CHAPTER 5. Filing [9501. - 9528.]

Cal. Commercial Code - COM 5.
in effect

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9501. Section 9501.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), if the local law of this state governs perfection of a security interest or agricultural lien, the office in which to file a financing statement to perfect the security interest or agricultural lien is either of the following: (1) The office designated for the filing or recording of a record of a mortgage on the related real property, if either of the following conditions is satisfied: (A) The collateral is as-extracted collateral or timber to be cut. (B) The financing statement is filed as a fixture filing and the collateral is goods that are or are to become fixtures. (2) The office of the Secretary of State in all other cases, including a case in which the collateral is goods that are or are to become fixtures and the financing statement is not filed as a fixture filing. (b) The office in which to file a financing statement to perfect a security interest in collateral, including fixtures, of a transmitting utility is the office of the Secretary of State. The financing statement also constitutes a fixture filing as to the collateral indicated in the financing statement which is or is to become fixtures.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9502. Section 9502.

(a) Subject to subdivision (b), a financing statement is sufficient only if it satisfies all of the following conditions: (1) It provides the name of the debtor. (2) It provides the name of the secured party or a representative of the secured party. (3) It indicates the collateral covered by the financing statement. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b) of Section 9501, to be sufficient, a financing statement that covers as-extracted collateral or timber to be cut, or which is filed as a fixture filing and covers goods that are or are to become fixtures, must satisfy subdivision (a) and also satisfy all of the following conditions: (1) Indicate that it covers this type of collateral. (2) Indicate that it is to be recorded in the real property records. (3) Provide a description of the real property to which the collateral is related sufficient to give constructive notice of a mortgage under the law of this state if the description were contained in a record of the mortgage of the real property. (4) If the debtor does not have an interest of record in the real property, provide the name of a record owner. (c) A record of a mortgage is effective, from the date of recording, as a financing statement filed as a fixture filing or as a financing statement covering as-extracted collateral or timber to be cut only if all of the following conditions are satisfied: (1) The record indicates the goods or accounts that it covers. (2) The goods are or are to become fixtures related to the real property described in the record or the collateral is related to the real property described in the record and is as-extracted collateral or timber to be cut. (3) The record satisfies the requirements for a financing statement in this section, except that both of the following apply: (A) The record need not indicate that it is to be filed in the real property records. (B) The record sufficiently provides the name of a debtor who is an individual if it provides the individual name of the debtor or the surname and first personal name of the debtor, even if the debtor is an individual to whom paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 9503 applies. (4) The record is duly recorded. (d) A financing statement may be filed before a security agreement is made or a security interest otherwise attaches.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9503. Section 9503.

