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California UCC Search

Search California UCC filings

Opens the California Secretary of State's official search in a new tab. Independent guide. Not a government website.

Written byRegistryWise Editorial TeamFact-checked against the California Secretary of State · How we research

The short answer

California UCC financing statements are filed with the California Secretary of State. You can search them online for free, with no account needed, by the debtor's name.

On this page
  1. How to search
  2. Fees
  3. Reading the results
  4. Questions
  5. Sources

How to search California UCC records

  1. Open bizfile Online and choose "Free UCC Search & Copies." You don't need to log in.
  2. Search by debtor name, secured party, or file number. A name search returns both debtors and secured parties that match.
  3. Open a filing to see its details and print the filed images for free.
  4. If you need a certified result, file an Information Request (UCC 11) online for $5 per name.

Good to know in California: Plain copies of UCC filings are free online. You only pay when you need a certified search or certified copies.

California UCC fees

Online search
Free
Official or certified search: $5. Certified search (UCC 11), per name, ordered online. $10 per name on paper. Certified copies are $5 per document.
File a UCC-1
$5
Online. On paper it's $10 for 1 or 2 pages and $20 for 3 or more.

Reading the results

Each result is a financing statement: a lender (the secured party) telling the public it has a claim on some of a business's property (the debtor's collateral). Open a filing to see who the lender is, when it was filed, when it lapses, and what property it covers. Later filings on the same record, such as amendments, continuations and terminations, show whether the claim is still live.

A filing usually lasts five years unless the lender continues it. A termination means the lender has released its claim. For more on what these filings mean, see what a UCC filing is and our UCC search guide.

Checking the business itself? Our California business search guide shows how to confirm its exact legal name and status first.

Frequently asked questions

Is the California UCC search free?

Yes. Searching California UCC records online is free. An official or certified search costs $5.

How much does it cost to file a UCC-1 in California?

$5. Online. On paper it's $10 for 1 or 2 pages and $20 for 3 or more.

What name should I search?

Search the debtor's exact legal name as it appears on its state business record, including "LLC" or "Inc." if your search needs it. Lenders file under that name, so a nickname or brand name can miss the filing. Check the name on our California business search guide first.

How long does a UCC filing last?

A financing statement generally lasts five years from the date it was filed. The lender can extend it by filing a continuation in the six months before it lapses.

Sources

We take every fee, deadline and rule on this page from these pages and nowhere else. Rules change, so open the source before you pay anything.

  1. 1.California Secretary of State: UCC searchChecked November 8, 2026
  2. 2.California Secretary of State: UCC-1 filing feeChecked November 8, 2026

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