UCC Document Community

Ask the community...

  • DO post questions about your issues.
  • DO answer questions and support each other.
  • DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
  • DO NOT post call problems here - there is a support tab at the top for that :)

Arnav Bengali

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Quick update for anyone following - I finally figured out the issue. The original UCC-1 was filed with 'Advanced Mfg Solutions LLC' instead of the full 'Manufacturing' spelling. Once I searched with the abbreviated version, all the continuation records showed up properly. Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

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Felicity Bud

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Perfect example of why document verification tools are so valuable. Would have caught that discrepancy immediately instead of spending hours manually searching.

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Definitely learned my lesson about being more systematic with name variations. This won't be the last time I deal with this type of issue.

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Mei Zhang

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This is such a common issue with Ohio's UCC database! I've found that creating a standardized checklist of name variations helps streamline the process. I always try: full legal name, abbreviated versions (Mfg, Corp, Inc vs Inc., LLC vs L.L.C.), with/without punctuation, and sometimes even check if there are typos in the original filing. The Ohio SOS system really needs an upgrade to handle fuzzy matching like other states do. For high-value deals like your $2.8M portfolio, it's definitely worth the extra time to be thorough with the search variations.

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This thread has been super helpful. I was about to panic-file a duplicate continuation, but now I'll just request the certified copy instead. It's reassuring to know this is a known system issue and not something wrong with my specific filing.

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Paolo Marino

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Yeah, knowing it's a widespread problem makes me feel less incompetent. I thought I'd made some huge mistake in my filing.

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Amina Bah

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Same here. I've been second-guessing everything about my UCC practice because of these search failures.

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Elijah Brown

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This is such a relief to read - I've been dealing with the exact same issue since April! Filed a UCC-3 continuation for a $1.2M equipment line and it completely vanished from search results despite having the confirmation receipt. I was starting to think I'd somehow messed up the debtor name or collateral description. The fact that they're acknowledging this as a system-wide problem and offering free certified copies is huge. I'm definitely calling tomorrow to get my documentation sorted before my lender starts asking questions. Has anyone had success with the advanced search option mentioned earlier, or is that affected by the same indexing issues?

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Just wanted to jump in as someone new to this community - this thread has been incredibly helpful! We're a smaller firm (about 20 UCC filings per month) and have been putting off the Wolters Kluwer migration because of horror stories like this. Sounds like the key takeaways are: 1) Always verify entity names against SOS databases before filing, 2) Consider using a document verification tool like Certana to catch inconsistencies early, and 3) Update collateral description templates to be more specific. For those using the Certana workflow - is there a learning curve or is it pretty straightforward to implement? We're trying to decide if we should bite the bullet and upgrade our process now or wait to see if Wolters Kluwer fixes these issues.

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Laila Prince

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Welcome to the community! Your takeaways are spot on. Regarding Certana - the learning curve is pretty minimal. It's basically just drag-and-drop your PDFs and wait for the verification report. Takes maybe 5 minutes to get familiar with the interface. Given what we've all been through with these Wolters Kluwer issues, I'd say don't wait for them to fix it. These name matching problems have been going on for months with no real improvement. Better to build the verification step into your process now while you have time to implement it properly, rather than scrambling when you're facing rejected filings during a busy closing period.

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CosmicCaptain

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As someone who just went through this exact migration nightmare last quarter, I can't stress enough how important it is to build verification into your workflow BEFORE you start having problems. We learned the hard way after getting 8 rejected filings in one week that nearly derailed a major deal closing. The Certana document verification approach mentioned here is solid - we've been using it for about 2 months now and it's become indispensable. What I'd add is to also keep a running log of the specific formatting quirks you encounter by state. We found that Texas LLCs need the periods (L.L.C.) while most other states prefer without, but there are always exceptions. Also pro tip: if you're doing a lot of Delaware entities, create a separate workflow just for those. They have the most inconsistent formatting in our experience, especially with Series LLCs and statutory trusts.

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This is really valuable insight - thank you for sharing your experience! I'm definitely going to implement the state-specific formatting log idea. That seems like it could save a lot of trial and error. Quick question: when you mention creating a separate workflow for Delaware entities, are you using different templates or just being extra careful with the verification step? We don't do a ton of Delaware deals but when we do, they're usually our biggest transactions so getting them right is critical.