(a) A financing statement sufficiently provides the name of the debtor only if it does so in accordance with the following rules: (1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (3), if the debtor is a registered organization or the collateral is held in a trust that is a registered organization, only if the financing statement provides the name that is stated to be the registered organization’s name on the public organic record most recently filed with or issued or enacted by the registered organization’s jurisdiction of organization which purports to state, amend, or restate the registered organization’s name. (2) Subject to subdivision (f), if the collateral is being administered by the personal representative of a decedent, only if the financing statement provides, as the name of the debtor, the name of the decedent and, in a separate part of the financing statement, indicates that the collateral is being administered by a personal representative. (3) If the collateral is held in a trust that is not a registered organization, only if the financing statement satisfies both of the following conditions: (A) Provides, as the name of the debtor, either of the following: (i) If the organic record of the trust specifies a name for the trust, the name specified. (ii) If the organic record of the trust does not specify a name for the trust, the name of the settlor or testator. (B) In a separate part of the financing statement, the following information is provided, as applicable: (i) If the name is provided in accordance with clause (i) of subparagraph (A), the financing statement indicates that the collateral is held in a trust. (ii) If the name is provided in accordance with clause (ii) of subparagraph (A), the financing statement provides additional information sufficient to distinguish the trust from other trusts having one or more of the same settlors or the same testator and indicates that the collateral is held in a trust, unless the additional information so indicates. (4) Subject to subdivision (g), if the debtor is an individual to whom the Department of Motor Vehicles has issued a driver’s license that has not expired or an identification card that has not expired, only if the financing statement provides the name of the individual indicated on that driver’s license or identification card. (5) If debtor is an individual to whom paragraph (4) does not apply, only if the financing statement provides the individual name of the debtor or the surname and first personal name of the debtor. (6) In other cases, according to the following rules: (A) If the debtor has a name, only if the financing statement provides the organizational name of the debtor. (B) If the debtor does not have a name, only if the financing statement provides the names of the partners, members, associates, or other persons comprising the debtor, in a manner that each name provided would be sufficient if the person named were the debtor. (7) Subject to the following sentence of this paragraph, it is a violation of Section 51 of the Civil Code for a secured party or proposed secured party to decline to provide credit to a debtor or proposed debtor, or offer to make the terms and conditions of the credit less favorable to the debtor or proposed debtor if (A) that decision was based on the fact that the debtor’s name to be included on the financing statement is or would be that provided under paragraph (5) rather than under paragraph (4), and (B) all elements that would be required to establish a claim for violation of Section 51 of the Civil Code are established. Any affirmative defenses that would be available to a claim under Section 51 of the Civil Code would be affirmative defenses to a claim under this paragraph. This paragraph shall not be construed to alter, expand, limit, or negate any other rights, defenses, or remedies under Section 51 of the Civil Code. (b) A financing statement that provides the name of the debtor in accordance with subdivision (a) is not rendered ineffective by the absence of either of the following: (1) A trade name or other name of the debtor. (2) Unless required under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a), names of partners, members, associates, or other persons comprising the debtor. (c) A financing statement that provides only the debtor’s trade name does not sufficiently provide the name of the debtor. (d) Failure to indicate the representative capacity of a secured party or representative of a secured party does not affect the sufficiency of a financing statement. (e) A financing statement may provide the name of more than one debtor and the name of more than one secured party. (f) The name of the decedent indicated on the order appointing the personal representative of the decedent issued by the court having jurisdiction over the collateral is sufficient as the “name of the decedent” under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a). (g) If the Department of Motor Vehicles has issued to an individual more than one driver’s licenses or identification cards of a kind described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a), paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) refers to the most recently issued license or card. (h) For purposes of this section: (1) “Driver’s license” and “identification card” includes a driver’s license or identification card issued pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 12801.9 of the Vehicle Code. (2) “Name of the settlor or testator” means either of the following: (A) If the settlor is a registered organization, the name that is stated to be the settlor’s name on the public organic record most recently filed with or issued or enacted by the settlor’s jurisdiction of organization which purports to state, amend, or restate the settlor’s name. (B) In other cases, the name of the settlor or testator indicated in the trust’s organic record.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9504. Section 9504.

A financing statement sufficiently indicates the collateral that it covers if the financing statement provides either of the following: (1) A description of the collateral pursuant to Section 9108. (2) An indication that the financing statement covers all assets or all personal property.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9505. Section 9505.

(a) A consignor, lessor, or other bailor of goods, a licensor, or a buyer of a payment intangible or promissory note may file a financing statement, or may comply with a statute or treaty described in subdivision (a) of Section 9311, using the terms “consignor,” “consignee,” “lessor,” “lessee,” “bailor,” “bailee,” “licensor,” “licensee,” “owner,” “registered owner,” “buyer,” “seller,” or words of similar import, instead of the terms “secured party” and “debtor.” (b) This chapter applies to the filing of a financing statement under subdivision (a) and, as appropriate, to compliance that is equivalent to filing a financing statement under subdivision (b) of Section 9311, but the filing or compliance is not of itself a factor in determining whether the collateral secures an obligation. If it is determined for another reason that the collateral secures an obligation, a security interest held by the consignor, lessor, bailor, licensor, owner, or buyer which attaches to the collateral is perfected by the filing or compliance.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9506. Section 9506.

(a) A financing statement substantially satisfying the requirements of this part is effective, even if it has minor errors or omissions, unless the errors or omissions make the financing statement seriously misleading. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), a financing statement that fails sufficiently to provide the name of the debtor in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 9503 is seriously misleading. (c) If a search of the records of the filing office under the debtor’s correct name, using the filing office’s standard search logic, if any, would disclose a financing statement that fails sufficiently to provide the name of the debtor in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 9503, the name provided does not make the financing statement seriously misleading. (d) For purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 9508, the “debtor’s correct name” in subdivision (c) means the correct name of the new debtor.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9507. Section 9507.

