Arizona splits its business filings in an unusual way. Entities such as LLCs and corporations are formed with the Corporation Commission, but UCC records are held by the Arizona Secretary of State. If you were looking for a lien search on the Commission's portal, you will not find one there. The Arizona office guide explains how the two offices fit together.
A UCC-1 financing statement costs $9. The public search is free to use and shows filings on record. Our general UCC search guide explains what the results mean, and the UCC-1 filing guide covers how a filing is built.
What an Arizona UCC search shows
The office describes the UCC as a standard way of recording liens across the country. In Arizona the Secretary of State processes liens that protect financial interests, for example in consumer goods or commercial equipment.
Each document gets a unique 12-digit filing number. That number, the debtor name or the secured party name can all be used to search. The search page asks you to enter an organization name, an individual name or a lien number. You can pick a standard or wildcard search, choose debtor or secured party, and filter to unlapsed filings or include lapsed ones.
| Who takes UCC filings | Arizona Secretary of State, not the Corporation Commission (azsos.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Search UCC records | apps.azsos.gov/apps/ucc/search (apps.azsos.gov, checked ) |
| Search fee | UCC 11 search request, price varies by the search asked for (azsos.gov, checked ) |
| Copies and certified searches | Certified results are not on the public site; price varies by request (azsos.gov, checked ) |
| File a UCC-1 | $9 (azsos.gov, checked ) |
| Filing online | Needs a prepaid account; you upload PDFs once it is set up (azsos.gov, checked ) |
| Processing time | 5 business days from receipt, or 1 to 2 days expedited (azsos.gov, checked ) |
| Worth knowing | Adding $25 to a filing buys expedited handling (azsos.gov, checked ) |
Where to run the search
The search tool is the UCC Lien Search on the Secretary of State site. Open it, choose organization or individual, and type the name the way it was filed. If you do not get a hit, try the wildcard option, because a record keeps exactly what the filer typed, spelling mistakes included.
Standard liens show on the site for 5 years. Tax, restitution, racketeering and utility liens stay up until the filing agency ends them. A lien that is not continued stays visible for one more lapse year, and after that it cannot be changed.
Certified searches and copies
The public site cannot give you certified results. Every image carries a watermark that says uncertified. When a lender or court wants a certified copy, you file a UCC 11 search request with the office. It can return copies of liens, certified copies or a list of debtors by name or lien number.
The price of a UCC 11 varies with the search you request, so the page gives no single figure. If you send a filing and a search together and the payment is too small, the office processes the filing first and rejects the search.
How to file a UCC-1 in Arizona
- Fill in the UCC-1 national form. Arizona asks for the forms with the barcode.
- Add a UCC-1a or UCC-1ap only if you need extra debtors, secured parties or collateral. These cost nothing.
- Include an email address on the form. The office now uses it to confirm receipt instead of a stamped return envelope.
- Pay $9 by check or money order made out to the Arizona Secretary of State. The counter takes no cash or cards.
- Mail it to the UCC department in Phoenix, or bring it to the Phoenix or Tucson service center.
Processing is 5 business days from receipt. You can add $25 to expedite, which the office says brings it down to 1 to 2 days.
Amendments, terminations and fixes
A UCC-3 changes a filed lien. Continuations, assignments and amendments are $9 each, and a termination alone is $2. You may combine some changes on one form, such as a continuation with a party amendment. A full assignment or a termination cannot be combined with anything else.
If a record is wrong or was filed by someone with no right to do so, the debtor or secured party can file a UCC 5 information statement for $9. It does not remove the lien from the system.
Electronic filing
Online filing needs a prepaid account. You ask a customer service representative for the account form, and the office emails setup instructions. After that you upload PDFs directly. This upload system replaced the old fax service.
Our private filing service can prepare a UCC filing for you. State fees are separate, and you can file with the Secretary of State yourself.
Sources
- www.azcc.gov/corporations/home: office name, division, officeholder, mailing address, street address, phone, contact page, business search, name check, certificate ordering. Checked .
- azcc.gov/corporations/notices: hours, search disclaimer. Checked .
- www.azleg.gov/ars/29/03112.htm: LLC name endings, restricted words. Checked .
- www.azleg.gov/ars/10/00401.htm: corporation name endings, name rule. Checked .
- azcc.gov/docs/default-source/corps-files/fee-schedules/fee-schedule-llcs.pdf: name reservation fee, LLC filing fee, foreign LLC fee, expedite fees, good standing certificate, certificate fee. Checked .
- azcc.gov/faqs/BusinessServicesFAQs: name reservation term, name reservation form, report fee, report due date, late penalty, processing time, registered agent rule, status terms. Checked .
- azcc.gov/docs/default-source/corps-files/fee-schedules/fee-schedule-corporations6def4cc74b1a47129d16c2b1c3851bda.pdf?sfvrsn=2d6fbddb_4: corporation filing fee, nonprofit filing fee. Checked .
- www.azcc.gov/news/home/2025/12/17/coming-soon---arizona-business-connect-to-launch-on-january-12--2026: online filing. Checked .
- azsos.gov/business/ucc: who takes ucc filings, search fee, copies and certified searches, file a ucc-1, processing time, worth knowing. Checked .
- apps.azsos.gov/apps/ucc/search/: search ucc records. Checked .
- azsos.gov/sites/default/files/docs/bsd_ucc_popular_questions_202301_fontes.pdf: filing online. Checked .