Find the liens
on any business
Search state UCC records live and see which lenders have a claim on a business: each filing's status, filing date, lapse date and secured party.
Free to search every state we cover at once. Or pick a single state.
What a UCC lien is
When a lender takes a business's equipment, inventory or receivables as security for a loan, it usually files a UCC-1 financing statement with the state. That public filing is what people call a UCC lien. It tells everyone else who might lend to or buy from the business that the lender has a claim.
Why run a UCC lien search
Before lending
See who is already ahead of you.
Before an acquisition
Find claims that come with the business or its assets.
Before extending credit
Check how much other credit the customer already carries.
On your own business
Confirm that paid-off liens were cleared.
What a search shows
The debtor
The business the lien is against.
The secured party
The lender or creditor that filed, in the states that publish it.
Dates
When it was filed and when it lapses.
Status
Active, lapsed or terminated.
How to read the status
Active means the filing is in force. Lapsed means the five-year period ended without a continuation, so the filing is no longer effective, though that doesn't prove the debt was paid. Terminated means the lender released the lien. Read the dates and status together, not just the count.
What a UCC lien search can't tell you
It is a first look, not a certified result. It only finds filings under the name you searched, so use the business's exact legal name. It also won't show tax liens, judgments or mortgages. For a loan, a payoff or a closing, order a certified search from the state.
How to run a UCC lien search
- Enter the business's exact legal name above.
- Search all covered states at once, or pick one.
- Open a result to see its filings, then check each filing's status and lapse date.
- Create a free account to save the business and be alerted when a new filing appears.
Common questions
What is a UCC lien search?
A UCC lien search looks through a state's public UCC records for filings that lenders and creditors have made against a business. It shows who has a claim on the business's assets and whether each filing is still in force.
Is a UCC lien the same as a lien on real estate?
No. A UCC lien covers personal property such as equipment, inventory and receivables. Real estate mortgages, tax liens and court judgments are recorded in other places, so they don't appear in a UCC search.
Which state should I search?
Search the state where the business was organized, since that is normally where its lenders file. A business can also have filings in other states, so it is worth searching more than one.
Does the search show old liens?
Yes. Results include active, lapsed and terminated filings, each labeled with its status, so you can tell what is still in force.
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