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Really appreciate all the detailed advice in this thread! I'm going through a similar subordination situation right now and this has been incredibly helpful. One thing I'd add based on my experience so far - make sure to get clarity from both lenders about their preferred subordination agreement format BEFORE you start drafting anything. Our equipment lender had very specific language requirements that weren't compatible with our inventory lender's standard template, which caused delays while the lawyers worked out acceptable compromise language. Also, if you're working with an SBA lender like some folks mentioned, they often have additional documentation requirements beyond the standard UCC-3 filing that other lenders might not be familiar with. Getting everyone on the same page about documentation requirements upfront can save weeks of back-and-forth revisions.

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Zara Ahmed

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Great point about getting format preferences upfront! I'm just starting this process myself and wondering - when you say "specific language requirements," are we talking about legal terminology differences or more about the structure of how the subordination is described? Also, did you find that having the lawyers involved from the beginning actually sped things up compared to trying to work out the language differences yourselves first? I'm trying to decide whether to engage our attorney right away or attempt the initial draft ourselves.

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Felicity Bud

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@c4105ca4b227 I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! When you mention "specific language requirements," I'm curious if that was more about legal terminology or structural differences in how the subordination was described? Our equipment lender keeps talking about "intercreditor provisions" while our existing lender just wants a simple priority adjustment - feels like they're speaking different languages. Also wondering if having lawyers draft everything from scratch ended up being more cost-effective than trying to merge incompatible templates. I'm torn between engaging our attorney upfront versus attempting the initial negotiations ourselves to save on legal fees.

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Zara Rashid

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As someone who just completed a similar subordination process last month, I'd strongly recommend getting both lenders to commit to specific review timelines upfront before you start any drafting. We made the mistake of assuming our inventory lender could move as quickly as our equipment lender, and it ended up adding two weeks to our process when they needed board approval. Also, consider using a document verification service like Certana.ai early in the process - we caught several name discrepancies between our corporate documents and original UCC-1 that could have invalidated the subordination later. The key thing I learned is that partial subordination (which sounds like what you need) requires extremely precise collateral descriptions in both the agreement and UCC-3 filing. Don't rush this part even if you're under pressure to close - getting it wrong can create priority gaps that neither lender will accept.

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I've been in your exact shoes and know how terrifying this feels. Here's the reality: UCC filings are very specific about what they secure, and most equipment lenders only file against the actual equipment they financed. Your bank account is only at risk if their UCC-1 specifically lists "deposit accounts" or "all assets" in the collateral description. First step: go to your Secretary of State's website, search UCC filings by your business name, and look at what's actually listed as collateral. If it just says equipment or machinery, your operating account should be safe. Even if they do have broader security rights, they can't just drain your account without following proper legal procedures and giving notice. Most lenders prefer working out payment plans over the hassle of seizing assets. Take a deep breath, get the facts from the actual filing, and then call them to discuss options. This situation is almost certainly more manageable than it feels right now.

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Zoe Alexopoulos

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This thread has been incredibly helpful for someone like me who's never dealt with UCC filings before. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain the difference between what feels scary and what's actually legally possible. The consistent message that equipment lenders typically only secure the actual equipment they financed is reassuring. I'm going to follow the advice here - search the SOS database first, then compare with our loan docs, and finally have that conversation with the lender about a payment plan. It's clear that communication is better than avoidance in these situations.

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Mei Lin

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I can really feel your panic through your post, and I want you to know that what you're experiencing is completely normal - UCC filings sound terrifying when you don't understand them. Here's the key thing that should help you sleep better tonight: UCC liens only secure the specific collateral listed in the filing, not everything you own. Since this is an equipment lender, there's a very good chance their UCC-1 only covers the actual equipment they financed, not your bank accounts. Your first step should be searching your state's Secretary of State database for the UCC filing using your exact business name. Look for the "collateral description" section - if it only mentions equipment, machinery, or fixtures, your operating account is likely protected. Even if they did include broader language like "deposit accounts," they still can't just show up and drain your account without following specific legal procedures and providing notice. Most equipment lenders would much rather work out a payment plan than deal with the costs and complications of repossessing equipment. Once you've reviewed the actual filing, call them directly to discuss your situation - they're probably more willing to negotiate than you think. You're going to get through this, and your employees are going to get paid.

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Diego Rojas

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Thank you so much for this thoughtful and reassuring response. Reading through all these comments has really helped me understand that my panic was getting ahead of the actual facts. The consistent message from everyone who's been through this is that equipment lenders typically only secure against the actual equipment, not operating accounts. I'm feeling much more grounded now and ready to take the practical steps everyone has outlined - starting with that SOS database search to see what's actually in the filing. Your point about lenders preferring payment plans over repossession costs makes a lot of sense from a business perspective. I really appreciate how this community came together to help someone who was clearly freaking out about something they didn't understand.

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