(a) A filed financing statement remains effective with respect to collateral that is sold, exchanged, leased, licensed, or otherwise disposed of and in which a security interest or agricultural lien continues, even if the secured party knows of or consents to the disposition. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c) and in Section 9508, a financing statement is not rendered ineffective if, after the financing statement is filed, the information provided in the financing statement becomes seriously misleading under Section 9506. (c) If the name that a filed financing statement provides for a debtor becomes insufficient as the name of the debtor under subdivision (a) of Section 9503 so that the financing statement becomes seriously misleading under Section 9506, the following rules apply: (1) The financing statement is effective to perfect a security interest in collateral acquired by the debtor before, or within four months after, the filed financing statement becomes seriously misleading. (2) The financing statement is not effective to perfect a security interest in collateral acquired by the debtor more than four months after the filed financing statement becomes seriously misleading, unless an amendment to the financing statement which renders the financing statement not seriously misleading is filed within four months after the financing statement became seriously misleading.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9508. Section 9508.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a filed financing statement naming an original debtor is effective to perfect a security interest in collateral in which a new debtor has or acquires rights to the extent that the financing statement would have been effective had the original debtor acquired rights in the collateral. (b) If the difference between the name of the original debtor and that of the new debtor causes a filed financing statement that is effective under subdivision (a) to be seriously misleading under Section 9506, the following rules apply: (1) The financing statement is effective to perfect a security interest in collateral acquired by the new debtor before, and within four months after, the new debtor becomes bound under subdivision (d) of Section 9203. (2) The financing statement is not effective to perfect a security interest in collateral acquired by the new debtor more than four months after the new debtor becomes bound under subdivision (d) of Section 9203 unless an initial financing statement providing the name of the new debtor is filed before the expiration of that time. (c) This section does not apply to collateral as to which a filed financing statement remains effective against the new debtor under subdivision (a) of Section 9507.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9509. Section 9509.

(a) A person may file an initial financing statement, an amendment that adds collateral covered by a financing statement, or an amendment that adds a debtor to a financing statement only if either of the following conditions is satisfied: (1) The debtor authorizes the filing in a signed record or pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c). (2) The person holds an agricultural lien that has become effective at the time of filing and the financing statement covers only collateral in which the person holds an agricultural lien. (b) By signing or becoming bound as debtor by a security agreement, a debtor or new debtor authorizes the filing of an initial financing statement, and an amendment, covering both of the following: (1) The collateral described in the security agreement. (2) Property that becomes collateral under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 9315, whether or not the security agreement expressly covers proceeds. (c) By acquiring collateral in which a security interest or agricultural lien continues under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 9315, a debtor authorizes the filing of an initial financing statement, and an amendment, covering the collateral and property that becomes collateral under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 9315. (d) A person may file an amendment other than an amendment that adds collateral covered by a financing statement or an amendment that adds a debtor to a financing statement only if either of the following conditions is satisfied: (1) The secured party of record authorizes the filing. (2) The amendment is a termination statement for a financing statement as to which the secured party of record has failed to file or send a termination statement as required by subdivision (a) or (c) of Section 9513, the debtor authorizes the filing, and the termination statement indicates that the debtor authorized it to be filed. (e) If there is more than one secured party of record for a financing statement, each secured party of record may authorize the filing of an amendment under subdivision (d).

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9510. Section 9510.

(a) A filed record is effective only to the extent that it was filed by a person that may file it under Section 9509. (b) A record authorized by one secured party of record does not affect the financing statement with respect to another secured party of record. (c) A continuation statement that is not filed within the six-month period prescribed by subdivision (d) of Section 9515 is ineffective.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9511. Section 9511.

(a) A secured party of record with respect to a financing statement is a person whose name is provided as the name of the secured party or a representative of the secured party in an initial financing statement that has been filed. If an initial financing statement is filed under subdivision (a) of Section 9514, the assignee named in the initial financing statement is the secured party of record with respect to the financing statement. (b) If an amendment of a financing statement which provides the name of a person as a secured party or a representative of a secured party is filed, the person named in the amendment is a secured party of record. If an amendment is filed under subdivision (b) of Section 9514, the assignee named in the amendment is a secured party of record. (c) A person remains a secured party of record until the filing of an amendment of the financing statement which deletes the person.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9512. Section 9512.

