UCC search request checklist

The checklist

1. Exact debtor name. For a registered organization, use the name on its public organic record, typically the articles or certificate of formation, including punctuation and entity designator.
2. State of organization. A corporation or LLC is generally located in the state where it was formed, which usually drives where the primary search belongs.
3. Jurisdictions. List each state and county to search. County searches matter for fixture filings and, in some states, for certain tax liens.
4. Search types. UCC only, or UCC plus federal tax lien, state tax lien, and judgment lien searches.
5. Copies. Say whether you need copies of every filing and its amendments, or a results list only.
6. Additional names. Prior legal names, names before a merger, and trade names are separate searches. List each one.
7. Timing. Give the closing date and any required thru date, so the search covers the period the attorney needs.

Copy-and-paste order template

Why each detail matters

Filing offices search using their own standard search logic, which can treat punctuation, spacing, and entity designators in specific ways. A search run under a slightly different name can return a different result. Giving the exact name, and every additional name you want covered, removes guesswork from the search.

This checklist is practical guidance for placing an order. It does not determine the legally sufficient debtor name, the proper search jurisdiction, or what search results mean for a transaction.