Risk Management Blog

In today’s global marketplace, public documents such as birth certificates, corporate charters, patent registrations, etc. are regularly used in countries other than where they were issued. Securing proper certification for documents to be used in an international transaction can be a bewildering and cumbersome process. Over the next few weeks, we will publish a series of blog posts addressing one of the more confusing topics in public… >> READ MORE

Happy 2011! It is a new year and there is a lot going on in the world of due diligence and risk management. What follows is a brief overview of a few stories we will be watching and blogging about this upcoming year. Increased Processing Times Faced with dramatic budget cuts, State filing offices are struggling to meet the public’s demand for quick and efficient access to public records. In 2011, we are likely to see even more delays… >> READ MORE

Back in 2009, we published a blog post titled, “Filing UCC’s in Canada.” Since that time, several readers have posted responses, asking for more information on the process of filing in Canada. We have contacted each of these individually and offered help where we can. Herein, we revisit the topic and attempt to provide some additional information that we hope our readers will find useful. Canada governs commercial transactions under… >> READ MORE

Last week, we wrapped up our discussion on state direct database searches with an overview of some drawbacks associated with using the UCC search feature on a state’s website. Now we are ready to enter the final stretch of the Evaluating State UCC Search Options blog series by turning our attention to proprietary databases. Herein, we will look at the benefits of using a proprietary database to perform state UCC searches. What is a… >> READ MORE

Welcome back for this, the final post of our Evaluating State UCC Search Options blog series! In our previous post on the benefits of a proprietary database, we noted that private search systems offer several key benefits including broad-based name searching capabilities, expansive online image libraries and consistency in search logic and searching practices. This week we will examine some things to watch out for when using a proprietary… >> READ MORE

We express our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for your contributions to our success this year.Best wishes to you and your family for a joyous holiday season and a happy new year. Please note, in celebration of the holiday our offices will be closed December 24, 2010. Be sure to check back next week for the final installment of the Evaluating State UCC Search Options blog series where we discuss the drawbacks of a proprietary… >> READ MORE

On the surface, a state direct database search appears to solve several of the key problems associated with a certified search. A certified search is expensive while a state direct database is offered at low to no cost on a state’s website. Whereas turn-around can be slow for a certified listing, a state direct database search offers immediate results. A certified search uses exact name search logic, but a state direct search engine may… >> READ MORE

This week, we continue our series on evaluating state UCC search options. Please refer to our previous blog posts for a discussion of the benefits and drawbacks of a certified UCC search. Now, we turn our attention to the benefits of a state direct database search. What is a State Direct Database Search? We are using the term “state direct database search” to describe a UCC search that is generated using an online search feature… >> READ MORE

In this, our final installment of the Tax Lien Searching blog series, we offer up some tips for making sense of your tax lien search results. What follows is a brief discussion of three important considerations when reviewing tax lien search results. Lien Amount Tax liens are filed for a specific dollar amount, representing the past-due tax balance and any interest or penalty charges assessed at the time of the lien’s preparation.… >> READ MORE

Welcome back for the second installment of our blog series on evaluating state UCC search options! Last week we defined a certified search and talked a bit about the benefits of state-certified UCC searches. This week, we’ll touch on the drawbacks of a certified search. Locating Tax Liens The first potential problem with a certified UCC search relates to locating tax liens. Many state filing offices administer tax lien records… >> READ MORE