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A UCC lien search reveals UCC-1 financing statements filed against a business's assets. Under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, secured commercial lenders — banks, equipment finance companies, factors, and merchant cash advance providers — file UCC-1 statements to publicly perfect their security interest and establish priority over collateral. A UCC search shows you who has already claimed which assets, which is critical before extending any new secured credit or buying a business.
UCC searches are a standard step in commercial loan underwriting, M&A due diligence, trade credit decisions, equipment financing, and factoring deals. Lenders run them before closing to confirm collateral isn't already pledged. Buyers run them during M&A to surface undisclosed debt. Factors run them to confirm they can take a first-position lien on receivables. Bankruptcy professionals use them to identify secured creditors with priority claims.
A UCC-1 filing has five key elements: the debtor's exact legal name and address, the secured party (creditor) name and address, a collateral description, the filing date, and the lapse date. UCC-1s lapse five years from the filing date unless a continuation statement is filed in the six-month window before expiration. Collateral descriptions range from specific (a piece of equipment with serial number) to broad blanket language like "all assets, now owned or hereafter acquired."
UCC liens are voluntary security interests against business personal property, filed at the state level. Tax liens are involuntary and filed by the IRS or state tax agencies, usually at the county recorder. Judgment liens arise from lawsuits and are also filed at the county level. Mechanic's liens are against real property for unpaid construction work. Searchadex covers UCC filings — for the others, check county recorder or court records directly.
Search UCC-1 financing statements to identify existing liens on business assets. Used daily by lenders, attorneys, factors, and investors before closing any commercial deal.
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