For Immediate Release
February 6, 2002
Contact: Dan Gwadosky
207-626-8400

UCC Lien Filings Now Paperless with UCC Online
Secretary Gwadosky Unveils New UCC Online - the Total UCC Solution

Secretary of State Dan A. Gwadosky announced today that UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) filings may now be completed online in a completely paperless transaction. Financial institutions and businesses can simply complete an online step by step process and with a click of a mouse, the UCC lien is automatically filed with the Secretary of State's Office.

"We are very excited to add this to our online services, because it creates a virtual UCC office for those businesses and individuals who file liens, as well as for the staff that receives the information at our office. It is a completely electronic process with no paper copies required," stated Secretary Gwadosky. "Those in the business and financial community that have tested the service are elated with the convenience," continued Secretary Gwadosky. "UCC Online really is the Total UCC Solution."

UCC Online Filing is a companion service to the UCC Interactive Search service. Now in addition to being able to search all UCC liens filed with the State of Maine, lien holders may also file their liens electronically. Both services together provide businesses and financial institutions all across Maine with 24 hour a day, 7 day a week access. These services were developed with the assistance of InforME, the Information Resource of Maine. InforME is Maine's Internet portal to government information and online services.

UCC Interactive Search

With UCC Interactive Search, customers may search debtor names for individuals or organizations choosing from one of four formats that are consistent with recent Article 9 revisions. A plain or certified copy of the search results may be printed from a home or office printer. Additionally, copies of lien documents may also be printed in this manner.

UCC Online Filing

Instead of completing and mailing an original (UCC-1) or amended (UCC-3) lien form, the same information is entered online, through an easy to use online process. Once completed, one click of the mouse files the information with the Secretary of State's Office electronically and automatically. A confirmation sheet containing the filing information may be printed for the creditor's records.

The Secretary of State's Office has over 175,000 personal property liens on file and conducts nearly 18,000 lien information searches annually. UCC lien filings serve as public notice to the priority of liens on a particular piece of personal property, similar to a title for a car or a deed for a piece of land. Certain fees are required by statute depending on the search requested or the type of filing. Payment may be made by credit card or through a subscription to InforME.

To get started, visit www.sosonline.org, review the easy to follow instructions and get online, not in line!