What are UCC liens?

Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) liens cover personal property used as collateral by a ‘debtor’ to secure a loan. (The same way that a mortgage secures the loan on real property.) The UCC lien filed with the Secretary of State acts as a public notice by the ‘creditor’ of the creditor’s interest in the property. Liens on fixtures, timber to be cut, or extracted minerals, use UCC forms but are filed at the appropriate County Registry of Deeds. Maine UCC law is found in Title 11.

List of County Registry of Deeds Offices

What UCC information is available online?

With UCC Search, customers may search debtor names for individuals or organizations choosing one of the following formats consistent with recent Article 9 revisions:

Standard Information Request Response - Results include a report and images of the filings associated with your search.*
Report Only (Non-standard) - Results include a report of all filings associated with your search.*
Selected Images Only (Nonstandard) - Results include images of the filings associated with your search. You will have the option to select the images you wish to view.*
File Number Search - Images Only (Nonstandard) - Results include an image of the requested filing.*

*For more detailed explanations visit the UCC Search Demo.

How do I file UCC liens online?

With UCC Filing, instead of completing and mailing UCC-1 or UCC-3 forms, the same information is entered online, through an easy to use online process. Once completed, one click of the mouse files the information electronically. A confirmation sheet with the filing information may be printed for your records.

Is there a fee to search and file?

Yes, as with mail and in person filings and searches, certain fees are required by statute depending on the search requested or type of filing. However, filings and searches completed online will cost less. For a complete list of fees, please visit UCC fees or contact the UCC Division at 207-624-7760. Payment for these services may be made by credit card or through a subscription to InforME.

What is InforME?

InforMe, the Information Resource of Maine, was established by the Maine Legislature in 1998 as a resource for providing state government services and information over the Internet.

How do I become an InforME subscriber?

The annual subscription fee for InforME is $75. To find out more about InforME and the services it provides or to complete an online subscriber form, visit:

www.state.me.us/informe
or contact InforME at 207-621-2600.

How can I print a certified search or copy from my computer? Isn’t a seal required?

A certified copy obtained through this service will contain a digitized version of the State seal and will be time and date stamped. A unique authentication number will also be printed on the document that can be used to verify the authenticity of the electronic certification.

I received a document that has been certified electronically. How can I be sure it’s authentic?

To verify the authenticity of a document certified electronically, go to the UCC Online web site and click on Authentication Service. Enter the authentication number located on the lower left hand corner of the document and the certification will be confirmed.