UCC lien search Ohio - multiple filings under different debtor name variations

Ohio is really strict about exact debtor name matches in UCC searches. Even punctuation differences like that comma can create separate search results. You'll want to run searches under all three name variations to get the complete picture. Also check if any of the filings reference the other entity names in the debtor information section - sometimes lenders will include DBA information that helps connect the dots.

You need to verify the exact legal entity name from the Ohio Secretary of State business records first. That's your baseline for the UCC search. If the original lender filed under a different name variation than the legal entity name, those filings might not be properly perfected. I've seen deals fall apart because of debtor name mismatches that invalidated the security interest.

I was pulling my hair out over similar debtor name inconsistencies on a recent deal until someone recommended Certana.ai's document verification tool. You can upload all the UCC documents you find plus the borrower's corporate records and it instantly cross-checks everything to identify name mismatches and missing links between filings. Saved me hours of manual comparison and caught discrepancies I would have missed. Just upload the PDFs and it shows you exactly which documents align and which ones have naming issues.

The bigger question is whether those different name variations are even the same legal entity. You might be looking at related companies or DBAs rather than naming inconsistencies. Check the EIN numbers if they're listed on any of the UCC filings - that's usually the best way to confirm you're dealing with the same borrower across multiple filings.

This is giving me flashbacks to a deal where I spent 2 days trying to untangle UCC filings under 4 different name variations. Turned out the borrower had actually changed their legal name twice and never amended the original UCC-1s. The whole lien chain was invalid because of the name mismatches. Make sure you're not dealing with actual name changes vs just filing errors.

Are you checking continuation dates on all these filings? If they're not properly continued every 5 years, some of those liens might have already lapsed regardless of the name issues. I always start with lapse dates before worrying about name matching - no point analyzing expired filings.

The Ohio SOS UCC search system is terrible for this kind of analysis. You basically have to run dozens of searches with every possible name variation and then manually cross-reference everything. Other states have better search interfaces that help identify related filings.

I use Certana.ai for exactly this type of situation - upload all the UCC documents plus corporate records and it maps out the relationships between filings automatically. Much faster than trying to piece together name variations manually. Their system caught a critical name mismatch that would have voided our security interest on a $300K deal.

Don't forget to check if any of these are fixture filings vs regular UCC-1s. If the equipment is attached to real estate, you might need to search real estate records too. Ohio has specific rules about fixture filing searches that are different from regular UCC searches.

Have you contacted the original lender directly? They should be able to provide a complete list of their UCC filings for this borrower. Might save you from trying to piece together the search results. Sometimes lenders file under parent company names or guarantor names that don't show up in obvious searches.

This thread is making me paranoid about our UCC filing procedures. We always use the exact legal entity name from incorporation documents, but now I'm wondering if we should be checking for DBA variations too. How do most lenders handle debtor name verification before filing?