R154-2-504. Search Methodology

  (1)(a) Search results are produced by the application of search logic to the name presented to the filing officer.

  (b) Human judgment does not play a role in determining the results of the search.

  (2) Standard search logic. The following rules describe the filing office's standard search logic and apply to all searches except those where the search request specifies that a non-standard search logic be used.

  (a) There is no limit to the number of matches that may be returned in response to the search criteria.

  (b) No distinction is made between upper and lower case letters.

  (c)(i) Punctuation marks and accents are disregarded.

  (ii) For the purposes of this rule, punctuation and accents include all characters other than:

  (A) the numerals 0 through 9; and

  (B) the letters A through Z, whether upper or lower case, of the English alphabet.

  (d) To the extent practicable as determined by the filing office's programming of its UCC information management system, words and abbreviations at the end of an organization name that indicate the existence or nature of the organization are treated as follows:

  (i) All spaces are disregarded.

  (ii)(A) For first personal name and additional name(s)/initial(s) of individual debtor names:

  (I) initials are treated as the logical equivalent of all names that begin with such initials; and

  (II) first personal name and no additional name(s)/initial(s) is equated with all additional name(s)/initial(s).

  (B) For example, a search request for "John A. Smith" would cause the search to retrieve all filings against all individual debtors with:

  (I) "John" or the initial "J" as the first personal name;

  (II) "Smith" as the surname; and

  (III) the initial "A" or any name beginning with "A" in the additional name(s)/initial(s) field.

  (C) If the search request were for "John Smith" (first personal name and surname with no designation in the additional name(s)/initial(s) field), the search would retrieve all filings against individual debtors with:

  (I) "John" or the initial J as the first personal name;

  (II) "Smith" as the surname; and

  (III) any name, any initial, or no name or initial in the additional name(s)/initial(s) field.

  (iii) If the name being searched is the surname of an individual debtor name without any first personal name or additional name(s)/initial(s) provided, the search will retrieve from the UCC information management system all financing statements with individual debtor names that consist of only the surname.

  (3) After using the preceding rules to modify the name being searched, the search will retrieve from the UCC information management system all Unlapsed Records, or, if requested by the searcher, all Active Records that pertain to financing statements with debtor names that exactly match the modified name being searched.

  (4) Non-standard search logic. Non-standard search logic, such as a "wild card" search can be applied to a non-certified search upon request.