(a) Subject to Section 9509, a person may add or delete collateral covered by, continue or terminate the effectiveness of, or, subject to subdivision (e), otherwise amend the information provided in, a financing statement by filing an amendment that does both of the following: (1) Identifies, by its file number, the initial financing statement to which the amendment relates. (2) If the amendment relates to an initial financing statement filed or recorded in a filing office described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 9501, provides the date that the initial financing statement was filed or recorded and the information specified in subdivision (b) of Section 9502. (b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 9515, the filing of an amendment does not extend the period of effectiveness of the financing statement. (c) A financing statement that is amended by an amendment that adds collateral is effective as to the added collateral only from the date of the filing of the amendment. (d) A financing statement that is amended by an amendment that adds a debtor is effective as to the added debtor only from the date of the filing of the amendment. (e) An amendment is ineffective to the extent that it does either of the following: (1) It purports to delete all debtors and fails to provide the name of a debtor to be covered by the financing statement. (2) It purports to delete all secured parties of record and fails to provide the name of a new secured party of record.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9513. Section 9513.

(a) A secured party shall cause the secured party of record for a financing statement to file a termination statement for the financing statement if the financing statement covers consumer goods and either of the following conditions is satisfied: (1) There is no obligation secured by the collateral covered by the financing statement and no commitment to make an advance, incur an obligation, or otherwise give value. (2) The debtor did not authorize the filing of the initial financing statement. (b) To comply with subdivision (a), a secured party shall cause the secured party of record to file the termination statement in accordance with either of the following rules: (1) Within one month after there is no obligation secured by the collateral covered by the financing statement and no commitment to make an advance, incur an obligation, or otherwise give value. (2) If earlier, within 20 days after the secured party receives a signed demand from a debtor. (c) In cases not governed by subdivision (a), within 20 days after a secured party receives a signed demand from a debtor, the secured party shall cause the secured party of record for a financing statement to send to the debtor a termination statement for the financing statement or file the termination statement in the filing office if any of the following conditions is satisfied: (1) Except in the case of a financing statement covering accounts or chattel paper that has been sold or goods that are the subject of a consignment, there is no obligation secured by the collateral covered by the financing statement and no commitment to make an advance, incur an obligation, or otherwise give value. (2) The financing statement covers accounts or chattel paper that has been sold but as to which the account debtor or other person obligated has discharged its obligation. (3) The financing statement covers goods that were the subject of a consignment to the debtor but are not in the debtor’s possession. (4) The debtor did not authorize the filing of the initial financing statement. (d) Except as otherwise provided in Section 9510, upon the filing of a termination statement with the filing office, the financing statement to which the termination statement relates ceases to be effective. Except as otherwise provided in Section 9510, for purposes of subdivision (g) of Section 9519, subdivision (a) of Section 9522, and subdivision (c) of Section 9523, the filing with the filing office of a termination statement relating to a financing statement that indicates that the debtor is a transmitting utility also causes the effectiveness of the financing statement to lapse.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9514. Section 9514.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), an initial financing statement may reflect an assignment of all of the secured party’s power to authorize an amendment to the financing statement by providing the name and mailing address of the assignee as the name and address of the secured party. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), a secured party of record may assign all or part of its power to authorize an amendment to a financing statement by filing in the filing office an amendment of the financing statement which does all of the following: (1) Identifies, by its file number, the initial financing statement to which it relates. (2) Provides the name of the assignor. (3) Provides the name and mailing address of the assignee. (c) An assignment of record of a security interest in a fixture covered by a record of a mortgage which is effective as a financing statement filed as a fixture filing under subdivision (c) of Section 9502 may be made only by an assignment of record of the mortgage in the manner provided by law of this state other than the Uniform Commercial Code.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9515. Section 9515.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (b), (e), (f), and (g), a filed financing statement is effective for a period of five years after the date of filing. