UCC Financing Statement (Form UCC-1) is a document completed by a creditor to inform a debtor that the creditor has an interest in their personal property. The creditor completes the form. After the interest is verified, the creditor may post the notice publicly and seize the assets.
A UCC Financing Statement is also known as a Form UCC-1. This form will be used by creditors in order to inform a debtor party that they have an interest in their personal property. This will allow the creditor to verify their interest in the property. This notice may be public in order to demonstrate the right of the creditor to take possession of certain properties in order to repay a debt.
There are three major pieces of information that are required for this form. This includes the name and address for the debtor, the name and address for the creditor, and information about the collateral. This information does not need to be detailed. The form will only consist of one page, and it does not require a signature, witness, or notary.Â
This form is governed by the laws of the Uniform Commercial Code.Â
A UCC-1 Financing Statement is commonly used when parties engage in commercial transactions that incur debt.  A party should file a UCC-1 to protect themselves in the event that a party is not able to pay his or her debt.  A UCC-1 establishes a creditor as a secured party.  In the event that a debtor goes bankrupt a secured creditor will have a place in line when the bankruptcy court divides that debtor’s assets among creditors.
A UCC-1 Financing Statement contains the following sections:
To complete a UCC-1, you need to provide the following information:\
You should file a UCC-1 Financing Statement with the secretary of state’s office in the state where the debtor is incorporated or located.  If the collateral is real property, then you should also file a UCC-1 with the county recorder’s office in the county where the debtor’s real property is located.
Secretaries of state have websites where you can file your UCC-1 and instructions on how to complete all forms. Â Individual counties may not have websites and require you to file by mail or in person.
While there is a national UCC-1 form, some jurisdictions may have their own specific form. Â Be sure to use the correct form.Â
A state or county UCC section will allow you to provide public notice that you have entered into a security agreement with a debtor. Â The UCC section can provide you with the forms that you need to file your Financing Statement, amend or extend the filing, make assignments, and search for other filings against a debtor.
The price to file a UCC-1 varies in each jurisdiction. Â Generally, the fee will range from between $10 to $25 per filing. Â Some states and counties will charge an additional fee for each debtor that is listed on a form.
A UCC-1 Financing Statement is valid for 5 years. Â After 5 years, the filing is considered lapsed and is no longer valid. Â A lapsed filing will not protect you if the debtor remains in debt to you and encounters financial difficulties or files for bankruptcy.
You may extend a UCC-1 filing before the 5-year period elapses.  To extend your filing, you need to file a continuation statement within six months before the initial filing’s expiration date.
Keeping your UCC filings up to date is important to protect your security interest in a debtor’s property.  You can assign this duty to a staff member or hire a third party to manage your UCC filings for you.  There are many companies that offer this type of service.
