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Did you know that as of January 1, 2024, the Corporate Transparency Act enacted by Congress requires many companies to report beneficial ownership information to the US Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)? Beneficial ownership information (BOI), as defined by FinCEN, is identifying information about the individuals who directly or indirectly own or control a company. Please review the BOI links on our website to see if you are required to report to FinCEN.

Mark Hammond

Uniform Commercial Code

The Secretary of State’s Office is the central filing office for financing statements regarding security interests under Revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. The Uniform Commercial Code is a set of uniform laws governing commercial transactions. A financing statement indicates a security agreement between a debtor and a secured party. The public may search the UCC Electronic Filing, Search & Retrieval system for financing statements and information on collateral related to security interests.

For more information on UCC Article 9 Secured Transactions, please read S.C. Code of Laws Title 36, Chapter 9.

All UCC filings may be completed online through the UCC Electronic Filing, Search & Retrieval system. Below are the downloadable forms for filings available through the UCC division:

  • UCC-1 Financing Statement (PDF)
    This form is used to file the initial security interest. The filing is good for five years. The security interest can be continued for five more years by filing a UCC-3. You may also need the UCC-1 Addendum (PDF) or the UCC-1 Additional Party (PDF) form.
     
  • UCC-3 Amendment (PDF)
    This form is used to continue a security interest that is going to lapse at the end of five years. The UCC-3 can be filed within six months before the expiration of the five years. If a UCC-3 is not filed before the end of the five years, the financing statement lapses and the security interest becomes unperfected. A UCC-3 cannot be filed after the lapse date. A UCC-3 can also be used to amend a previously filed UCC-1, terminate a UCC-1, or make a full or partial assignment of the security interest. You may also need the UCC-3 Addendum (PDF) or the UCC-3 Additional Party (PDF) form.
     
  • UCC-11 Search (PDF)
    This form should be submitted to the Secretary of State to have the Secretary of State perform a search on a debtor or secured party's name. If you are requesting copies, additional copy fees will apply.
     
  • UCC-5 Statement of Claim (PDF)
    This form may be used to show how a filing was inaccurate or to show that a document was wrongfully filed.
     
  • Filing Submission Form - Email Response Requested (PDF)
    This form, when included with a UCC filing form, is used to request a return acknowledgement via email for any UCC filed at the Secretary of State.
Fee Schedule
UCC-1, UCC-3, UCC-5 Fee UCC-11 Fee (Per Document)
Pages 1 and 2 together $8.00 Search Fee $5.00
Page 3 $2.00 Document Request (Each Page) $1.00
Pages 4 and beyond $1.00 Certification Fee (Per Document) $2.00
3rd Debtor and beyond $2.00    
Manufactured Home Transaction $20.00    
Public Finance Transaction $20.00    

Other questions? Review the frequently asked questions on the Uniform Commercial Code.