Free tool · Directory
UCC lien search in Michigan
Central filing office
Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State), UCC Office
Opens ucc.michigan.gov in a new tab
- Online access
- Anyone can search debtor names online at no cost, with no account.
- Fees
- Debtor name search (UCC-11): $6 per debtor name. Filing copies: $2 per page. Official seal: $6 additional. A processing fee may be charged for credit or debit card payments.
- Certified search
- Submit a UCC-11 Information Request in UCC Online at ucc.michigan.gov (user account required): $6 per debtor name. Results include a certification statement; an official certification seal is $6 additional ($12 per request with the search).
- Last verified
What to know in Michigan
- The free Debtor Name Quick Search (no login) lists only initial financing statement and tax lien numbers, filing date, lapse date and status; order a UCC-11 to see documents.
- All UCC-11 searches must be done through UCC Online; create an account with MiLogin.
- Debtor names are searched exactly as submitted; choose All to include lapsed and terminated filings for one year after lapse.
- Fixture filings are recorded with the county Register of Deeds, not the state UCC Office.
About this tool
Is Michigan the right filing office to search?
Search Michigan when the carrier is located there for UCC purposes, which is not always where its trucks run. An LLC or corporation organized in Michigan is located in Michigan (UCC §9-307), wherever it dispatches from. A sole proprietor is located at their principal residence, so an owner-operator who lives in Michigan is searched here.
If the carrier was organized somewhere else but operates in Michigan, search its formation state first, then Michigan as well. A filing in the wrong state may not perfect anything, but it still shows that another funder believes it has a claim.
How to search UCC filings in Michigan, step by step
- 1
Confirm the exact legal name
Copy the carrier's name from its formation record, entity suffix and punctuation included. A financing statement against a registered organization has to use the name on its public organic record (UCC §9-503).
- 2
Run the Michigan debtor search
Open the Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State), UCC Office search and search the exact name. Its online debtor search is free and needs no account.
- 3
Repeat with the variations
Search the DBA, former names, the owner's individual name for a sole proprietor, and the name with and without "LLC" or "Inc.". Each filing office applies its own search logic (UCC §9-506), so one search is rarely enough.
- 4
Open every hit's full history
Read the UCC-1 collateral description, then every UCC-3 filed against the same initial file number: amendments, assignments, continuations and terminations.
- 5
Record what you found
Save the results with the search date and time in the carrier's file. When you need an official record, order the certified search described above.
What to look for in the results
- Blanket liens: collateral described as "all assets" or "all personal property" reaches accounts, so it covers the invoices you plan to buy.
- Accounts and receivables: a description naming "accounts" or "receivables" usually means another factor or an asset-based lender.
- Lapse dates: a UCC-1 is effective for five years after filing unless a continuation is filed in the six months before it lapses (UCC §9-515).
- Assignments and terminations: an assignment changes who you ask for a release, and a filed termination ends the financing statement's effectiveness (UCC §9-513).
If you find a lien
Contact the secured party on a number you find yourself, and ask for a letter of release covering the accounts or a UCC-3 termination before you fund. The free NOA and release letter generator drafts the letter. If the prior factor has already notified the carrier's brokers, read two NOAs, one carrier.
For the full process, see UCC lien searches before you fund a carrier and the UCC-1 glossary entry.
Frequently asked questions
How do I search UCC filings in Michigan?
In Michigan, UCC records are kept by the Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State), UCC Office. Its online debtor search is free and needs no account. Use the official search, enter the carrier's exact legal name, then repeat with its DBA and name variations.
How much does a UCC search cost in Michigan?
Debtor name search (UCC-11): $6 per debtor name. Filing copies: $2 per page. Official seal: $6 additional. A processing fee may be charged for credit or debit card payments. These figures come from the official sources listed on this page as of October 19, 2026; confirm them on the filing office's site before you order.
How do I get a certified UCC search in Michigan?
Submit a UCC-11 Information Request in UCC Online at ucc.michigan.gov (user account required): $6 per debtor name. Results include a certification statement; an official certification seal is $6 additional ($12 per request with the search).
How long does a UCC-1 filed in Michigan stay effective?
Generally five years from the filing date under UCC §9-515, unless the secured party files a continuation in the six months before it lapses. Each continuation adds another five years, so check the lapse date and look for continuations on every hit.
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