Free tool · Directory
UCC lien search in West Virginia
Central filing office
West Virginia Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division
Opens apps.wv.gov in a new tab
- Online access
- Online search costs money per search or needs a paid subscription.
- Fees
- UCC searches: $10.00 initial fee, $1.00 per page, $3.00 WV Portal fee; UCC filings $20.00 plus $3.00 WV Portal fee; credit card payment
- Certified search
- Use Certified Search in the UCC Online Services system; certificates can be validated online with the code printed on them. Published search fees: $10.00 initial fee, $1.00 per page, $3.00 WV Portal fee.
- Last verified
What to know in West Virginia
- Since February 27, 2018, UCC searches are available only through the online system; the office no longer does manual searches.
- Search by debtor, secured party or filing number, then select the filings to include and purchase the search.
- A space is the wildcard character; options include Active (Unlapsed only) and Active (With lapsed + 1 year).
- Search data may be delayed up to twenty minutes.
About this tool
Is West Virginia the right filing office to search?
Search West Virginia when the carrier is located there for UCC purposes, which is not always where its trucks run. An LLC or corporation organized in West Virginia is located in West Virginia (UCC §9-307), wherever it dispatches from. A sole proprietor is located at their principal residence, so an owner-operator who lives in West Virginia is searched here.
If the carrier was organized somewhere else but operates in West Virginia, search its formation state first, then West Virginia 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 West Virginia, 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 West Virginia debtor search
Open the West Virginia Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division search and search the exact name. Its online search charges per search or needs a paid subscription.
- 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 West Virginia?
In West Virginia, UCC records are kept by the West Virginia Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division. Its online search charges per search or needs a paid subscription. 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 West Virginia?
UCC searches: $10.00 initial fee, $1.00 per page, $3.00 WV Portal fee; UCC filings $20.00 plus $3.00 WV Portal fee; credit card payment. 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 West Virginia?
Use Certified Search in the UCC Online Services system; certificates can be validated online with the code printed on them. Published search fees: $10.00 initial fee, $1.00 per page, $3.00 WV Portal fee.
How long does a UCC-1 filed in West Virginia 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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