UCC statement service manchester ct - need help with debtor name verification
Running into a wall here with a UCC filing situation. We've got a commercial loan where the borrower relocated their main operations from Hartford to Manchester last year, and now I'm seeing some inconsistencies between our original UCC-1 and what should be on the continuation we need to file. The debtor's legal name on the charter shows one thing, but their DBA filings in Manchester show slightly different formatting. I'm worried about a name mismatch that could invalidate our security interest. Has anyone dealt with Connecticut SOS rejections due to debtor name discrepancies? The loan is substantial enough that we can't afford to have our lien position compromised. What's the best way to verify we're using the exact correct debtor name format for the UCC continuation? This needs to be bulletproof.
29 comments
Join the conversation
Miguel Silva
CT can be pretty strict about exact name matching. You'll want to pull the most recent charter from the Secretary of State's office first - that's your baseline. DBAs don't typically affect the legal entity name for UCC purposes, but the formatting absolutely matters. Even something like 'Inc.' vs 'Incorporated' can cause problems.
0 coins
StarSailor}
•That's what I was afraid of. The original UCC-1 was filed 3 years ago and I think we used a shortened version of the name. Now looking at the current charter, there are additional words that weren't there before due to some corporate restructuring.
0 coins
Zainab Ismail
•Restructuring can definitely complicate things. If the legal entity changed, you might need an amendment rather than just a continuation. Have you confirmed the entity is still the same legal person?
0 coins
Connor O'Neill
I've been through this exact scenario with CT filings. What you need to do is run a UCC search against both name versions to see what's currently on file, then compare that to your security agreement. The key is making sure your continuation matches exactly what's in the existing UCC-1 record.
0 coins
StarSailor}
•Good point about the UCC search. I should verify what's actually in the system vs what I think we filed. Do you know if CT allows you to search by filing number to see the exact name format they have on record?
0 coins
Connor O'Neill
•Yes, you can search by filing number through their online portal. That'll show you exactly how the debtor name appears in their system. Just make sure you use that exact format for your continuation.
0 coins
Yara Nassar
•This is why I always triple-check names before filing anything. One missed comma or abbreviated word and you're looking at a rejected filing or worse, an unperfected security interest.
0 coins
Keisha Robinson
Had a similar issue last month with a client who moved operations between CT towns. Found out about this tool called Certana.ai that actually lets you upload your original UCC documents and charter docs to check for inconsistencies automatically. Saved me hours of manual comparison and caught a middle initial discrepancy I would have missed. Just upload the PDFs and it flags any mismatches between the documents.
0 coins
StarSailor}
•That sounds exactly like what I need. Is it specifically designed for UCC document verification? We've got the original security agreement, UCC-1, and the current charter - sounds like it could compare all of them?
0 coins
Keisha Robinson
•Yeah, that's exactly what it does. You can upload your UCC-1 and charter documents and it'll cross-reference the debtor names automatically. Really helpful for catching those small formatting differences that can kill a filing.
0 coins
GalaxyGuardian
•Interesting. I've been doing manual document comparison for years. How accurate is the automated matching? Does it understand the nuances of legal entity naming conventions?
0 coins
Paolo Ricci
Whatever you do, don't guess on the debtor name. I've seen too many situations where people thought they had it right and ended up with an unperfected lien. CT SOS will reject anything that doesn't match their records exactly. Better to pay for a professional UCC search if you're unsure.
0 coins
Amina Toure
•Absolutely this. The cost of getting it wrong far exceeds the cost of getting it right. Professional searches aren't that expensive compared to the loan amount at risk.
0 coins
StarSailor}
•You're both right. This loan is way too important to mess around with. I'm going to pull the official records and verify everything matches before filing the continuation.
0 coins
Oliver Zimmermann
CT has gotten more strict about name matching in recent years, especially after some court cases highlighted perfection issues. The good news is their online portal is pretty reliable for searching existing filings. Just make sure you're looking at the most current information.
0 coins
Natasha Volkova
•Do you know if there's a specific timeframe we should be concerned about? Like, how recent does the charter information need to be for UCC purposes?
0 coins
Oliver Zimmermann
•For continuation purposes, you want the name to match what's in the existing UCC-1 record. But if there's been a legal name change since the original filing, that's when you'd need to consider an amendment instead.
0 coins
Javier Torres
•This is getting complicated. Is there a way to file both a continuation and an amendment at the same time to cover all bases?
0 coins
Emma Davis
I work with Manchester businesses regularly and location changes within CT usually don't affect the legal entity name for UCC purposes. The key is whether the actual legal entity name changed vs just the business address. Sounds like you need to focus on the charter name vs what was originally filed.
0 coins
StarSailor}
•That's reassuring. The move was just operational - same corporation, same charter. My concern is whether we abbreviated the name on the original UCC-1 when we should have used the full legal name.
0 coins
CosmicCaptain
•Common mistake. A lot of people use shortened versions thinking it's cleaner, but UCC filings need to be precise. The full legal name from the charter is usually the safest bet.
0 coins
Malik Johnson
Another vote for using document verification tools. I tried that Certana thing someone mentioned earlier and it's pretty slick. Upload your docs and it highlights any name discrepancies automatically. Beats staring at documents trying to spot differences manually.
0 coins
Isabella Ferreira
•How does it handle things like punctuation differences or spacing variations? Those seem to be common causes of filing rejections.
0 coins
Malik Johnson
•It catches those kinds of formatting issues too. Really thorough comparison that looks at exact character matching between documents.
0 coins
Ravi Sharma
The bottom line is you need to be 100% certain about the debtor name before filing that continuation. CT doesn't give you much wiggle room on name matching. Get the current charter, compare it to your existing UCC-1, and if there's any doubt, consult with someone who specializes in UCC filings.
0 coins
StarSailor}
•Agreed. I think I'm going to pull all the official documents first, then use one of those automated verification tools to double-check everything before submitting the continuation. Can't afford to get this wrong.
0 coins
Freya Thomsen
•Smart approach. Taking the extra time upfront to verify everything is always worth it when you're dealing with substantial loans and security interests.
0 coins
Miguel Silva
•Let us know how it turns out. Always good to hear about real-world experiences with CT UCC filings, especially when there are name verification issues involved.
0 coins
Malik Robinson
I've handled similar Connecticut UCC name verification issues before. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - when you pull that UCC search by filing number, also check if there were any amendments filed after your original UCC-1. Sometimes intermediate amendments can change how the debtor name appears in the system, which could affect what you need to match for your continuation. Also, CT allows you to call their UCC division directly if you have questions about specific filings - they're usually pretty helpful about clarifying name matching requirements for your particular situation. Given the loan size you mentioned, it might be worth that phone call for peace of mind.
0 coins