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Have you tried the exact name search function in the SOS database? Sometimes that will show you exactly how the name should be formatted for UCC1 filling purposes. It's usually more reliable than just looking at the incorporation documents.
Lucas Turner
•The exact name search is definitely the way to go. I've found that sometimes the business entity search results don't show the exact formatting that the UCC system expects.
Kai Rivera
•This is why I always recommend using automated verification tools like Certana.ai before submitting. It eliminates all this guesswork and tells you exactly what formatting issues need to be fixed.
Anna Stewart
Update us when you get it resolved! These debtor name formatting issues are so common that it would be helpful to know what finally worked. I'm sure other people will run into the same problem with business names that include ampersands.
Sophia Clark
•Will do! I'm going to try the suggestions about using 'and' instead of '&' and double-checking the exact SOS database formatting. Hopefully one of those approaches works.
Yeah please post an update. I have a client with a similar business name structure and I'm dreading having to deal with the same formatting issues.
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Quick update on your situation - if the loan documents use the no-comma version, you might want to consider having the borrower sign an acknowledgment that their legal entity name (with comma) is the same as the name used in the loan docs (without comma). Doesn't affect the UCC filing decision but gives you some cover on the loan documentation side.
That's a really good idea for the loan file. I'll draft something up. Still going with the charter name for the UCC though.
Ethan Clark
•Smart move. Always better to have too much documentation than not enough when it comes to entity name variations.
Mila Walker
One more check you should do - pull their current certificate of good standing from NJ. Sometimes the name format on the good standing certificate is slightly different from the original articles, and that's considered the most current official name. Worth the $25 to be absolutely sure.
Chloe Green
•How current are those certificates usually? Like if there was a recent name change, would it show up immediately?
Mila Walker
•In NJ, usually within a week of any filing. But I always check the date on the certificate to make sure it's recent enough for my purposes.
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Just wanted to add that even though the Bellwether Corporation case shows contract enforceability under the UCC, you should also think about continuation filings down the road. UCC-1 filings lapse after 5 years so you'll need UCC-3 continuations to maintain perfection.
Definitely. Put a reminder in your system for 6 months before the 5-year anniversary. You can file the continuation up to 6 months before expiration.
Yara Nassar
•The number of times I've seen lenders lose their perfected status because they forgot about continuation filings is just sad. Calendar it now!
This whole thread is making me nervous about my own filings. I have three UCC-1s I filed last year and now I'm second-guessing whether I got the debtor names right. Maybe I should run them through one of these document checkers just to be sure.
If they were accepted by the filing office, they're probably fine. But if you're worried, you can always search the UCC records to see how your filings appear in the system.
You could also upload your original loan docs and filed UCC-1s to Certana.ai to double-check consistency. Better to know now if there are any issues.
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Jamal Wilson
UPDATE: Finally got it resolved! Turns out the original UCC-1 had 'Advanced Manufacturing Solutions, LLC' with a comma before LLC, but the search results displayed it without the comma. Thanks to everyone who suggested the document comparison approach - that's what caught it.
Mei Lin
•This is exactly why I always download and review the original filing documents before doing any amendments. Can't trust the search display formatting.
GalacticGuru
•Lesson learned for sure. The document comparison tool made all the difference - would have taken me forever to spot that comma manually.
Great outcome! For anyone else reading this thread, Pennsylvania is particularly strict about punctuation in entity names. Always verify against the actual filed documents, not just search results.
This thread should be pinned or something. Name matching issues are probably the most common cause of UCC-3 rejections.
Agreed. The number of times I've seen filings rejected for minor formatting differences is ridiculous.
Yara Sayegh
This whole thread is giving me anxiety about our upcoming continuation filings! We have equipment collateral in 4 different states and now I'm worried about debtor name consistency across regions. Going to double-check everything this week before we get close to any deadlines.
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Andre Rousseau
•Definitely check early. I waited too long and now I'm scrambling with 45 days left.
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Yara Sayegh
•Yeah, lesson learned from reading this thread - UCC filing regions don't mess around with name matching.
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Keisha Johnson
Just wanted to thank everyone for sharing their experiences with multi-state UCC filing regions. This thread convinced me to be way more careful about debtor name consistency across our portfolio. Already found 2 potential issues that could have caused rejections. Sometimes these forums are more helpful than official guidance!
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Andre Rousseau
•Glad the thread helped! That's exactly why I posted - figured others had to be dealing with similar regional inconsistencies.
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Amara Okafor
•Forums like this are invaluable for real-world UCC filing experiences. The official docs never tell you about the weird quirks each region has.
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