lien search ucc - need help finding all active filings on equipment collateral

This is why I always do searches on at least 5-6 name variations minimum. Better safe than sorry when you're talking about equipment purchases.

Agree but it gets expensive fast if you're paying per search. Some states charge like $15-25 per search name.

Which state were you dealing with? Some are notorious for strict name matching requirements.

Ohio. Their system is pretty strict about exact matches. Delaware is much more forgiving with fuzzy matching.

Good point about fixtures. Manufacturing equipment bolted to concrete pads can sometimes be filed as fixture filings rather than standard UCC-1s.

How do you determine if something should be searched as a fixture filing vs regular UCC? The line seems pretty blurry sometimes.

Generally if it's permanently attached or integrated into the real estate it could be a fixture. When in doubt, search both the UCC records and the real estate records.

Never heard of that tool. Does it actually search the UCC databases or just verify document consistency?

It verifies document consistency - so you upload the charter documents and any UCC filings you've found and it flags discrepancies in debtor names, addresses, etc. Still need to do the actual searches yourself but it helps ensure you're not missing variations.

That sounds exactly like what I need. Been manually comparing documents and it's tedious as hell.

How long is the typical lag? Planning a closing next week and want to make sure I'm not missing anything recent.

Varies by state but usually 1-3 business days for electronic filings. Paper filings can take longer. I'd do a final search the day before closing just to be safe.

Smart approach. The secured party info is usually more consistent than debtor names.

Also check the filing numbers - they should be sequential if filed around the same time by the same party.

Good point. Amendments can really change the scope of what's covered. Always need to read the whole chain of filings.

And don't forget continuation statements. A UCC-1 from 2019 should have been continued by now if it's still active.

Exactly. The 5-year rule catches a lot of people off guard. Always check the original filing date and look for continuation statements.

This is solid advice. Keep detailed records of your search methodology in case you need to prove you did reasonable due diligence.

I always print out the search results with timestamps. Electronic records can sometimes be hard to recreate later.

How do you typically identify related entities? Corporate records searches?

Start with secretary of state corporate filings, then check for any cross-default provisions in existing loan documents. Sometimes the parent company guarantees subsidiaries' debts.

This is getting complicated fast. Might need to bring in a professional search company for this deal.

What's the threshold where you'd recommend going professional vs DIY?

Personally I go professional for anything over $500K in equipment value or if there are complex corporate structures involved. Below that it's usually cost-effective to do it yourself.

That Certana tool mentioned earlier might be a good middle ground - gets you some automation without the full cost of a professional search firm.