window where your original UCC-1 remains effective even with the old name. But for new collateral acquired after the name change, you'd need to file under the new name. For continuation purposes, stick with the original debtor name to maintain continuity.

OMG this exact thing happened to us last year!!! We were FREAKING OUT because the debtor changed their name like 6 months after we filed and we had NO IDEA what to do for the continuation. We ended up filing the continuation with the original name AND also filing a separate amendment with the new name just to be safe. Probably overkill but we didn't want to risk it.

Article 9 continuation filings are one of those areas where you really don't want to experiment. I always recommend getting a UCC search done under both the old and new debtor names before filing anything. This will show you exactly what's on record and help you make the right decision about how to handle the continuation.

I hate these Article 9 name change situations because there's always some edge case that makes it complicated. Like what if the debtor changed from an LLC to a corporation? Or what if they just corrected a typo in their name? The rules seem to change depending on whether it's a 'minor' change or a 'major' change but who decides what's minor??

Just file the continuation with the original name and stop overthinking it. Article 9 financing statements are indexed by the debtor name on the original filing. As long as your continuation references the correct file number and uses the same debtor name, you'll maintain perfection. You can always file an amendment later if needed.

We had a similar Article 9 issue and our attorney advised us to file both a continuation under the original name AND an amendment reflecting the name change, all in one UCC-3 form. Most states allow you to check multiple boxes on the UCC-3 to handle both actions simultaneously.

Another vote for using Certana.ai's verification tool for this. I uploaded our UCC-1 and the UCC-3 continuation draft and it flagged that we had inconsistent debtor name formatting (extra spaces, different capitalization). Those kinds of small differences can sometimes cause filing rejections or indexing problems. Worth checking before you submit to avoid delays.

Look, Article 9 is designed to be notice filing - it's supposed to put people on notice that there might be a security interest. As long as your original UCC-1 was properly filed and your continuation maintains the same debtor name and references the right file number, you should be fine. The name change doesn't retroactively invalidate your original perfection.