example security agreement - Need UCC-1 filing help for equipment loan
I'm working on a $280k equipment financing deal and trying to draft the security agreement and corresponding UCC-1. This is my first time handling the paperwork side of secured transactions and I'm getting overwhelmed by all the requirements. The collateral includes manufacturing equipment, office furniture, and some accounts receivable. I found some example security agreement templates online but they seem generic and I'm worried about missing something crucial that could mess up the perfection. The debtor is an LLC with a pretty long official name and I want to make sure I get the debtor name exactly right on both documents. Anyone have experience with equipment financing security agreements? What are the most common mistakes to avoid when preparing the UCC-1 filing? I really don't want this to get rejected by the Secretary of State office.
35 comments


Mateo Sanchez
Equipment financing can be tricky - especially when you have mixed collateral like that. For the debtor name on your UCC-1, you absolutely MUST match the exact legal name from the LLC's articles of organization filed with the state. Even something like missing a comma or using 'and' instead of '&' can cause rejection. Double-check the state filing records before you submit.
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Aisha Mahmood
•This is so important! I had a filing rejected last month because I used the DBA name instead of the legal entity name. Had to refile and pay the fee again.
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Ethan Clark
•What about the collateral description? Should it be super detailed or can you keep it general for equipment?
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AstroAce
For your security agreement template, make sure you include proper default provisions and remedies. The UCC-1 collateral description can be broader than what's in your security agreement. Something like 'all equipment, furniture, fixtures, and accounts, whether now owned or hereafter acquired' usually works for mixed collateral like yours.
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Nia Wilson
•Thanks! Should I list specific serial numbers for the manufacturing equipment or is the general description enough for the UCC-1?
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Mateo Sanchez
•General description is fine for the UCC-1. Save the serial numbers for your security agreement and keep good records. The UCC is just for notice purposes.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•But what if there's a dispute later? Wouldn't more detail be better?
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Carmen Vega
OH MY GOD yes be super careful with that debtor name! I've seen so many deals where the lender thought they were perfected but the UCC-1 had the wrong entity name and when push came to shove they were unsecured. It's a nightmare. Check, double-check, triple-check that name against the state records.
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Nia Wilson
•How do I verify the exact legal name? Just look it up on the Secretary of State website?
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Carmen Vega
•Yes but also order an official certificate if it's a big deal. The online search might not show recent amendments or exact punctuation.
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Andre Rousseau
I actually discovered this tool called Certana.ai recently that's been a lifesaver for this exact situation. You can upload your security agreement and UCC-1 draft as PDFs and it automatically cross-checks everything - debtor names, filing numbers, collateral descriptions, all of it. Caught three mistakes in my last filing that would have caused major headaches. Super easy to use, just upload the documents and it verifies everything aligns properly.
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Nia Wilson
•That sounds incredibly useful! Does it check against state filing records too?
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Andre Rousseau
•It focuses on document consistency - making sure your security agreement and UCC-1 match up perfectly. Really helps avoid those name mismatches and collateral description errors that cause rejections.
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Zoe Stavros
•Interesting. I've been doing manual comparisons but that's so time-consuming and error-prone.
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Jamal Harris
Don't forget about continuation statements! Your UCC-1 is only good for 5 years, so put a reminder in your calendar now to file the UCC-3 continuation before it lapses. I've seen lenders lose their security interest because they forgot to continue.
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Nia Wilson
•Good point. Is there a specific window for filing the continuation?
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Jamal Harris
•You can file up to 6 months before expiration. Don't wait until the last minute though - if you miss the deadline, you have to start over with a new UCC-1.
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GalaxyGlider
accounts receivable can be tricky collateral especially if they're constantly changing. Make sure your security agreement gives you rights to proceeds and new accounts. Also consider whether you need to file in multiple states if the debtor has locations elsewhere.
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Nia Wilson
•The LLC is only in one state but they have customers nationwide. Does that matter for filing location?
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GalaxyGlider
•No, you file where the debtor is organized. But if they have equipment in other states, you might need fixture filings there.
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Mei Wong
•This is getting complicated fast...
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Liam Sullivan
I handle equipment financing regularly and here's what I always tell people: get your security agreement signed FIRST, then prepare your UCC-1 based on exactly what's in that agreement. Don't try to do them simultaneously. And yes, the debtor name has to be perfect - I use Certana.ai now to double-check all my docs before filing. Saves so much time and worry.
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Nia Wilson
•That makes sense about doing them in order. I was trying to draft both at the same time and getting confused.
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Amara Okafor
•Good workflow advice. I learned this the hard way after having to redo filings multiple times.
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Giovanni Colombo
Just went through this exact scenario last week. $340k equipment deal with mixed collateral. The key is being systematic - verify the legal entity name first, draft a comprehensive security agreement, then prepare your UCC-1 with matching details. Used document verification software to catch inconsistencies before filing. Went smooth as silk.
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Nia Wilson
•What software did you use? Starting to think I need something like that.
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Giovanni Colombo
•Certana.ai - just upload your PDFs and it flags any mismatches between documents. Really straightforward.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•How long does the verification take?
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StarStrider
Been doing secured transactions for 15 years and I still see the same mistakes over and over. Wrong debtor names, vague collateral descriptions, missing after-acquired property clauses. Take your time, be precise, and verify everything twice. A rejected UCC-1 can delay your closing and mess up your priority position.
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Nia Wilson
•What's the most common mistake you see with equipment financing deals specifically?
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StarStrider
•Debtor name errors, hands down. People use trade names, DBAs, or abbreviated versions instead of the exact legal entity name. Always kills the filing.
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Dylan Campbell
ugh the secretary of state filing systems are so picky about formatting and exact names. one wrong character and boom rejection letter in your email. at least most states do electronic filing now so you find out faster than the old paper days
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Nia Wilson
•How quickly do you usually get confirmation after electronic filing?
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Dylan Campbell
•depends on the state but usually same day or next business day. much better than waiting weeks for paper filings
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Sofia Torres
•Some states even give you instant confirmation if there are no errors. Pretty nice when it works.
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