IDAHO SECRETARY OF STATE
Commercial and State Liens

Ben Ysursa, Secretary of State

UCC Searches

Note: Certified searches are very specific. We will enter the debtor name information exactly as we receive it. The search logic will drop certain "noise words" from the name as well as punctuation. A list of "noise words" can be found at this link. The certified search will not allow for partial names. It may be necessary to do several searches to find all lien filings against a debtor whose name has been filed in multiple ways. (Click here to see the detailed process used for a certified search.)

Example: A certified search for "AAA Plumbing, LLC" will find any liens filed against the name "AAA Plumbing". It will not find "AAA Plumb", nor will it find "AAA Plumbing, LLC, a subdivision of Plumbing Inc."

1. What is the difference between a non-certified search and a certified search?
2. What are "noise words"?
3. What information is required for a UCC4 search?
4. What will cause my UCC4 search request to be rejected?
5. What information is required for a UCC-11 information request?
6. What will cause my UCC-11 information request to be rejected?
7. Secured Party Search Information – all filings of a single secured party.
8. Secured Party Search Fees
9. Online Searches (not certified)

Non-certified searches

Non-certified searches do not use the filing office’s search logic as approved by the International Association of Commercial Administrators (IACA) as a part of UCC Revised Article 9.

Non-certified searches do not provide certification.

Non-certified searches allow for a broader range of search criteria and a broader range of results. We recommend that, before requesting a certified search, the customer use our online search feature to narrow down the exact name(s) they wish to search for.

The basic search and premium search features offered through Access Idaho are non-certified searches.

Certified searches

Certified search requests provide the following:

• Identification of the filing officer and the certification of the filing officer required by the UCC.
• The date the report was generated.
• Identification of the name searched.
• The certification date applicable to the report; i.e., the date and time through which the search is effective to reveal all relevant UCC documents filed on or prior to that date.
• Identification of each unlapsed initial financing statement filed on or prior to the certification date and time corresponding to the search criteria.
• For each initial financing statement on the report, a listing of all related UCC documents filed by the filing officer on or prior to the certification date.
• Copies of all UCC documents revealed by the search if requested by the searcher.

Certified searches are created by applying standardized search logic to the name presented to the filing officer by the person requesting the search. (Idaho Standardized Search Logic) Our office is required to enter the debtor name exactly as it is presented to us. Human judgment does not play a role in determining the results of the search. The following rules are applied to conduct certified searches:

• There is no limit to the number of matches that may be returned in response to the search criteria.
• No distinction is made between upper and lower case letters.
• Punctuation marks and accents are disregarded.
• Words and abbreviations at the end of a name that indicate the existence or nature of an organization as set forth in the "Ending Noise Words" list as promulgated and adopted by the International Association of Commercial Administrators (IACA) are disregarded.
• The word "the" at the beginning of the search criteria is disregarded.
• All spaces are disregarded.
• For first and middle names of individuals, initials are equated with all names that begin with such initials, and no middle name or initial is equated with all middle names and initials.
• After taking the preceding rules into account to modify the name of the debtor requested to be searched and to modify the names of debtors contained in active financing statements in the UCC information management system, the search will reveal only names of debtors that are contained in active financing statements and, as modified, exactly match the name requested.

2. What are "noise words"?

Noise words are words and abbreviations which indicate the existence or nature of an entity and are disregarded as part of a certified search request. The list of noise words as promulgated and adopted by IACA can be found here.

3. What information is required for a UCC4 search?

• A single name of an organization or individual to be searched. More information may be provided, such as a complete address, or just a city and state, for a more specific search.
• The name, address, contact person and phone number of the requesting party.
• Boxes checked for the types of liens to be searched. No boxes checked is assumed to be ALL types of liens.
• Boxes 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the UCC4 search form, as appropriate.

4. What will cause my UCC4 search request to be rejected?

• Failure to provide the name of ONE debtor
• Failure to include an appropriate filing fee.

5. What information is required for a UCC-11 information request?

• Name and mailing address of the requesting party.
• Organization name OR individual debtor’s name to be searched.
• Boxes in section 2 of the form as appropriate.

6. What will cause my UCC-11 information request to be rejected?

• Failure to provide the name of ONE debtor
• Failure to include an appropriate filing fee.

7. Secured Party Search Information – all filings of a single secured party.

Secured Party Reports may include only ONE Secured Party.
The report will include all filings for that specific secured party.
The report may be limited in two (2) ways:

• A report may be run for a specific city
• A report may be run for a certain date range.

A single Secure Party Report request may include:

• ONE secured party
• ONE city
• ONE date range

If you require more than one city, or more than one date range, a new report will be generated for each request.

NOTE: A date range will include all new filings AND any filings that have been amended within that date range.

8. Secured Party Search Fees:

To run the Secured Party Report -- $10.00

To print the report --
$0.25/page for pages 1-100
$0.10/page for pages 101-500
$0.05/page for pages 501+

To provide a digital copy via e-mail in PDF format -- $5.00

9. Online Searches

A basic lien search may be done online, free of charge. This search provides the filing number of the lien, the company or individual listed as the debtor, and indicates the status of the lien (current, lapsed, etc.).

A premium search service is also available online, which will provide access to more specific information regarding the searched party, including the debtor(s), secured party(s), collateral, and any amendments that have been filed. You may also view the actual filed documents. The premium search service requires a subscription to Access Idaho's Premium Service.