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Equipment financing deals always make me nervous because there are so many potential lien sources. Beyond the UCC-11 search, make sure you're also checking for mechanic's liens, tax liens, and any equipment leases that might not show up in the UCC records. Michigan has some quirky rules about fixture filings too if any of the machinery is permanently attached.
Fixture filings should show up in UCC-11 searches but they're also recorded in real estate records. I'd check both just to be safe, especially for permanently installed equipment.
Michigan requires fixture filings to be recorded in both the UCC records and the real estate records where the property is located. Don't assume the UCC search will catch everything.
Update: Finally got through a complete search by breaking it down into tiny chunks like everyone suggested. Found three active UCC-1s that weren't showing up in my previous incomplete searches. Portal is still terrible but at least I got the results I needed. Thanks for all the advice - definitely going to look into that Certana.ai tool for future searches.
This is exactly why thorough UCC searches are so critical. Those three filings could have derailed your entire deal if you'd missed them.
Alicia Stern
•Definitely check out Certana.ai for your next search. Really makes the verification process much easier and more reliable.
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I had a similar issue with a different state last year. Turned out the original filer had made a typo in the debtor name and nobody caught it until we were doing due diligence. Had to file a UCC-3 amendment to correct the name before we could proceed. Check if any of these variations might be typos that need correction.
In WV it was pretty quick - filed electronically and got confirmation within 24 hours. But you'll want to verify the corrected name matches your loan documents exactly.
Make sure to keep the original filing number when you amend. Don't file a new UCC-1 or you'll lose priority from the original filing date.
Rajan Walker
This thread is so helpful. I'm bookmarking it because I know I'll run into this issue again. The WV system really needs an overhaul to handle these name matching problems better.
Agreed. It's frustrating that we have to work around these system limitations instead of having reliable search functionality.
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Maya Lewis
This exact thing happened to me with a Delaware corporation filing in NC. The issue was that Delaware corporations sometimes have different name formats in different state databases. I had to use NC's foreign corporation registration name instead of the Delaware charter name.
Maya Lewis
•Yeah check their Certificate of Authority to transact business in NC. That name format is what NC's UCC system expects.
Good catch! Foreign corporations often have slight name variations in different states.
Isaac Wright
After reading all this I'm definitely going to try that Certana tool mentioned earlier. I do a lot of UCC filings and name matching errors are my biggest frustration. Anything that can catch those before I submit would be worth it.
It really does save time. I wish I had found it sooner instead of learning the hard way with rejections.
Isaac Wright
•Same here. These kinds of preventable errors just eat up so much time that could be spent on actual legal work.
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Don't forget to check if the original UCC-1 had any amendments that might have updated the debtor information. Sometimes there are UCC-3 amendments on file that have more current contact details.
Zoe Stavros
•Good catch! I'll search for any amendments to that filing number. I was so focused on the original UCC-1 that I didn't think to check for updates.
Paolo Conti
•Yeah amendment searches are easy to forget but they can save you a lot of trouble if someone already updated the key information.
Mei Chen
This thread is really helpful. I'm dealing with a termination issue too where the debtor moved states but I wasn't sure if I could use their new address. Sounds like as long as the legal name matches exactly I should be okay to update the contact info.
Jamal Harris
•Exactly right. The debtor name has to be identical to the original filing, but contact information can be updated to reflect current details.
Amina Diallo
•Just make sure you're not changing the legal entity type or anything like that. Contact updates are fine, but structural changes to the debtor identity need to be handled differently.
StarSeeker
For continuation filings, you might want to consider doing them early rather than waiting until the last minute, especially if you're having search issues. I always file continuations at least 2-3 months before the expiration date to avoid any last-minute problems with the system being down.
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StarSeeker
•Yeah, it's saved me several times when there were portal outages or filing backlogs during busy periods.
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Sean O'Donnell
•Plus it gives you time to fix any rejections or problems with the filing before the deadline.
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Zara Ahmed
I wonder if this is related to the state's recent system upgrade? Sometimes when they migrate to new platforms, there are temporary issues with search functionality. Might be worth checking if they posted any notices about system maintenance or upgrades.
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Zara Ahmed
•Yeah, sometimes they bury those notices in obscure parts of their website.
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Luca Esposito
•I checked their website yesterday and didn't see anything about ongoing maintenance, but that doesn't mean much.
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