how do i check my ucc filings in florida - need help with search system

The Florida Department of State has an online UCC search system that's actually pretty straightforward once you know how to use it. You can search by debtor name OR by filing number. For debtor name searches, you need to be really precise with the spelling and formatting because the system is picky about exact matches. If you're getting weird results, it's probably because there are slight variations in how the debtor name was entered versus how you're searching. Try searching with just the core business name without LLC, Inc, etc. The system also lets you search by secured party name if you remember how your company name appears on the filings.

OMG yes the Florida UCC search is so frustrating! I spent hours trying to find our filings last month. The trick is to go to the Department of State Division of Corporations website and look for the UCC search link. You can search by debtor name, secured party, or filing number. But like the previous poster said, the name has to be EXACT. I found filings I thought were missing just because of punctuation differences.

I had this exact same problem last year when I was doing a lien audit for our portfolio. Here's what I learned: Florida's UCC database is updated pretty regularly, but there can be delays. If you filed recently, it might not show up immediately. For continuation deadlines, you really need to track those yourself because the system won't remind you. I created a spreadsheet with all our filing numbers and expiration dates. You can usually find the lapse date right on the search results. Also, if you're worried about missed continuations, you can file a UCC-3 continuation even if you think you're close to the deadline, as long as it's within the 6-month window before expiration.

The Florida UCC search system is terrible compared to other states. I swear it's designed to make you give up. But here's what works: when you search by debtor name, try different combinations. Sometimes they file under 'ABC Company LLC' and sometimes just 'ABC Company'. Also, if you have the original UCC-1 filing, the file number should be on there and that's the most reliable way to search. The file numbers in Florida usually start with the year, so 2023 filings start with 23, etc.

Why is everyone acting like this is rocket science?? Just go to the Florida Secretary of State website and click on UCC search. Type in the company name. If it doesn't come up, try a different spelling. It's not that complicated.

I feel your pain on this. Last year I discovered that three of our UCC-1 filings had lapsed because I wasn't tracking the continuation deadlines properly. Cost us thousands in legal fees to clean up the mess. Now I check our filings quarterly and keep a detailed spreadsheet. One thing that helped was requesting copies of all our filings from the Secretary of State office. Sometimes the online search doesn't show everything, especially if there were amendments or corrections filed.

Here's a pro tip: if you're having trouble finding your filings, try searching by your company name as the secured party instead of searching by debtor name. Sometimes that's easier because you probably know exactly how your company name appears on the filings. Once you find one filing, you can see how they formatted the debtor name and use that for other searches.

I've been doing UCC filings in Florida for over 10 years and the online system has definitely improved, but it's still not perfect. One thing to watch out for is that amendments and continuations create separate records in the system. So if you filed a UCC-3 amendment, you might need to search for that separately. Also, if you're really concerned about missing filings, you might want to consider having a UCC search company do a comprehensive search for you. They have access to additional databases and can catch things you might miss.

Can someone explain why the Florida UCC system is so much harder to use than other states? I've done searches in Georgia and Texas and they're much more user-friendly. Florida's system seems like it was designed in 1995 and never updated.

I just want to follow up on this thread because I think I figured out my problem. I was searching in the wrong section of the website. There's a difference between the 'Business Entity Search' and the 'UCC Search'. I was using the business entity search which is why I couldn't find my UCC filings. Once I switched to the actual UCC search section, I found most of my filings. Still having trouble with a couple but at least now I know I'm looking in the right place. Thanks everyone for the help!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been using the Florida UCC search system for a few months but I keep running into issues with name variations. One thing I discovered is that if you're searching for a business that might have changed names or merged with another entity, you might need to search under the old name too. The UCC filing stays under whatever name was used when it was originally filed, even if the business has since changed its legal name. Also, for anyone still struggling with the search - I found that removing all punctuation (commas, periods, apostrophes) from the debtor name sometimes helps. The system can be really picky about special characters.