In South Carolina the Secretary of State is the central office for UCC financing statements, and the office runs one electronic system for filing, searching and retrieving them. If you want the short version, a search request is $5.00 and a standard UCC-1 is $8.00.
This page covers the lien records. Business entity records are handled in a different system, described in the South Carolina office guide. For the general rules, read our UCC search guide and the UCC-1 filing guide.
What does a South Carolina UCC search find?
A search shows financing statements filed against a debtor name. A financing statement records a security agreement between a debtor and a secured party. The record lists the parties, the collateral and any later amendments. A lender runs a search before it makes a loan, and a buyer of a business runs one to see what is already pledged.
You can search yourself in the electronic filing, search and retrieval system. Or you can send the UCC-11 form and ask the office to run the search for you.
| Who takes UCC filings | South Carolina Secretary of State, UCC division (sos.sc.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Search fee | $5.00 search fee per request (sos.sc.gov, checked ) |
| Copies and certified searches | $1.00 per page, plus $2.00 per document for certification (sos.sc.gov, checked ) |
| File a UCC-1 | $8.00 for pages 1 and 2, $2.00 for page 3, $1.00 for each page after (sos.sc.gov, checked ) |
| Filing online | All UCC filings can be made online through the UCC Electronic Filing, Search and Retrieval system (sos.sc.gov, checked ) |
| Worth knowing | A financing statement is good for five years. A continuation can be filed in the last six months, or it lapses (sos.sc.gov, checked ) |
What do searches and copies cost?
A request on the UCC-11 form carries a $5.00 search fee. Copies are charged at $1.00 a page, and a certification adds $2.00 for each document. Add those up before you send a check, because a long result with certified copies can cost far more than the search alone.
How do you file a UCC-1 in South Carolina?
Use the online system. The state says all UCC filings can be completed there. The fee for the initial financing statement is $8.00 for pages 1 and 2 together, with $2.00 for page 3 and $1.00 for each page after that. If the form needs extra parties or text, use the UCC-1 Addendum or the Additional Party form.
Forms on the state page include:
- UCC-1, the initial financing statement.
- UCC-3, for continuations, amendments, terminations and assignments.
- UCC-5, a statement of claim for an inaccurate or wrongful filing.
- UCC-11, the search request.
How long does the filing last?
Five years. The clock matters more than most people expect. A UCC-3 can be filed within six months before the five years end. If nobody files one in that window, the financing statement lapses and the security interest becomes unperfected. The state also warns that a UCC-3 cannot be filed after the lapse date, so a late attempt fails.
Online or paper?
Online is the main route. Paper forms are still available for download from the state page, and they are the base for mail requests. When you file with the form, you can add the Filing Submission Form to ask for an acknowledgement by email.
Contact and address
The Secretary of State's office is at 1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 525, in Columbia. Questions about UCC filings go to the UCC division there.
If you want help preparing a filing, you can ask our private filing service. State fees are separate, and you can file with the state yourself.
Sources
- sos.sc.gov/: office name. Checked .
- www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/sj26/20260515.htm: officeholder. Checked .
- businessfilings.sc.gov/BusinessFiling/Entity/Search: business search. Checked .
- businessfilings.sc.gov/BusinessFiling/Entity/AgentSearch: search fields. Checked .
- www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t33c044.php: LLC name endings, name rule, name reservation term, registered agent rule. Checked .
- www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t33c004.php: corporation name endings. Checked .
- www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t33c001.php: corporation filing fee. Checked .
- businessfilings.sc.gov/businessfiling: online filing. Checked .
- www.scstatehouse.gov/CommitteeInfo/HouseLegislativeOversightCommittee/AgencyWebpages/SecretaryofState/Business%20filings%20and%20fees%20-%20common%20types%20in%20Southeastern%20states.pdf: good standing certificate. Checked .
- sos.sc.gov/online-filings/uniform-commercial-code: who takes ucc filings, file a ucc-1, search fee, copies and certified searches, filing online, worth knowing. Checked .