FAQ's and Support

What does “UCC” mean?

“UCC” stands for Uniform Commercial Code. The Uniform Commercial Code is a uniform law that governs commercial transactions, including sales of goods, secured transactions and negotiable instruments. The Uniform Commercial Code is a comprehensive set of statutes created to provide consistency among the states. It is called a uniform law because the same law exists in many states.

What is a UCC-1?

A UCC-1 is a “financing statement” filed to provide notice that a creditor has a security interest in a debtor’s personal property. It is not an agreement. It is a notice d that one person claims an interest in someone else's property, usually as collateral for a debt.

Why should I file a UCC-1?

In addition to creating a public notice of a lien, the financing statement is also used to perfect a security interest or to show priority over third-party creditors. It is a legal document and public record. The UCC-1 serves as evidence in the case of any legal disputes over liability.

How long does a financing statement remain active?

Most financing statements have a duration of 5 years before they lapse. Once a financing statement has lapsed, the file number and party names (debtor and secured party) associated with the financing statement remain available in the searchable index for an additional year before being removed.