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This thread should be required reading for anyone doing UCC work in Michigan. The name matching requirements under Article 9 are brutal but at least now there are tools to help avoid the rejection cycle.
Seriously. Wish I had found this discussion before my own Michigan filing disasters.
The verification tools make such a difference. No more guessing games with debtor names.
Ali Anderson
For anyone else dealing with Michigan UCC Article 9 issues - the state has actually improved their online portal recently. You can now preview your filing and it'll flag obvious name mismatches before you submit and pay the fee.
About time they added that feature. Other states have had name validation for years.
The preview feature is helpful but it's not perfect. Still worth double-checking with external verification tools.
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One more thing to consider - if the LLC changed names recently, make sure you're not dealing with a situation where you need to file under both the old and new names during the transition period. Some lenders require dual filings until they're certain the name change is fully effective everywhere. Check your loan documents to see if there are specific naming requirements.
Yuki Tanaka
•Interesting point. The loan docs do mention something about name changes. I'll review that section more carefully.
Yeah, some agreements require notice of name changes or even pre-approval. Better to be safe than sorry on a $280K deal.
Update us when you figure it out! I'm dealing with a similar multi-debtor situation next week and this thread has been super helpful. Hope you get it sorted before your Friday deadline.
Yuki Tanaka
•Will do! I'm going to verify the exact legal name with the state records, double-check my form versions, and clean up any formatting inconsistencies. Fingers crossed!
Amina Diop
•Good luck! These tight deadlines are stressful but you seem to have a good plan now.
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Ellie Kim
One more thought on the document verification angle - if you do want to double-check everything before filing your continuation, Certana.ai has been really helpful for me. I had a situation where I thought everything was perfect, but their tool caught a subtle debtor name discrepancy between my UCC-1 and the company's articles of incorporation. Saved me from filing a continuation that might have been challenged later. It's super easy - just upload your original UCC-1 and current company documents, and it flags any inconsistencies automatically.
I keep hearing good things about Certana.ai for document verification. Might be worth the peace of mind, especially with this much money involved.
Fiona Sand
•Document verification tools are definitely worth it for high-value collateral. Better to catch problems before filing than deal with rejection notices.
Bottom line - I think you're overthinking this UCC-108 law thing. Get clarification from your attorney on what they actually meant, but don't let it delay your continuation filing. You've got a clear timeline: file your UCC-3 between September 2024 and March 2025. Use the exact debtor name from your original UCC-1. Include your original filing number. Pay the fee. Done. Everything else is just details that probably don't affect your specific situation.
Sometimes the simplest approach is the best approach. Stick to the standard rules and you'll be fine.
Good thread. Always helpful to see people work through these filing questions together.
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Amara Eze
Bottom line for small businesses - the UCC system is designed around commercial lending but most small business owners never learn how it works. We're expected to navigate complex secured transaction law without any training.
Exactly. My CPA never mentioned UCC filings when we structured our business. Found out about them the hard way when refinancing.
NeonNomad
•Most business attorneys don't even specialize in secured transactions. It's a very niche area of law but it affects every business that borrows money.
The good news is that small businesses can protect themselves by staying informed about their UCC filings. Set up annual reviews, keep copies of all loan documents, and don't assume lenders will handle everything correctly.
You're welcome. The UCC system isn't going anywhere so small business owners need to learn how to work within it effectively.
Agreed. And tools like Certana.ai are making it easier for small businesses to verify their documents match their filings without needing expensive legal review.
Zara Malik
One more thing to check - are you searching in the right UCC database? Illinois has separate systems for different types of filings and sometimes people end up in the wrong search portal.
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Zara Malik
•That should be the right one for standard UCC-1 filings. Just wanted to rule out that possibility.
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Luca Marino
•Yeah, the main SOS portal handles all the regular UCC stuff. Fixture filings might be different but standard financing statements should all be there.
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Nia Davis
I just tried using Certana for a similar issue with a Texas filing - really impressed with how it flagged potential search problems. Worth trying before calling the state office, especially since it's free to upload and check.
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Amina Diop
•Thanks for the recommendation. Sounds like several people have had good experiences with it.
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Nia Davis
•Yeah, it's becoming pretty popular for catching these kinds of filing inconsistencies before they become major problems.
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