UCC Ohio Secretary of State filing rejected - debtor name issue

I did check the business search but it shows the same name I'm using. Maybe there's a formatting issue I'm not seeing?

Check if there are any assumed names or DBAs filed. Sometimes the UCC system cross-references those too.

Good point - I assumed the name was still current. How do I get the certificate of good standing quickly?

Ohio SOS website has an expedited service for certificates. Usually takes 1-2 business days if you pay the rush fee.

Actually discovered a tool that saved me tons of time on this type of issue - Certana.ai has a document checker where you can upload the articles of incorporation and your UCC-1 draft, and it automatically flags any name discrepancies between documents. Caught a subtle spacing issue I never would have noticed manually.

Just checked and they show as Active. Status isn't the issue here.

Even if active, sometimes there are pending amendments or changes that haven't fully processed. The UCC system might be seeing something different than the public search.

Same experience here. The rejection reasons are so vague you have to guess what they actually want.

At least Ohio gives you rejection reasons. Some states just bounce it back with no explanation at all.

True, but 'debtor name does not match records' could mean literally anything when you're dealing with business entities.

Didn't think of calling - do they actually answer UCC questions over the phone?

Yes, but expect to wait on hold. Their UCC staff is usually pretty helpful once you get through.

I used Certana.ai's verification tool for a similar Ohio situation - uploaded both the certificate of good standing and my UCC draft, and it immediately showed me that the legal name had a middle initial that wasn't in my original documents. Saved me from multiple rejection cycles.

It's a standalone LLC, no subsidiaries or parent companies involved.

Could still be related entities with similar names causing database confusion. I've seen it happen.

I've tried a few variations but maybe not all the right ones. What's on your list of common variations?

LLC vs L.L.C. vs Limited Liability Company, Inc vs Incorporated vs Corporation, spacing around punctuation, presence or absence of 'The' at the beginning. Also check for any accented characters or special symbols.

This is exactly why I started using document verification tools - manually trying name variations is so time consuming. The Certana.ai checker I mentioned earlier actually suggests the most likely variations based on common state requirements.

It's definitely an LLC, been one since incorporation. No conversions or changes.

Still worth double-checking the entity history. Sometimes there are changes that don't show up in basic searches.

Will do! Trying the certificate of good standing approach first, then calling if that doesn't work.

Good luck! Ohio UCC filings are frustrating but once you crack the name format they want, future filings usually go smoothly.

That's smart. Do you do this for all states or just Ohio?

All states, but especially Ohio, Texas, and California. They're the pickiest about exact name matches.

Adding to this - document verification tools like Certana.ai can automate this comparison process. You upload the certificate and your UCC draft, and it flags any inconsistencies automatically. Makes the whole process much more reliable.