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (e), (f), and (g), an initial financing statement filed in connection with a public finance transaction or manufactured home transaction is effective for a period of 30 years after the date of filing if it indicates that it is filed in connection with a public finance transaction or manufactured home transaction. (c) The effectiveness of a filed financing statement lapses on the expiration of the period of its effectiveness unless before the lapse a continuation statement is filed pursuant to subdivision (d). Upon lapse, a financing statement ceases to be effective and any security interest or agricultural lien that was perfected by the financing statement becomes unperfected, unless the security interest is perfected otherwise. If the security interest or agricultural lien becomes unperfected upon lapse, it is deemed never to have been perfected as against a purchaser of the collateral for value. (d) A continuation statement may be filed only within six months before the expiration of the five-year period specified in subdivision (a) or the 30-year period specified in subdivision (b), whichever is applicable. (e) Except as otherwise provided in Section 9510, upon timely filing of a continuation statement, the effectiveness of the initial financing statement continues for a period of five years commencing on the day on which the financing statement would have become ineffective in the absence of the filing. Upon the expiration of the five-year period, the financing statement lapses in the same manner as provided in subdivision (c), unless, before the lapse, another continuation statement is filed pursuant to subdivision (d). Succeeding continuation statements may be filed in the same manner to continue the effectiveness of the initial financing statement. (f) If a debtor is a transmitting utility and a filed initial financing statement so indicates, the financing statement is effective until a termination statement is filed. (g) A record of a mortgage that is effective as a financing statement filed as a fixture filing under subdivision (c) of Section 9502 remains effective as a financing statement filed as a fixture filing until the mortgage is released or satisfied of record or its effectiveness otherwise terminates as to the real property.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9516. Section 9516.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), communication of a record to a filing office and tender of the filing fee or acceptance of the record by the filing office constitutes filing. (b) Filing does not occur with respect to a record that a filing office refuses to accept because of any of the following: (1) The record is not communicated by a method or medium of communication authorized by the filing office. (2) An amount equal to or greater than the applicable filing fee is not tendered. (3) The filing office is unable to index the record because of any of the following: (A) In the case of an initial financing statement, the record does not provide a name for the debtor. (B) In the case of an amendment or information statement, either of the following applies with respect to the record: (i) It does not identify the initial financing statement as required by Section 9512 or 9518, as applicable. (ii) It identifies an initial financing statement whose effectiveness has lapsed under Section 9515. (C) In the case of an initial financing statement that provides the name of a debtor identified as an individual or an amendment that provides a name of a debtor identified as an individual which was not previously provided in the financing statement to which the record relates, the record does not identify the debtor’s surname. (D) In the case of a record filed or recorded in the filing office described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 9501, the record does not provide a sufficient description of the real property to which it relates. (4) In the case of an initial financing statement or an amendment that adds a secured party of record, the record does not provide a name and mailing address for the secured party of record. (5) In the case of an initial financing statement or an amendment that provides a name of a debtor which was not previously provided in the financing statement to which the amendment relates, the record does not do any of the following: (A) Provide a mailing address for the debtor. (B) Indicate whether the name provided as the name of the debtor is the name of an individual or an organization. (6) In the case of an assignment reflected in an initial financing statement under subdivision (a) of Section 9514 or an amendment filed under subdivision (b) of Section 9514, the record does not provide a name and mailing address for the assignee. (7) In the case of a continuation statement, the record is not filed within the six-month period prescribed by subdivision (d) of Section 9515. (c) For purposes of subdivision (b), both of the following rules apply: (1) A record does not provide information if the filing office is unable to read or decipher the information. (2) A record that does not indicate that it is an amendment or identify an initial financing statement to which it relates, as required by Section 9512, 9514, or 9518, is an initial financing statement. (d) A record that is communicated to the filing office with tender of the filing fee, but which the filing office refuses to accept for a reason other than one set forth in subdivision (b), is effective as a filed record except as against a purchaser of the collateral which gives value in reasonable reliance upon the absence of the record from the files.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9518. Section 9518.

