Colorado keeps UCC records at the Secretary of State, and the whole system is online. A search is free, copies are free, and a financing statement costs $8.00 to file. There is no paper route, which makes this one of the simpler states to deal with.
The state also draws clear lines around what it files. Real estate, fixtures and titled vehicles go elsewhere. Business records are in a different system, covered in the Colorado office guide.
What does the Colorado UCC office file?
The office files UCC financing statements, effective financing statements for farm products, liens of the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and other statutory liens created by Colorado law. A lender files a UCC-1 to put its claim on record. Our UCC-1 filing guide shows how the form works.
| Who takes UCC filings | Colorado Secretary of State, which files UCC financing statements and certain statutory liens (sos.state.co.us, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Search UCC records | sos.state.co.us/pubs/UCC/uccHome.html (sos.state.co.us, checked ) |
| Search fee | Free, searches are online (sos.state.co.us, checked ) |
| Copies and certified searches | Free, copies are free through the website (sos.state.co.us, checked ) |
| File a UCC-1 | $8.00 for a UCC financing statement (sos.state.co.us, checked ) |
| Filing online | Online only, paper filings are not accepted (sos.state.co.us, checked ) |
| Processing time | A copy of a new filing is usually online within 24 hours (sos.state.co.us, checked ) |
| Worth knowing | Real estate and fixture filings go to the county clerk and recorder, and titled vehicles to the DMV. Jet skis, snowmobiles and ATVs are filed here. (sos.state.co.us, checked ) |
How to run a Colorado UCC search
- Open the state's UCC filing system from the UCC page.
- Pick the type of search. A standard search looks for a debtor name.
- Use an advanced search if you need a document number, a secured party or other details.
- For farm products, search the master list of effective financing statements.
- Enter the name, then select Search.
A standard search brings back financing statements and effective financing statements for farm products. It leaves out lapsed records unless you ask for those that lapsed in the past two years. You can pick several results and ask for a search report, which lists every matching record, including amendments. For general background, see our UCC search guide.
Search reports, certified copies and cost
A standard search report can be certified. A certified report can serve as evidence that a UCC filing naming a particular debtor was or was not on record on the date of the search. The fee schedule lists the debtor lien search, the master list search and both the certification and the certified search fee as free.
Your search is based on an exact match. When a search shows nothing, the likely cause is too much detail. Try fewer terms or a broader name.
How to file a UCC-1 in Colorado
All filing is done through the online system, and paper is not accepted. The fee schedule lists $8.00 for a UCC financing statement. It lists the same fee for amendments and corrections. The system is open nearly every hour of the week, with routine maintenance usually between 1:30 AM and 3:30 AM Mountain time.
You do not need a signature on the filing. A security agreement can be attached, but it is not required, and you should remove personal or account information before you file.
After you file, the record appears in a search at once. A copy of the form is available only after an automated process removes tax identification numbers. That usually takes about a day.
Colorado quirks to know
Two details catch people out. The first is where the lien goes. Real estate and fixture filings belong with the county clerk and recorder. Titled vehicles belong with the Division of Motor Vehicles. Untitled vehicles such as jet skis, snowmobiles and ATVs are filed with the Secretary of State.
The second is old records. Records filed at a county clerk before January 1, 2000 were moved into the state database, and some copies were lost in that move. The county where it was first filed may have the copy.
If you want help, you can ask our private filing service. State fees are separate, and you can search or file at the state yourself.
Sources
- www.sos.state.co.us/biz/BusinessEntityCriteriaExt.do?resetTransTyp=Y: business search. Checked .
- www.coloradosos.gov/biz/FileDocNameAvailCriteria.do?transTyp=CERT_LP: name check. Checked .
- www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/info_center/fees/business.html: LLC filing fee, report fee. Checked .
- www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/business/FAQs/reports.html: report due date, status terms. Checked .
- www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/business/fileAForm.html: online filing. Checked .
- www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/business/FAQs/certGoodStanding.html: good standing certificate, certificate fee, certificate ordering. Checked .
- www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/UCC/FAQs/general.html: who takes ucc filings, search fee, filing online, worth knowing. Checked .
- www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/UCC/uccHome.html: search ucc records. Checked .
- www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/UCC/FAQs/searching.html: copies and certified searches, processing time. Checked .
- www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/info_center/fees/UCC.html: file a ucc-1. Checked .