UCC filing getting rejected - ri sos business search shows different entity name format

Exactly this. I learned the hard way that 'ABC Company LLC' vs 'ABC Company, LLC' will cause a rejection even though it's the same business.

Wait so even if the comma is in a different place it gets rejected? That seems excessive for a computer system.

This saved me so much headache when I started doing this systematically. Now I always cross-reference the business search before submitting any UCC-1.

So you're saying I should ignore what's on the actual loan agreement and just use whatever format shows up in the state database? What if there's a discrepancy between the two?

For UCC filing purposes, yes - use the state database format. The loan agreement might have their 'doing business as' name or an informal version. For the UCC to be legally valid, it has to match state records exactly.

Never heard of that service but sounds useful. How accurate is it with catching these formatting issues?

Pretty spot on from what I've seen. It cross-checks all the documents you upload and highlights discrepancies in debtor names, filing numbers, all that stuff. Much faster than manually comparing everything line by line.

Good point about multiple entries. I've seen cases where a company changed their name or restructured and there are old filings under different variations.

How do you know which entry to use if there are multiple versions of the same company in the database?

Look at the filing dates and status. You want the most recent active entity registration. If you're unsure, you might need to call the SOS office directly.

I feel your pain. The rejection notices are usually pretty vague too. 'Name does not match' - ok but what exactly is wrong with it??

At least most states have moved to electronic filing now. Used to be even worse when you had to mail paper forms and wait weeks to find out about rejections.

This is the practical answer. Don't overthink it - just match the database exactly and you should be good.

Thanks everyone. Going to redo the filing with the exact name from the state database and see if that clears it up.

Good catch. I've seen people try to file UCCs against the parent company's state of incorporation instead of where the actual debtor entity is registered.

How do you figure out which state to file in if they're registered in multiple places?

Usually it's where the debtor is organized or has their chief executive office. The loan documents should specify this, but when in doubt, file in multiple states to be safe.

How does that work exactly? Do you upload all your documents and it compares them automatically?

Yeah basically you upload your charter documents and UCC forms as PDFs and it cross-checks everything for consistency. Flags any discrepancies before you submit to the state. Saves a lot of time and rejections.

Smart idea. I should start doing this instead of looking up the same companies over and over.

Just make sure to update it periodically since companies sometimes change their registered names or merge with other entities.

This is probably the safest approach when you're not 100% sure. Better to spend 20 minutes on a phone call than deal with multiple rejection cycles.

Agreed. Time is money in these financing deals and rejected filings can really mess up closing schedules.