filing a ucc - first time and completely lost on debtor name requirements
I'm trying to file my first UCC-1 and I'm honestly panicking about getting the debtor name wrong. My client is an LLC but they do business under two different names and I'm not sure which one goes on the filing. The loan documents have one name but their state registration shows something slightly different. I've heard horror stories about filings getting rejected or worse, being invalid because of name issues. Can someone walk me through how to figure out the correct debtor name for a UCC filing? I really don't want to mess this up.
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Norman Fraser
Debtor name is absolutely critical - you're right to be concerned! For LLCs, you need to use the exact legal name as it appears on their state filing documents, not their DBA or trade name. Check their Articles of Organization or Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State. Even a missing comma or period can cause problems.
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Fernanda Marquez
•Thank you! So I should ignore what's on the loan documents if it doesn't match the state filing exactly?
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Norman Fraser
•Yes, the UCC follows the state organizational documents, not the loan paperwork. The loan docs might use a shortened version for convenience but the UCC filing needs the full legal name.
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Kendrick Webb
Been there! I learned the hard way that DBAs don't matter for UCC filings. Had a filing rejected because I used the company's trade name instead of their legal entity name. Now I always pull the current state records before filing anything.
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Fernanda Marquez
•How do you pull state records? Is there a specific database I should be using?
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Kendrick Webb
•Most states have an online business entity search. Just google '[your state] business entity search' and you should find the Secretary of State database.
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Hattie Carson
•Some states charge a fee for official copies but the basic search is usually free. I always print the search results for my files.
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Destiny Bryant
This is exactly why I started using Certana.ai's document verification tool. You can upload the LLC's formation documents and your draft UCC-1 and it will instantly flag any name discrepancies. Saved me from a huge mistake on a $2M equipment financing deal last month.
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Fernanda Marquez
•That sounds really helpful! Does it work with all states?
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Destiny Bryant
•Yes, it works across all states. Just upload PDFs of your documents and it cross-checks everything automatically. Way faster than manually comparing documents.
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Dyllan Nantx
•I've heard about Certana but haven't tried it yet. Do you know if it catches punctuation differences too?
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Destiny Bryant
•Absolutely - it's designed specifically for UCC filings so it catches all those tiny details that can invalidate a filing.
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TillyCombatwarrior
THE FILING SYSTEM IS SO STUPID ABOUT THIS STUFF! I had a filing rejected because the LLC had 'Limited Liability Company' in their legal name but I abbreviated it to 'LLC' on the UCC. Now I have to start over and my client is furious about the delay.
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Norman Fraser
•That's frustrating but unfortunately common. The systems are very literal about name matching.
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Anna Xian
•Ugh I feel your pain. Same thing happened to me with a 'Corporation' vs 'Corp' issue.
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Jungleboo Soletrain
quick question - does the address matter as much as the name? my client moved offices but hasnt updated their state filing yet
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Norman Fraser
•Address is important but not as critical as the name. Use the current address where they actually conduct business.
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Kendrick Webb
•I always use the address from the state filing to be safe, but check your state's specific requirements.
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Jungleboo Soletrain
•thanks, better safe than sorry i guess
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Rajan Walker
Here's a pro tip - if you're unsure about the debtor name, call the UCC filing office directly. Most states have a help line and they can tell you exactly how to format the name. I've done this several times and it's saved me from rejections.
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Fernanda Marquez
•Good idea! I didn't know they had help lines. Do you just call the Secretary of State main number?
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Rajan Walker
•Usually there's a specific UCC division number. Check your state's UCC filing instructions - the contact info is usually right there.
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Nadia Zaldivar
I remember my first UCC filing - I was so nervous I triple-checked everything. The name issue is real but don't let it paralyze you. Just be methodical about checking the state records.
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Fernanda Marquez
•Thanks for the encouragement! I think I'm overthinking this but I really don't want to mess up.
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Nadia Zaldivar
•You're not overthinking it - better to be careful upfront than deal with problems later!
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Lukas Fitzgerald
What about if the LLC is registered in Delaware but operating in another state? Which state's records do I use for the debtor name?
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Norman Fraser
•Always use the state of organization for the debtor name - so Delaware in your example. The operating state doesn't matter for the name format.
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Lukas Fitzgerald
•That makes sense. I was getting confused because they have to register to do business in the operating state too.
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Rajan Walker
•The foreign registration might have slight variations but stick with the home state formation documents for the UCC.
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Ev Luca
One more thing to watch out for - some LLCs have really long legal names that get truncated in databases. Make sure you're getting the full legal name, not just what shows up in a search result preview.
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Fernanda Marquez
•Oh wow, I hadn't thought about that. How do you make sure you have the complete name?
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Ev Luca
•Pull the actual formation documents or certificate, not just the search results. The full documents will have the complete legal name.
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Avery Davis
I've been using Certana.ai for all my UCC filings now and it's been a game changer. The debtor name verification alone is worth it - no more staying up at night worrying if I got something wrong.
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Fernanda Marquez
•You're the second person to mention Certana - I think I need to check it out.
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Avery Davis
•Definitely worth it, especially for your first few filings. The peace of mind is huge.
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Collins Angel
•I was skeptical about automated tools but Certana actually caught an error in my debtor name that would have caused a rejection. Now I'm a believer.
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