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- DO post tips & tricks to help folks.
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Avery Flores
I've started using a document verification service for this kind of thing. Upload your paperwork and it flags inconsistencies automatically. Saved me from a major filing error last month when it caught a debtor name mismatch I completely missed.
Avery Flores
•Certana.ai - you just upload PDFs and it cross-checks everything. Really straightforward to use.
Zoe Gonzalez
•I'll have to check that out. Manual document comparison is such a pain and it's easy to miss things.
Ashley Adams
Bottom line is Oklahoma's UCC search is unreliable right now. I'd recommend doing multiple search variations AND calling their office to confirm any critical filings you can't find. Better safe than sorry when it comes to continuation deadlines.
Emma Johnson
•Good advice. I'd rather spend the extra time now than deal with a lapsed UCC-1 later.
Agreed. When the system is flaky like this, redundant verification is the only way to be sure.
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I'd recommend using one of those document verification tools before filing. We started using Certana.ai after getting burned on a few name mismatches and it's saved us from several potential rejections. You upload your security agreement and UCC-1 draft and it flags any inconsistencies automatically.
Yeah, especially with Capital One loans where you might have the original loan docs, security agreement, and guaranty forms all with slightly different entity names. The tool catches stuff that's easy to miss in manual review.
Mia Alvarez
•Exactly what happened to us. Had three different documents with three slightly different versions of the debtor name. Would have been a mess without automated verification.
Caleb Stark
Whatever you do, don't overthink the collateral description. Capital One's standard language has been tested in courts and SOS offices across the country. If it's in their security agreement, it'll work for your UCC-1.
That's reassuring. I was getting worried about being too general but sounds like their language is tried and tested.
Caleb Stark
•Yep, banks like Capital One don't use language that hasn't been thoroughly vetted by their legal teams.
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Niko Ramsey
I still buy paper forms occasionally for backup purposes, but 90% of our filings are electronic now. The time savings alone justifies the switch.
That's smart to have paper backups. System outages always happen at the worst times.
Niko Ramsey
•True, though most state systems have pretty good uptime now. And you can usually file after hours electronically which is nice.
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Whatever approach you use, document everything! Keep records of when you searched, what databases you checked, and what results you got. Your client will want this for their files and it protects you if something gets missed. Also consider getting UCC insurance if the deal size justifies it.
Agree on documentation. We create a detailed search report for every entity showing exactly what we checked and when. CYA is critical in M&A work.
Exactly. Better to over-document than get blamed later for missing something. Mass corp UCC searches are complex enough without adding liability concerns.
Justin Trejo
Don't forget to check for UCC-1 continuation filings if you find older liens. A UCC-1 expires after 5 years unless continued, so something filed in 2019 might look active but could actually be lapsed if not properly continued. This is especially important in mass corp UCC searches where you're dealing with lots of entities and time periods.
Alana Willis
•This is so important! We've seen deals where everyone assumed old UCC filings were still valid but they'd actually lapsed. Always check the continuation status.
Tasia Synder
•Great point about continuation filings. With 200+ entities this is definitely something I need to track carefully. Thanks for the reminder.
Dallas Villalobos
The real issue here is that state UCC search portals are designed terribly. They show you the original filings but make it nearly impossible to see the current status without digging through related documents. It's like they want to make lien searches as confusing as possible.
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Saanvi Krishnaswami
•Because then they couldn't charge you extra fees for certified copies and detailed filing histories. It's all about revenue generation.
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Demi Lagos
•That's probably true but complaining about it doesn't help solve the immediate problem. You still need to verify which liens are active before moving forward with your financing.
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Mason Lopez
UPDATE: I went back and checked each filing individually. Found termination statements for 2 of the 4 UCC-1 filings, so only 2 are actually still active. The process took about an hour but at least now I know which liens I'm dealing with. Thanks for the advice everyone!
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Jake Sinclair
•Good work on following through. A lot of people skip this step and end up with problems later.
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Brielle Johnson
•For next time, those document verification tools people mentioned might save you some of that manual checking time. Just a thought for future UCC searches.
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