Free tool · Directory
UCC lien search in North Dakota
Central filing office
North Dakota Secretary of State, Central Indexing System (NDCIS)
Opens cis.sos.nd.gov in a new tab
- Online access
- Anyone can search debtor names online at no cost, with no account.
- Fees
- UCC initial filing $40, amendment $40, assignment $40, continuation $30, termination no fee; UCC Search and UCC-11 Search no fee; secured party search $500.
- Certified search
- Run a UCC-11 Search in NDCIS (login required). The Secretary of State lists the UCC-11 Search as No Fee; results are returned as a ZIP file that can include a certificate folder, and processing can take up to 3 business days.
- Last verified
What to know in North Dakota
- State law requires all central indexing filings and search requests to be completed online through NDCIS.
- The Public Search needs no login but does not give certified results; it takes a debtor name or filing number plus a captcha.
- NDCIS indexes UCC, farm products central notice, statutory liens, and state and federal tax liens, so one search can surface tax liens too.
- State tax liens filed before March 1, 2016 must be searched last name first; later ones first name first.
About this tool
Is North Dakota the right filing office to search?
Search North Dakota when the carrier is located there for UCC purposes, which is not always where its trucks run. An LLC or corporation organized in North Dakota is located in North Dakota (UCC §9-307), wherever it dispatches from. A sole proprietor is located at their principal residence, so an owner-operator who lives in North Dakota is searched here.
If the carrier was organized somewhere else but operates in North Dakota, search its formation state first, then North Dakota 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 North Dakota, 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 North Dakota debtor search
Open the North Dakota Secretary of State, Central Indexing System (NDCIS) 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 North Dakota?
In North Dakota, UCC records are kept by the North Dakota Secretary of State, Central Indexing System (NDCIS). 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 North Dakota?
UCC initial filing $40, amendment $40, assignment $40, continuation $30, termination no fee; UCC Search and UCC-11 Search no fee; secured party search $500. 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 North Dakota?
Run a UCC-11 Search in NDCIS (login required). The Secretary of State lists the UCC-11 Search as No Fee; results are returned as a ZIP file that can include a certificate folder, and processing can take up to 3 business days.
How long does a UCC-1 filed in North Dakota 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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