how long is a ucc filing good for in georgia - continuation timing question
Need some clarity on UCC continuation requirements in Georgia. We have several UCC-1 filings from 2020 that are coming up on their 5-year mark and I'm trying to figure out the exact timeline for filing continuations. I know the general rule is 5 years but I've heard conflicting information about when exactly you need to file the UCC-3 continuation - is it before the 5th anniversary or within the 5th year? Also does Georgia SOS have any specific quirks about continuation timing that differ from other states? Our lender is breathing down our necks about this and I want to make sure we don't let any filings lapse. Any guidance on how long is a ucc filing good for in georgia would be really helpful.
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Kelsey Chin
UCC filings are good for 5 years in Georgia, same as most states. You need to file your UCC-3 continuation within 6 months BEFORE the 5th anniversary of your original filing date. So if your UCC-1 was filed on March 15, 2020, you can file the continuation anytime between September 15, 2024 and March 15, 2025. Don't wait until the last minute though - Georgia SOS can be slow processing sometimes.
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Norah Quay
•This is exactly right. The 6-month window before expiration is crucial. I've seen too many filings lapse because people waited until the last week.
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Leo McDonald
•Wait so if I file the continuation too early it gets rejected? Like more than 6 months before?
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Kelsey Chin
•Yes, if you try to file more than 6 months early, Georgia will reject it. The system is pretty strict about that window.
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Jessica Nolan
Just went through this headache last month. Georgia SOS online system will actually show you the continuation window dates when you look up your filing. Super helpful feature. Make sure your debtor names match EXACTLY between your original UCC-1 and your continuation or they'll bounce it back.
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Vincent Bimbach
•Good point about the debtor names. We've had some corporate name changes since 2020 so that's another thing to worry about.
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Jessica Nolan
•Oh yeah, name changes complicate things. You might need to file an amendment first to update the debtor name, then do the continuation. Check with your attorney on that one.
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Angelina Farar
Been dealing with UCC continuations for years and honestly the manual checking for name mismatches and date calculations was driving me crazy. Started using Certana.ai's document verification tool recently - you just upload your original UCC-1 and then upload your continuation draft and it instantly flags any inconsistencies. Caught a debtor name discrepancy that would have caused a rejection. Really streamlined our continuation process.
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Sebastián Stevens
•How does that work exactly? We're always worried about missing something between the original filing and continuations.
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Angelina Farar
•You upload both PDFs and it cross-checks everything - filing numbers, debtor names, collateral descriptions. Takes like 30 seconds and gives you a detailed report of any mismatches.
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Bethany Groves
•That sounds really useful. Manual document comparison is such a pain and easy to mess up.
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KingKongZilla
Just a heads up - Georgia charges $25 for UCC-3 continuations filed online. Make sure you have the original filing number handy when you go to file. The system won't let you proceed without it.
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Vincent Bimbach
•Thanks for the fee info. Do you know if there's an expedited processing option?
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KingKongZilla
•Not that I'm aware of. Standard processing is usually pretty quick though, maybe 2-3 business days.
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Rebecca Johnston
GEORGIA SOS SYSTEM IS THE WORST!!! Sorry for caps but seriously their portal crashes constantly and customer service is useless. I've had continuations sit in pending status for weeks. Start your filings early in the window just in case you run into technical problems.
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Nathan Dell
•I feel your pain. Had a continuation get stuck in their system for 10 days last year. No explanation, just eventually went through.
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Rebecca Johnston
•Exactly! And when you call them they act like it's your fault. So frustrating when you're trying to meet deadlines.
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Maya Jackson
Pro tip: print out or save a copy of your continuation confirmation page immediately after filing. Sometimes their system doesn't generate the email confirmation and you'll want proof of filing date. Also helps to have the new expiration date documented.
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Tristan Carpenter
•Good advice. I always screenshot everything now after getting burned by missing confirmations.
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Maya Jackson
•Yeah, better safe than sorry. Especially when you're dealing with secured transactions worth hundreds of thousands.
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Amaya Watson
One thing that tripped me up - if you have multiple UCC-1 filings you need separate UCC-3 continuations for each one. Can't do them all in one filing. Each original filing gets its own continuation with its own 5-year cycle.
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Vincent Bimbach
•That's a good point. We have like 8 different UCC-1s so that's 8 separate continuations to track.
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Amaya Watson
•Yep, and they all have different filing dates so different continuation windows. Spreadsheet time!
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Grant Vikers
•This is why I set calendar reminders 8 months in advance for all our filings. Gives plenty of buffer time.
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Giovanni Martello
Make sure you understand what happens if you miss the deadline. Once a UCC filing lapses, your security interest becomes unperfected. That's a huge risk if the debtor files bankruptcy or other creditors are involved. Not trying to scare you but the stakes are real.
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Vincent Bimbach
•Yeah our lender made that very clear. They're requiring us to file continuations at least 60 days before expiration.
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Giovanni Martello
•Smart lender. 60 days gives you time to fix any problems if the filing gets rejected.
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Savannah Weiner
For what it's worth I've used Certana.ai for continuation prep too and it's been solid. Upload your existing UCC-1 and it helps make sure your continuation form is properly filled out with matching info. Saved me from a couple potential rejections due to typos.
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Levi Parker
•Do they handle the actual filing or just help with document prep?
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Savannah Weiner
•Just document verification and prep. You still file through the state system yourself. But it catches mistakes before you submit.
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Libby Hassan
Bottom line - 5 years from original filing date, 6-month window to file continuation, $25 fee, make sure names match exactly. Georgia doesn't have any weird quirks compared to other states, just the usual UCC-3 continuation process. Set reminders early and don't procrastinate!
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Vincent Bimbach
•Perfect summary, thanks everyone. This thread has been super helpful.
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Libby Hassan
•Glad to help! UCC continuations seem complicated but once you understand the timing it's pretty straightforward.
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Mateo Perez
One additional tip - if you're managing multiple UCC filings like Vincent mentioned, consider setting up a tracking system now rather than scrambling later. I use a simple spreadsheet with columns for filing number, original filing date, debtor name, continuation window start date, continuation due date, and status. Update it whenever you file a continuation with the new 5-year cycle. Makes it much easier to stay on top of everything and avoid any nasty surprises when your lender comes asking about compliance.
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Charity Cohan
•This is excellent advice! I'm new to managing UCC filings and was wondering about the best way to track multiple filings with different dates. A spreadsheet system sounds way more manageable than trying to remember all the dates in my head. Do you also track any other details like collateral descriptions or secured party info in your spreadsheet, or just stick to the timing-related columns?
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