Where should a UCC-1 Financing Statement be filed?

A UCC-1 Financing Statement should be filed with the secretary of state. This is because the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) requires that financing statements be filed in a central location to provide public notice of security interests in personal property. The secretary of state’s office acts as the designated filing authority for such documents in most jurisdictions.

Filing with the secretary of state ensures broad access to the records and helps establish a priority of claims among creditors. It is essential for securing the rights of creditors and providing public notice to other potential creditors that a security interest exists in the collateral specified in the financing statement.

While local municipalities and county clerk's offices may handle certain local filings—such as real estate documents or local business registrations—they are generally not where UCC-1 Financing Statements are filed. Filing with the federal government is also not applicable, as UCC filings pertain to state law matters related to secured transactions in personal property, not federal law.