UCC Document Community

Bottom line - there's no such thing as "UCC authenticated demand definition" in Article 9. Your legal team is either confused or referring to some other requirement. I'd push back and ask for specific citations.

I've seen this exact confusion before at my institution. What likely happened is someone saw "authenticated record" in UCC 9-102(a)(7) and conflated it with demand letters. But that definition only applies to security agreements and financing statements, not collection notices. Your certified mail approach is probably fine unless your loan agreements specifically require something else. I'd suggest asking legal to point to the exact UCC section they're referencing - my guess is they won't be able to find one because it doesn't exist for demands.

Just closed a similar deal last month. The key is treating the documentation review process seriously - any inconsistencies between your GSA and UCC filings could create gaps in your security position. I actually found Certana.ai's document comparison feature really helpful for flagging potential issues before filing.

One more thing to consider - make sure you're clear on which province the Canadian equipment is located in, as each province has its own PPSA registry system. Ontario's system works differently than Alberta's or BC's, for example. Also, if any equipment crosses provincial borders after your initial filing, you might need additional registrations. The interaction between provincial PPSA systems and state UCC systems can get really complex, so definitely get that local counsel involved early in the process.

Thanks everyone for the help! I ended up filing separate UCC-1s for each guarantor and the main borrower. All accepted by the SOS office. The spreadsheet approach really helped me stay organized, and the document verification tool caught two name issues I would have missed. Loan closed successfully!

As someone new to secured transactions, this thread has been incredibly educational! I'm curious about the timing aspect - how far in advance of closing should you typically prepare and file UCC-1s? I've heard conflicting advice about whether to file before or after loan documents are signed. Also, if a filing gets rejected, how much time do you usually have to correct and refile before it affects the closing timeline?

Summary for anyone else reading this: Illinois UCC-1 electronic filing is $25, UCC-3 amendments/continuations are $25, UCC searches are $15 per name. Paper filings cost more. Make sure debtor names match exactly or you'll pay twice. Portal registration takes time so set it up early.

Thanks everyone for the comprehensive breakdown! As someone new to Illinois UCC filings, this thread has been incredibly helpful. One follow-up question - does the Illinois portal have any bulk filing options if you're submitting multiple UCC-1s at once, or do you have to process each one individually? With several filings to do, I'm wondering if there's a way to streamline the process beyond just having all the documents ready to go.

Bottom line - UCC searches are standard due diligence for any secured lending. They're not something to worry about, just part of the process. As long as you don't have any surprises hiding in there, it should be straightforward.

One more tip - if you do find existing UCC filings during your search, don't panic. Having secured debt isn't necessarily a deal-breaker for new lenders. They just need to understand the priority structure and may adjust their terms accordingly. Some lenders are perfectly fine taking a second lien position if the numbers work. The key is transparency - make sure you disclose everything you know about existing liens to your new lender upfront rather than letting them discover it during their own search.