Where do I file?
A UCC can be filed electronically using the File Online or by paper using the International Association of Commercial Administrators (IACA) forms and submitting them to the Department of Financial Institutions.
The International Association of Commercial Administrators (IACA) UCC Financing Statements are the only forms accepted for filing as standard. Any other form you would use would be considered nonstandard. Only one copy is required when submitting a filing.
Who do I make a check payable to?
Make checks payable to Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.
What happens to filings that are rejected?
UCC documents that are received in a state that is unsuitable for filing shall be rejected by the Department. The Department will not hold filings that are awaiting corrections, revisions, additional fees or information from the filer.
Any fees received that are intended for filing a rejected document will be refunded to the filer as soon as allowable under Department policy.
Rejected filings will need to be corrected and submitted anew, along with all appropriate fees for that filing.
How long is my filing active?
A financing statement is active for five years, statutory agricultural lien for five years, Public Finance Lien is thirty years and Manufactured Home Lien is thirty years. A continuation will extend the filing for another 5-year term if filed within 6 months of expiration. Transmitting Utility Lien is perpetual and does not expire.
Does a termination change the status of a filing?
No, the termination does not change the status of a filing in the Central Filing System. The filing remains active in the database until it reaches its expiration date.
What are UCC Notifications?
Users can choose to 'follow' an active lien at any time by searching for the record number and choosing 'follow'. This option will allow you to receive email notifications when someone files amendments or terminations. It will also send lapse notifications at 6 months and 1 month prior to lapse, as well as 1 final notification when the lien lapses.
Can I search UCC’s Online?
Yes, you can search UCC’s through our free search or by creating an account, we offer:
- UCC Search- a free search that can locate financing statements by debtor or file number. It will also produce a filing history so you can see related subsequent filings and does not require an account.
- UCC-11 Debtor- a paid search that can furnish a listing and/or copies of financing statements and tax liens by debtor or file number. An account is required.
- UCC-11 Record number- a paid search that will furnish copies of all inital financing statements and their subsequent filings. You can order 6 records per request. An account is required.
- Secured Party Search- a paid search that will furnish a listing with filing history of each financing statements and tax liens by secured party. An account is required.
Be sure to read our tips to best utilize the free search before you pay.
How do I search by Debtor?
Prior to 7/1/2001 keying guidelines existed within the department which would affect the way a debtor name was indexed. Searchers should be aware that documents filed prior to that date might not be returned when searching the registered corporate name.
Additionally, records filed prior to 7/1/2001 do not contain identifiers for organizations or individuals; therefore, matches for individual searches may return organizations that were filed prior to 7/1/2001.
Users searching for organization records that were filed prior to 7/1/2001 should try searching for the organization name in the Individual last name (surname) field as well.
Users searching for individual records that were filed prior to 7/1/2001 should try searching for the individual name in the organization using last name, first name and middle(if applicable).
How do I search by filing number?
If you know the filing number of the UCC lien record for which you are searching, you may look the record up directly by selecting ‘IFS/ Filing Number’.
- For filings completed prior to 7/1/2001 enter the 3-digit county code followed by the 8-digit filing number in the textbox.
- For filings completed 7/1/2001 thru 4/23/2019, enter the 12-digit filing number in the textbox.
- For filings completed after 4/23/2019, enter the full filing number, including the dash ('-') all numbers after it in the textbox.
How do I view my Online paid search results?
Once you receive the email with the subject line that contains ‘available’, follow the steps below.
- Sign into your account
- Click on 'Submission History' located on the dashboard
- Find the correct order and click on the blue download button in the 'action' column. A ZIP file will download for you to view your order listing and or images.
How long can I buy copies of filings?
Copies are available for purchase as long as filings are active or until 1 year after the lapse date.
What are Data & Image Sales?
These are data and images we offer for purchase. We offer: weekly data, custom data, weekly images, custom images, and full database. The data files come in a ZIP folder as 4- pipe delimited (txt) files which are Debtors.txt, FilngDetails.txt, LienDetails.txt and SecuredParty.txt. The image files are provided in a ZIP folder and contain PDF document images.
Weekly files include filings for the previous Sunday through Saturday each week and is generated on Wednesday each week for the previous week. There are 6 previous weeks always available.
Custom data and images will allow customers to choose previous Sunday through Saturday dates, 52 most current weeks will be available.
Full data file includes all active and 1 year lapsed filings through the previous month end. A new file is generated on the 4th day of each month.
For questions relating to a Lien release on a Motor Vehicle Title, call DFI Division of Banking at (608) 261-7578.
Contact Us
Phone: (608) 266-8915
Email: DFI-UCC@dfi.wisconsin.govMailing Address:Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
Division of Corporate and Consumer Services
PO Box 7847
Madison, WI 53707-7847
Physical Address:Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
Division of Corporate and Consumer Services
4822 Madison Yards Way, North Tower
Madison, WI 53705