(a) A person may file in the filing office an information statement with respect to a record indexed there under the person’s name if the person believes that the record is inaccurate or was wrongfully filed. (b) An information statement filed under subdivision (a) shall do all of the following: (1) Identify the record to which it relates by both of the following: (A) The file number assigned to the initial financing statement to which the record relates. (B) If the information statement relates to a record filed or recorded in a filing office described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 9501, the date that the initial financing statement was filed or recorded, and the information specified in subdivision (b) of Section 9502. (2) Indicate that it is an information statement. (3) Provide the basis for the person’s belief that the record is inaccurate and indicate the manner in which the person believes the record should be amended to cure any inaccuracy or provide the basis for the person’s belief that the record was wrongfully filed. (c) A person may file in the filing office an information statement with respect to a record filed there if the person is a secured party of record with respect to the financing statement to which the record relates and believes that the person that filed the record was not entitled to do so under subdivision (d) of Section 9509. (d) An information statement filed under subdivision (c) shall do all of the following: (1) Identify the record to which it relates by both of the following: (A) The file number assigned to the initial financing statement to which the record relates. (B) If the information statement relates to a record filed or recorded in a filing office described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 9501, the date that the initial financing statement was filed or recorded and the information specified in subdivision (b) of Section 9502. (2) Indicate that it is an information statement. (3) Provide the basis for the person’s belief that the person that filed the record was not entitled to do so under subdivision (d) of Section 9509. (e) The filing of an information statement does not affect the effectiveness of an initial financing statement or other filed record.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9519. Section 9519.

(a) For each record filed in a filing office, the filing office shall do all of the following: (1) Assign a unique number to the filed record. (2) Create a record that bears the number assigned to the filed record and the date and time of filing. (3) Maintain the filed record for public inspection. (4) Index the filed record in accordance with subdivisions (c), (d), and (e). (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (i), a file number assigned after January 1, 2002, must include a digit that: (1) Is mathematically derived from or related to the other digits of the file number. (2) Aids the filing office in determining whether a number communicated as the file number includes a single-digit or transpositional error. (c) Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (d) and (e), the filing office shall do both of the following: (1) Index an initial financing statement according to the name of the debtor and index all filed records relating to the initial financing statement in a manner that associates with one another an initial financing statement and all filed records relating to the initial financing statement. (2) Index a record that provides a name of a debtor which was not previously provided in the financing statement to which the record relates also according to the name that was not previously provided. (d) If a financing statement is filed as a fixture filing or covers as-extracted collateral or timber to be cut, it must be recorded and the filing office shall index it in accordance with both of the following rules: (1) Under the names of the debtor and of each owner of record shown on the financing statement as if they were the mortgagors under a mortgage of the real property described. (2) To the extent that the law of this state provides for indexing of records of mortgages under the name of the mortgagee, under the name of the secured party as if the secured party were the mortgagee thereunder, or, if indexing is by description, as if the financing statement were a record of a mortgage of the real property described. (e) If a financing statement is filed as a fixture filing or covers as-extracted collateral or timber to be cut, the filing office shall index an assignment filed under subdivision (a) of Section 9514 or an amendment filed under subdivision (b) of Section 9514 in accordance with both of the following rules: (1) Under the name of the assignor as grantor. (2) To the extent that the law of this state provides for indexing a record of the assignment of a mortgage under the name of the assignee, under the name of the assignee. (f) The filing office shall maintain a capability to do both of the following: (1) Retrieve a record by the name of the debtor and by either of the following: (A) If the filing office is described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 9501, by the file number assigned to the initial financing statement to which the record relates and the date that the record was filed or recorded. (B) If the filing office is described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 9501, by the file number assigned to the initial financing statement to which the record relates. (2) Associate and retrieve with one another an initial financing statement and each filed record relating to the initial financing statement. (g) The filing office may not remove a debtor’s name from the index until one year after the effectiveness of a financing statement naming the debtor lapses under Section 9515 with respect to all secured parties of record. (h) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (i), the filing office shall perform the acts required by subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, at the time and in the manner prescribed by filing-office rule, but not later than two business days after the filing office receives the record in question. (i) Subdivisions (b) and (h) do not apply to a filing office described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 9501.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9520. Section 9520.

