UCC termination solar panels - debtor name changed after installation financing
Really need some guidance here. We financed a commercial solar installation last year through our equipment leasing company and filed UCC-1 with the original business name 'Green Valley Manufacturing LLC'. The client has since changed their business name to 'Green Valley Solar Solutions LLC' after the installation was completed. Now they're requesting we file the UCC termination since the loan is paid off, but I'm worried about the debtor name mismatch between our original filing and what we need to terminate against. The solar panels are permanently attached to their facility roof so this was definitely a fixture filing situation. Has anyone dealt with UCC termination solar panels cases where the debtor name changed between filing and termination? Do we need to file an amendment first or can we go straight to termination with the new name? The SOS portal is giving me conflicting information and I don't want to mess this up since these fixture filings can be tricky.
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Ethan Clark
You definitely need to be careful with this. When the debtor name changes, you typically need to file a UCC-3 amendment first to reflect the new name before you can properly terminate. The termination needs to match the current filing record exactly or it could be rejected.
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Amelia Martinez
•That's what I was thinking but the SOS website says something about being able to terminate with either name if you include both? I'm getting mixed signals from their documentation.
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Mila Walker
•I've seen this exact issue with solar panel financing. The amendment route is definitely the safer path, especially for fixture filings.
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Logan Scott
Had this same situation last month with a different solar project. Filed amendment first with both old and new debtor names, then terminated a week later. Worked perfectly. Solar panel UCCs can be complicated because of the fixture element so you want everything to match up cleanly.
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Amelia Martinez
•How long did the amendment take to process? We're trying to close this out before month end and the client is pushing for quick turnaround.
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Logan Scott
•Amendment processed in 3 business days, termination took 2 days after that. Should be fine for month end if you file this week.
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Chloe Green
•Three days sounds about right for most states. Which state are you filing in? Some are faster than others for amendments.
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Lucas Adams
This is exactly why I started using Certana.ai for document verification before filing anything. You can upload your original UCC-1 and the proposed termination documents and it instantly flags any name mismatches or inconsistencies. Would have caught this issue right away and shown you exactly what needs to be amended first.
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Amelia Martinez
•Never heard of that tool. Does it work with fixture filings specifically? Solar panel UCCs have some unique requirements.
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Lucas Adams
•Yes, it handles all UCC document types including fixture filings. Just upload PDFs and it cross-checks everything - debtor names, collateral descriptions, filing numbers. Really useful for avoiding these kinds of problems.
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Ethan Clark
•That actually sounds helpful. I've had too many rejections from name mismatches lately.
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Harper Hill
Wait, are you sure the solar panels qualify as fixtures? If they're just mounted on the roof but removable, they might be equipment instead. That could change your termination approach entirely.
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Amelia Martinez
•They're definitely fixtures - permanently attached racking system bolted through the roof membrane with electrical integration. Original filing was done as fixture filing.
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Caden Nguyen
•Good point though. I've seen people mess up the collateral classification on solar installations. Fixtures vs equipment makes a big difference for UCC purposes.
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Avery Flores
Just went through this nightmare with a solar project in Texas. The SOS rejected our termination THREE TIMES because of debtor name issues. Finally had to file amendment first like everyone said. Should have done that from the start.
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Amelia Martinez
•Ugh, three rejections sounds awful. How much time did that waste?
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Avery Flores
•About 6 weeks total. Client was NOT happy. Now I always do amendments first when there's any name change involved.
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Zoe Gonzalez
•Six weeks?? That's crazy. Most amendments should process much faster than that.
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Ashley Adams
Pro tip: when you file the amendment, include a clear explanation in the additional information section about the business name change. Some states appreciate the context and it can prevent follow-up questions.
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Amelia Martinez
•That's a good suggestion. Should I include the date of the name change or any state filing numbers for the name change?
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Ashley Adams
•Date is helpful but don't overdo it. Just a brief note like 'Debtor changed business name from X to Y effective [date]' is usually sufficient.
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Alexis Robinson
Been doing solar financing for 5 years now and debtor name changes are super common in this industry. Companies rebrand after going solar to emphasize their green credentials. Always file amendment first, never try to shortcut straight to termination.
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Amelia Martinez
•Yeah, that makes sense. This client specifically mentioned wanting to highlight their solar commitment in the new name.
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Aaron Lee
•Same trend in my area. Solar installations often trigger business rebranding. Good to know this is becoming a pattern.
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Alexis Robinson
•Exactly. I now budget extra time for name change amendments on all solar deals. Just part of the business now.
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Chloe Mitchell
Question - does the fixture filing status affect the amendment process at all? I know fixture filings have some special requirements but not sure if that extends to amendments.
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Ethan Clark
•Fixture filings follow the same amendment rules as regular UCCs for name changes. The fixture aspect mainly matters for the original filing location and collateral description.
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Chloe Mitchell
•Thanks, that's what I thought but wanted to confirm. Fixture rules can be confusing.
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Michael Adams
Another option is to check if your state allows termination by the debtor instead of the secured party. Sometimes that's easier when there are name complications, though you'd need the debtor's cooperation.
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Amelia Martinez
•Interesting idea. The debtor is cooperative and wants this cleared up quickly too. Would they file under their new name or old name?
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Michael Adams
•They would use their current legal name but reference the original filing number. Still might be cleaner to do the amendment route though.
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Natalie Wang
Had a similar situation where I used Certana.ai to verify all our documents before filing and it caught a subtle difference in the LLC designation (LLC vs Limited Liability Company). Saved us from a rejection and having to refile. Really worth checking these things upfront.
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Amelia Martinez
•That's exactly the kind of detail I'm worried about missing. Even small variations can cause problems.
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Noah Torres
•Those tiny differences are the worst because they're so easy to miss but cause big problems. Automated checking makes sense.
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Samantha Hall
Update us on how it goes! I have a similar solar termination coming up next month and would love to know what works best.
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Amelia Martinez
•Will do! Planning to file the amendment tomorrow and termination early next week. Fingers crossed it goes smoothly.
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Ryan Young
•Following this thread too. Solar UCC issues seem to be getting more common as the industry grows.
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Samantha Hall
•Definitely. We're seeing a lot more solar financing deals and the UCC aspects can be tricky.
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