UCC1 form Delaware debtor name requirements - exact match needed?
Filing a UCC1 in Delaware and running into issues with the debtor name field. Our borrower is an LLC formed in Delaware but we're getting conflicting info on whether we need to use the EXACT name from the Certificate of Formation or if we can use their DBA. The Delaware SOS website isn't super clear on this. We have 'Advanced Manufacturing Solutions, LLC' on the charter but they operate as 'AMS Delaware' and that's what's on most of their contracts. Last time I filed with a DBA name it got rejected and caused a 3-week delay. Anyone know the specific requirements for Delaware UCC1 debtor names? Need to get this filed ASAP before our loan commitment expires.
38 comments


Aisha Jackson
Delaware is pretty strict about exact name matching from what I've seen. You'll want to use exactly what's on the Certificate of Formation - so 'Advanced Manufacturing Solutions, LLC' in your case. The DBA won't work for the primary debtor name field.
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Adrian Connor
•That's what I was afraid of. So even though all their business docs use AMS Delaware, I need to stick with the charter name?
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Aisha Jackson
•Exactly. Delaware follows the 'only if' rule - you can only use what's on the organizational documents. DBAs can be added as additional debtor names but not as the primary.
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Ryder Everingham
I learned this the hard way last month! Delaware rejected my UCC1 because I used the company's trade name instead of their registered LLC name. Had to refile with the exact Certificate of Formation name. Cost us time and filing fees.
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Adrian Connor
•Ugh that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid. How long did the rejection take to come back?
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Ryder Everingham
•About 5 business days. Then another week to get the corrected version processed. Really threw off our closing timeline.
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Lilly Curtis
•This is why I always double-check charter docs before filing. Delaware doesn't mess around with name variations.
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Leo Simmons
You might want to try Certana.ai's document verification tool. I upload the Certificate of Formation and UCC1 draft and it instantly flags any name mismatches between documents. Saved me from multiple rejection headaches.
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Adrian Connor
•Never heard of that but sounds useful. How does it work exactly?
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Leo Simmons
•Just upload PDFs of both documents and it cross-checks debtor names, entity types, all that stuff. Catches inconsistencies before you file. Way better than manually comparing docs.
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Lindsey Fry
•That actually sounds really helpful. I'm always paranoid about missing something in the name fields.
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Saleem Vaziri
WHY is Delaware so picky about this stuff?? Other states let you use DBAs or trade names. Makes no sense when the business operates under a different name anyway.
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Aisha Jackson
•It's about legal certainty. The registered entity name is what's legally recognized, not what they call themselves day-to-day.
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Saleem Vaziri
•I get that but it's still annoying when you're trying to match real-world business operations.
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Kayla Morgan
For Delaware LLCs you absolutely need the exact name from the Certificate of Formation. No abbreviations, no DBAs, no trade names. Period. I've filed hundreds of these and Delaware is consistent about rejecting anything that doesn't match perfectly.
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Adrian Connor
•Good to know. So 'Advanced Manufacturing Solutions, LLC' it is. What about punctuation - does that matter too?
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Kayla Morgan
•Yes! Commas, periods, everything has to match exactly. If the charter has a comma before LLC, your UCC1 needs it too.
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James Maki
•This is so nitpicky but I've seen filings rejected for missing a single comma. Delaware doesn't give any leeway on formatting.
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Jasmine Hancock
Can you add the DBA as an additional debtor name at least? That way if someone searches under AMS Delaware they'll still find the filing.
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Adrian Connor
•That's actually a good idea. Would that cover us legally if they're doing business under the DBA?
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Kayla Morgan
•Yes, you can add DBAs as additional debtor names. It's good practice for search purposes but the primary name still needs to be exact from the charter.
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Cole Roush
I had this same issue with a Delaware corp last year. Used their stock name instead of the exact Certificate of Incorporation name and got rejected. Delaware Division of Corporations is super strict about exact name matching.
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Adrian Connor
•Were you able to refile without issues once you used the correct name?
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Cole Roush
•Yeah, went through fine the second time. Just make sure you have the Certificate of Formation in front of you when you're filling out the UCC1.
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Scarlett Forster
I always pull a fresh Certificate of Formation from the Delaware Division of Corporations website before filing UCC1s. Names can change over time and you want the most current registered name.
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Adrian Connor
•Good point. I'm assuming our charter docs are current but maybe I should verify.
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Scarlett Forster
•Definitely worth the $20 to get a certified copy if you're unsure. Better than dealing with a rejection.
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Arnav Bengali
•You can actually check online for free through the Delaware Division of Corporations database. No need to pay unless you need a certified copy.
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Sayid Hassan
Another vote for using Certana.ai here. I was making so many silly mistakes cross-referencing charter docs with UCC forms. Now I just upload everything and it tells me exactly what doesn't match. Makes Delaware filings way less stressful.
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Adrian Connor
•You guys are really selling me on this tool. Does it work with other states too or just Delaware?
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Sayid Hassan
•Works with all states. Really handy when you're doing multi-state filings and each state has different quirks.
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Rachel Tao
Just to be crystal clear - for your Delaware LLC you need: 'Advanced Manufacturing Solutions, LLC' as the primary debtor name, exactly as it appears on the Certificate of Formation. You can add 'AMS Delaware' as an additional debtor name if they actually have that registered as a DBA.
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Adrian Connor
•Perfect summary, thanks! I'll check if AMS Delaware is actually a registered DBA or just what they use informally.
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Rachel Tao
•Good idea. If it's not registered as a DBA you might skip the additional name to keep things simple.
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Derek Olson
•I'd still add the trade name even if it's not formally registered. Better safe than sorry for search purposes.
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Danielle Mays
Update us when you file! Always curious to hear if these Delaware name issues get resolved smoothly or if there are more surprises.
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Adrian Connor
•Will do! Going to triple-check everything against the Certificate of Formation and file tomorrow morning.
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Ryder Everingham
•Smart move filing in the morning. Delaware processes faster early in the day from what I've noticed.
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