(a) A filing office shall refuse to accept a record for filing for a reason set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 9516 and may refuse to accept a record for filing only for a reason set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 9516. (b) If a filing office refuses to accept a record for filing, it shall communicate to the person that presented the record the fact of and reason for the refusal and the date and time the record would have been filed had the filing office accepted it. The communication shall be made at the time and in the manner prescribed by filing-office rule, but in the case of a filing office described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 9501, in no event more than two business days after the filing office receives the record. (c) A filed financing statement satisfying subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 9502 is effective, even if the filing office is required to refuse to accept it for filing under subdivision (a). However, Section 9338 applies to a filed financing statement providing information described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 9516 which is incorrect at the time the financing statement is filed. (d) If a record communicated to a filing office provides information that relates to more than one debtor, this chapter applies as to each debtor separately.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9521. Section 9521.

(a) A filing office that accepts written records may not refuse to accept a written initial financing statement in the following form and format except for a reason set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 9516: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NOTICE OF INCOMPLETE TEXT: The UCC Financing Statement form appears in the hard-copy publication of the chaptered bill. See Sec. 21, Chapter 531 (pp. 30–31), Statutes of 2013. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * (b) A filing office that accepts written records may not refuse to accept a written record in the following form and format except for a reason set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 9516: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NOTICE OF INCOMPLETE TEXT: The UCC Financing Statement Amendment form appears in the hard-copy publication of the chaptered bill. See Sec. 21, Chapter 531 (pp. 33–34), Statutes of 2013. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9522. Section 9522.

(a) The filing office shall maintain a record of the information provided in a filed financing statement for at least one year after the effectiveness of the financing statement has lapsed under Section 9515 with respect to all secured parties of record. The record shall be retrievable by using the name of the debtor and either of the following: (1) If the record was filed or recorded in a filing office described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 9501, by using the file number assigned to the initial financing statement to which the record relates and the date the record was filed or recorded. (2) If the record was filed in a filing office described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 9501, by using the file number assigned to the initial financing statement to which the record relates. (b) Except to the extent that a statute governing disposition of public records provides otherwise, the filing office immediately may destroy any written record evidencing a financing statement. However, if the filing office destroys a written record, it shall maintain another record of the financing statement which complies with subdivision (a).

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9523. Section 9523.

(a) If a person that files a written record requests an acknowledgment of the filing, the filing office shall send to the person an image of the record showing the number assigned to the record pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 9519 and the date and time of the filing of the record. However, if the person furnishes a copy of the record to the filing office, the filing office may instead do both of the following: (1) Note upon the copy the number assigned to the record pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 9519 and the date and time of the filing of the record. (2) Send the copy to the person. (b) If a person files a record other than a written record, the filing office shall communicate to the person an acknowledgment that provides all of the following information: (1) The information in the record. (2) The number assigned to the record pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 9519. (3) The date and time of the filing of the record. (c) The filing office shall communicate or otherwise make available in a record all of the following information to any person that requests it: (1) Whether there is on file on a date and time specified by the filing office, but not a date earlier than three business days before the filing office receives the request, any financing statement that satisfies all of the following conditions: (A) It designates a particular debtor or, if the request so states, designates a particular debtor at the address specified in the request. (B) It has not lapsed under Section 9515 with respect to all secured parties of record. (C) If the request so states, it has lapsed under Section 9515 and a record of which is maintained by the filing office under subdivision (a) of Section 9522. (2) The date and time of filing of each financing statement. (3) The information provided in each financing statement. (d) In complying with its duty under subdivision (c), the filing office may communicate information in any medium. However, if requested, the filing office shall communicate information by issuing its written certificate. (e) The filing office described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 9501 shall perform the acts required by subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, at the time and in the manner prescribed by filing-office rule, but not later than two business days after the filing office receives the request. (f) At least weekly, the filing office described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 9501 shall offer to sell or license to the public on a nonexclusive basis, in bulk, copies of all records filed in it under this chapter, in every medium from time to time available to the filing office.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9524. Section 9524.

Delay by the filing office beyond a time limit prescribed by this chapter is excused if both of the following conditions are satisfied: (1) The delay is caused by interruption of communication or computer facilities, war, emergency conditions, failure of equipment, or other circumstances beyond control of the filing office. (2) The filing office exercises reasonable diligence under the circumstances.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9525. Section 9525.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (d), the fee for filing and indexing a record under this chapter is set forth in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) of Section 12194 of the Government Code. (b) The number of names required to be indexed does not affect the amount of the fee in subdivision (a). (c) The fee for responding to a request for information from the filing office, including for issuing a certificate showing whether there is on file any financing statement naming a particular debtor, is as follows: (1) Ten dollars ($10) if the request is communicated in writing. (2) Five dollars ($5) if the request is communicated by another medium authorized by a rule adopted by the filing office. (d) This section does not require a fee with respect to a record of a mortgage which is effective as a financing statement filed as a fixture filing or as a financing statement covering as-extracted collateral or timber to be cut under subdivision (c) of Section 9502. However, the recording and satisfaction fees that otherwise would be applicable to the record of the mortgage apply.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9526. Section 9526.

