How to Do a UCC Search in New York
A UCC search tells you what financing statements are on record against a debtor in New York — who claims an interest in their equipment, inventory, and receivables, and in what order. Here's how to run one correctly in NY: the official portal, the exact steps, the fees, and the one detail (the debtor's exact name) that decides whether your search result means anything.
| Filing office | New York Department of State — Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code (Albany) |
|---|---|
| Official portal | NY DOS UCC Public Search (online debtor search) |
| Account needed? | No account for the free public online search. Official searches are requested on Form UCC-11, one form and fee per name. |
| Search fees | Official search: $25 per debtor name (Form UCC-11); $50 for search results issued under seal. Copies: $5 plain / $10 certified. The free online public search above is unofficial. |
| Where UCC-1s are filed | Central filing with the Department of State in Albany. Paper UCC filing: $40; electronic filing (e-File/XML): $20 (per the DOS fee schedule). |
How to run a New York UCC search, step by step
- Start with the free online public search above to see what's on record: search by debtor name, or by filing number and date.
- Search the debtor's exact legal name. New York's standard search logic returns exact-name matches — a near-miss spelling returns nothing, which is precisely why exact names matter on filings.
- Record each hit's file number, file date, lapse date, secured party, and any UCC-3 activity (amendments, continuations, terminations).
- Treat the online result as a preview. For a transaction that depends on it, order the official search: submit Form UCC-11 to the Department of State with the $25 per-name fee (one form per name).
- If you need the documents themselves, order copies ($5 plain, $10 certified per document).
New York quirk: exact-name search logic cuts both ways
The Department of State states it plainly: its standard search logic returns the exact name requested. For searchers, that means one wrong letter = a falsely “clean” result. For filers, it means a debtor-name error that a standard search can't find makes the filing seriously misleading under §9-506 — New York is the last place to get casual about spelling.
What a NY UCC search does — and doesn't — prove
A search shows the financing statements a filing office has on record for the name you searched, as of the search's through-date. It is only as good as the name: under §9-506, a filing with a seriously misleading debtor name is ineffective, and a standard search under the debtor's correct name that wouldn't disclose it is the legal test. So always search the exact legal name (§9-503) — and when a result matters (a loan, a purchase, a credit decision), get the certified/official search rather than relying on a quick online look. A search also won't show filings in other states: a debtor is searched where the debtor is legally located under §9-307 — see the UCC search hub for other states.
Go deeper than a search
A search tells you what's on record. The Private Money Rights Playbook teaches you how to be the secured party — UCC filing, trusts, private records, and the $10,000-a-Month Blueprint — and the UCC Talk24 Toolkit gives you the working tools: UCC-1 checklist, Articles 1–9 lookup, stamp and document generators.
Start with the filing guide: How to File a UCC-1 Financing Statement — and keep it alive with the UCC-3 Continuation rules.
New York UCC search FAQ
How do I do a UCC search in New York?
Use the Department of State's free online UCC public search for a quick look, searching the debtor's exact legal name. For an official result, submit Form UCC-11 (Information Request) to the DOS UCC unit — $25 per debtor name, one form per name.
How much does a New York UCC search cost?
$25 per debtor name for an official search ($50 under seal). The online public search is free but unofficial. Copies are $5 plain and $10 certified.
Where are UCC-1s filed in New York?
Centrally with the Department of State in Albany: $40 for a paper filing, $20 for an electronic filing, per the DOS UCC fee schedule.
Other states: Pennsylvania • New Jersey • Ohio • Florida • Texas • California