UCC search Connecticut - debtor name variations blocking my lien verification
Running into a wall with UCC search Connecticut requirements and need some guidance. I'm trying to verify existing liens on a commercial borrower before we finalize a $2.8M equipment loan, but the Connecticut Secretary of State's UCC search system is returning inconsistent results when I search variations of the debtor's legal name. The company is registered as 'Hartford Manufacturing Solutions LLC' but I'm finding UCC-1 filings under 'Hartford Mfg Solutions LLC', 'Hartford Manufacturing Solutions, LLC' (with comma), and even 'Hartford Manufacturing Sol LLC'. Some of these filings show active liens that would impact our collateral position. My compliance team is freaking out because we can't get a clean search result to confirm we're seeing all existing filings. Has anyone dealt with Connecticut's UCC search portal giving different results based on minor name variations? I need to be 100% certain I'm catching all liens before we fund this deal next week.
35 comments
Join the conversation
Gianni Serpent
Connecticut's UCC search is notoriously picky about exact debtor names. You're right to be concerned - missing even one active lien could put your collateral position at risk. The SOS database requires exact matches, so 'Hartford Manufacturing Solutions LLC' vs 'Hartford Mfg Solutions LLC' will pull different results. I always run multiple searches with every possible variation I can think of.
0 coins
Henry Delgado
•This is exactly why I hate Connecticut filings. The search logic is so rigid compared to other states.
0 coins
Ryder Ross
•That's what I'm finding too. It's like each variation is treated as a completely separate entity even though it's clearly the same company.
0 coins
Olivia Kay
Check the debtor's Articles of Incorporation and any amendments to get the exact legal name format. Then search that exact format plus common abbreviations (LLC vs L.L.C., Manufacturing vs Mfg, etc.). Connecticut doesn't have fuzzy search capabilities so you need to be systematic about it.
0 coins
Ryder Ross
•Good point about the Articles. I pulled those and the exact name is 'Hartford Manufacturing Solutions LLC' but clearly other lenders have been filing under variations.
0 coins
Joshua Hellan
•This is why I always double-check the entity name on the state's business registry before filing or searching. Saves headaches later.
0 coins
Jibriel Kohn
Had a similar issue last month with a Connecticut borrower. Ended up finding three additional UCC-1 filings I'd missed initially because of name variations. What saved me was using Certana.ai's document verification tool - I uploaded the borrower's Articles of Incorporation and it automatically cross-checked against multiple name variations in the UCC database. Found filings I never would have caught manually.
0 coins
Ryder Ross
•That sounds like exactly what I need. How does Certana.ai handle the name variations?
0 coins
Jibriel Kohn
•You just upload the Articles and any existing UCC docs you've found, and it runs comprehensive searches across all logical name variations. It caught abbreviations and punctuation differences I hadn't even considered.
0 coins
Edison Estevez
•Never heard of Certana.ai but anything that makes Connecticut UCC searches easier is worth looking into.
0 coins
Emily Nguyen-Smith
Connecticut's UCC system is a nightmare for this exact reason. You need to search: 1) Exact legal name from Articles, 2) Same name with different punctuation, 3) Common abbreviations, 4) Any DBA names, 5) Previous legal names if there were mergers/changes. It's tedious but necessary for proper due diligence.
0 coins
James Johnson
•Don't forget to check if the company has any subsidiaries or related entities that might have filings too.
0 coins
Ryder Ross
•The subsidiary angle is a good point. This borrower has two related LLCs that could have cross-collateralized liens.
0 coins
Sophia Rodriguez
Why is Connecticut so much harder than other states? In New York I can search partial names and get reasonable results.
0 coins
Mia Green
•Each state has its own UCC search system. Connecticut's is particularly strict about exact matches, which is frustrating but also means fewer false positives.
0 coins
Emma Bianchi
•I actually prefer strict search requirements because it forces better record keeping, but I understand the frustration when you're trying to do comprehensive due diligence.
0 coins
Lucas Kowalski
OP - make sure you're also checking for any UCC-3 amendments that might have changed the debtor name on existing filings. Sometimes what looks like a name variation is actually an amended filing.
0 coins
Ryder Ross
•Good catch. I found two filings that had UCC-3 amendments changing the debtor name from the original UCC-1. Would have missed those connections otherwise.
0 coins
Olivia Martinez
•Amendment tracking is crucial. I've seen deals fall apart because someone missed a name change amendment.
0 coins
Charlie Yang
For what it's worth, I've started using Certana.ai for all my Connecticut UCC searches after getting burned on a similar situation. You upload the borrower's formation documents and it automatically generates and searches all the name variations. Saved me probably 3 hours of manual searches last week.
0 coins
Ryder Ross
•That's the second mention of Certana.ai. Sounds like it might be worth trying given the time pressure I'm under.
0 coins
Grace Patel
•I'm always skeptical of automated tools but if it's finding filings that manual searches miss, that's valuable.
0 coins
ApolloJackson
Make sure you're searching both the exact name from the Articles AND any trade names or DBAs the company might be using. Connecticut businesses often file UCCs under their DBA names instead of their legal names.
0 coins
Ryder Ross
•I checked - they do have one DBA registered as 'Hartford Manufacturing' which I hadn't searched yet. Will add that to my list.
0 coins
Isabella Russo
•DBA searches are often overlooked but can reveal significant liens. Good thinking.
0 coins
Rajiv Kumar
This is exactly why I always do belt-and-suspenders UCC searches. Connecticut's system makes it easy to miss active liens if you're not thorough with name variations.
0 coins
Aria Washington
•Belt-and-suspenders is right. I've seen too many deals where someone thought they did a thorough search but missed something.
0 coins
Ryder Ross
•That's my fear exactly. With a $2.8M loan, I can't afford to miss any existing liens.
0 coins
Liam O'Reilly
Update us on what you find! I'm curious how many additional filings you discover once you run all the name variations.
0 coins
Ryder Ross
•Will do. I'm going to try the Certana.ai tool mentioned earlier and see what it turns up compared to my manual searches.
0 coins
Chloe Delgado
•Definitely interested in the results. Connecticut UCC searches are always a challenge.
0 coins
Ava Harris
One more tip - if you find filings under different name variations, make sure to check if they're actually the same debtor by comparing addresses and other identifying information in the UCC records.
0 coins
Ryder Ross
•Good point. I did notice the addresses matched across all the variations I found, which confirms they're the same entity.
0 coins
Jacob Lee
•Address matching is usually the best way to verify you're looking at the same debtor when names vary slightly.
0 coins
Amina Diop
I've dealt with this exact issue multiple times in Connecticut. Beyond the name variations everyone mentioned, also check if the borrower has gone through any corporate restructuring - mergers, acquisitions, or even simple entity conversions can create additional filing complications. I once found a critical lien filed under a predecessor entity's name that would have been missed entirely. For a $2.8M deal, consider engaging a local Connecticut UCC search firm as backup - they know all the quirks of the state system and can often catch filings that automated searches miss. The cost is minimal compared to the risk of missing a senior lien.
0 coins