(a) The Secretary of State shall adopt and publish rules to implement this division. The filing-office rules shall be consistent with this division. (b) To keep the filing-office rules and practices of the filing office in harmony with the rules and practices of filing offices in other jurisdictions that enact substantially this chapter, and to keep the technology used by the filing office compatible with the technology used by filing offices in other jurisdictions that enact substantially this chapter, the Secretary of State, so far as is consistent with the purposes, policies, and provisions of this division, in adopting, amending, and repealing filing-office rules, shall do all of the following: (1) Consult with filing offices in other jurisdictions that enact substantially this chapter. (2) Consult the most recent version of the Model Rules promulgated by the International Association of Corporate Administrators or any successor organization. (3) Take into consideration the rules and practices of, and the technology used by, filing offices in other jurisdictions that enact substantially this chapter.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9526.5. Section 9526.5.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) “Official filing” means the permanent archival filing of all instruments, papers, records, and attachments as accepted for filing by a filing office. (2) “Public filing” means a filing that is an exact copy of an official filing except that any social security number contained in the copied filing is truncated. The public filing shall have the same legal force and effect as the official filing. (3) “Truncate” means to redact at least the first five digits of a social security number. (4) “Truncated social security number” means a social security number that displays no more than the last four digits of the number. (b) For every filing containing an untruncated social security number filed before August 1, 2007, a filing office shall create a public filing. (c) A filing office shall post a notice on its Internet Web site informing filers not to include social security numbers in any portion of their filings. A filing office’s online filing system shall not contain a field requesting a social security number. (d) Beginning August 1, 2007, for every filing containing an untruncated social security number filed by means other than the filing office’s Internet Web site, a filing office shall create a public filing. (e) When a public filing version of an official filing exists, both of the following shall apply: (1) Upon a request for inspection, copying, or other public disclosure of an official filing that is not exempt from disclosure, a filing office shall make available only the public filing version of that filing. (2) A filing office shall publicly disclose an official filing only in response to a subpoena or order of a court of competent jurisdiction. (3) This article does not restrict, delay, or modify access to an official filing, or modify existing agreements regarding access to an official filing, prior to the creation and availability of a public filing version of that official filing. (f) A filing office shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section and shall not be liable for failure to truncate a social security number if the office uses due diligence to locate social security numbers in official records and truncate the social security numbers in the public filing version of those official filings. The use of an automated program with a high rate of accuracy shall be deemed to be due diligence. (g) In the event that a filing office fails to truncate a social security number contained in a record pursuant to subdivision (b) or (d), a person may request that the filing office truncate the social security number contained in that record. Notwithstanding that a filing office may be deemed to be in compliance with this section pursuant to subdivision (f), a filing office that receives a request that identifies the exact location of an untruncated social security number that is required to be truncated pursuant to subdivision (b) or (d) within a specifically identified record, shall truncate that number within 10 business days of receiving the request. The public filing with the truncated social security number shall replace the record with the untruncated number. (h) The Secretary of State shall not produce or make available financing statements in the form and format described in Section 9521 that provide a space identified for the disclosure of the social security number of an individual. (i) The Secretary of State shall produce and make available financing statements in the form and format described in Section 9521, except that the financing statements shall not provide a space identified for the disclosure of the social security number of an individual. (j) This section does not apply to a county recorder.

Cal. Commercial Code - COM § 9528. Section 9528.

Upon the request of any person, the Secretary of State shall issue a combined certificate showing the information as to financing statements as specified in Section 9523, the information as to state tax liens as specified in Section 7226 of the Government Code, the information as to attachment liens as specified in Sections 488.375 and 488.405 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the information as to judgment liens as specified in Section 697.580 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and the information as to federal liens as specified in Section 2103 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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