business and corporation records

Each state has an office, usually the Secretary of State, where you can find a list of creditors of a company that are filed under the Uniform Commercial Code that applies in all 50 states.

Some states have put their UCC databases online.

The Uniform Commercial Code is designed to protect creditors by providing them with an official place where they can file liens showing they are owed money by a person or business. By filing under the UCC the creditors establish priority over other potential creditors if the person or business that owes them money should default on payments or file for bankruptcy.

The UCC filings include financing statements, in which companies pledge their assets as collateral for loans, and tax liens filed by federal and state tax agencies.

If financing statements are listed, they will include the address of the business that received a loan, the bank or other business that made the loan (the “secured party”) and the date the debt was incurred. But it will not list the amount of the loan or debt.

If tax liens are listed, they will include the address of the business that owes taxes, the tax agency that filed the lien and the date the lien was filed. But it will not list the amount of back taxes owed.

The UCC filings also include tax lien releases, which are filed when the individual or company pays off or otherwise resolves the delinquent taxes. So you need to match up liens with releases to see if a particular lien has been paid off.