lexis ucc search showing outdated results - missing recent filings
Running into a weird issue with lexis ucc search results. I'm doing due diligence on a potential acquisition target and the Lexis search is only pulling up filings from 2022 and earlier, but I know for a fact there were UCC-1 filings made in 2024 because I saw references to them in the company's loan docs. Has anyone else noticed Lexis lagging behind on recent UCC updates? This is making me nervous about relying on their database for the transaction. The target company has equipment financing and I need to make sure I'm seeing all active liens before we close. Are there better alternatives for comprehensive UCC searches that actually capture current year filings?
37 comments


ShadowHunter
Lexis has been having sync issues with several state databases lately. What state are you searching? Some states like Delaware and Texas have been particularly slow to update in their system.
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Chloe Taylor
•It's a multi-state search but the main operations are in Illinois and Michigan. The Illinois filings seem current but Michigan is definitely behind.
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Diego Ramirez
•Michigan SOS has been migrating their database systems this year. That could explain the lag time you're seeing in third-party services.
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Anastasia Sokolov
I've started double-checking Lexis results by going directly to the state filing offices online. It's more work but at least you know you're getting real-time data. For acquisitions you really can't afford to miss active liens.
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Sean O'Connor
•This is exactly why I stopped trusting any single search platform. Direct state searches are the only way to be 100% sure.
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Chloe Taylor
•Good point but with 12 states to check that's going to take forever. There has to be a better way to verify comprehensive results.
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Zara Ahmed
Had this exact problem last month on a $2M equipment deal. Turns out Lexis was missing three UCC-1 continuations that were filed in early 2024. Almost cost us the deal when they surfaced during final title work. Now I always verify through multiple sources before signing off on lien searches.
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Chloe Taylor
•That's terrifying. What sources do you use for verification now?
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Zara Ahmed
•I actually found this tool called Certana.ai that cross-checks UCC documents by uploading PDFs. You can upload the company's loan docs and it instantly flags any discrepancies with what shows up in public searches. Caught those missing continuations immediately.
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Luca Conti
•Never heard of Certana but sounds useful for due diligence work. Is it specifically designed for UCC verification?
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Nia Johnson
Lexis search reliability has definitely gone downhill. We're paying premium prices for incomplete data. I've been thinking about switching to a different service entirely.
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ShadowHunter
•What alternatives are you considering? Most of the major services seem to have similar lag issues.
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Nia Johnson
•Looking at some of the newer platforms that claim real-time updates. But honestly the only foolproof method is probably direct state searches combined with document verification tools.
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CyberNinja
This is why I always tell clients that UCC searches are just the starting point, not the final answer. You need to verify everything through multiple channels, especially for high-stakes transactions.
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Chloe Taylor
•What's your typical verification process look like? I need to put together a more robust system.
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CyberNinja
•I start with Lexis or similar, then do direct state searches, then use document verification tools to cross-check everything. The document verification step is crucial - I upload all the loan agreements and UCC forms to Certana.ai to make sure there are no name mismatches or filing inconsistencies that could void the security interests.
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Mateo Lopez
Are you searching the exact legal name as it appears on the debtor's formation documents? Sometimes the issue isn't with Lexis but with slight name variations that don't pull up in searches.
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Chloe Taylor
•Good question. I'm using the name from their articles of incorporation but maybe there are DBA filings I'm missing.
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Mateo Lopez
•Exactly. Also check for any amendments to the articles that might have changed the legal name. UCC filings are super sensitive to exact name matches.
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Anastasia Sokolov
•This is another area where document verification tools help. They can flag when the debtor name on a UCC filing doesn't exactly match the entity name on formation docs.
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Aisha Abdullah
ugh lexis is so expensive for what you get. there has to be cheaper options that actually work better
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Zara Ahmed
•Cheaper isn't always better when you're dealing with secured transactions. Missing a lien can cost way more than premium search fees.
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Aisha Abdullah
•true but if the expensive service isnt even showing current filings whats the point
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Ethan Davis
I've noticed Lexis seems to batch update their UCC data rather than doing real-time feeds. That could explain why you're missing recent 2024 filings. Their next update cycle might capture them.
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ShadowHunter
•That's not acceptable for time-sensitive due diligence though. If they're batching updates they should be transparent about their refresh schedule.
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Ethan Davis
•Agreed. For critical searches I always supplement with direct state database checks and document verification to catch anything that might be missing from the commercial services.
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Chloe Taylor
•The document verification angle makes sense. I should be cross-referencing the actual loan documents against what shows up in searches.
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Yuki Tanaka
Have you tried running the search with different name variations? Sometimes adding or removing LLC, Inc, etc can pull up different results in Lexis.
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Chloe Taylor
•I tried a few variations but maybe not comprehensive enough. Will try more combinations.
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CyberNinja
•This is where automated document checking really helps. Instead of guessing at name variations, tools like Certana.ai can verify whether the names on your documents match exactly with what's been filed publicly.
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Carmen Ortiz
For what it's worth, I've had better luck with some of the state-specific search services rather than the national aggregators like Lexis. They tend to be more current with their own state's data.
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Nia Johnson
•That makes sense but becomes impractical when you're dealing with multi-state searches like OP mentioned.
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Carmen Ortiz
•True, but for critical deals it might be worth the extra effort to ensure you don't miss anything important.
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Luca Conti
•Or use a combination approach - national service for initial screening, then state-specific verification for the most important jurisdictions.
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MidnightRider
Just wanted to add that if you're seeing references to 2024 UCC-1 filings in loan documents, make sure you're also checking for any UCC-3 amendments or continuations that might have been filed. Sometimes the original filing shows up but the modifications don't sync properly in third-party databases.
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Chloe Taylor
•That's a great point. I was mainly focused on the initial filings but you're right about amendments and continuations.
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MidnightRider
•Exactly. The whole chain of UCC documents needs to be verified to get the complete picture of what liens are actually active and properly perfected.
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