{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lien-search","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/lien-search","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"lien-search","term":"Lien Search","aka":"UCC search","group":"Doing the deal","definition":"A process to discover any existing legal claims (liens) against a business's assets or your personal assets. It ensures the collateral offered for the loan is clear of prior claims.","what_it_means":"Your lender will conduct a UCC lien search on the business's assets and a title search on any real estate you're pledging. This confirms that the lender can take a first lien position, meaning they're first in line to get paid if assets are liquidated.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lien-search","official_sources":[{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"},{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"}],"related":[{"slug":"lien","term":"Lien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lien"},{"slug":"ucc-lien","term":"UCC lien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/ucc-lien"},{"slug":"first-lien","term":"First lien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/first-lien"},{"slug":"perfect-lien","term":"Perfect lien","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/perfect-lien"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"When is a lender required to conduct an environmental records search for real estate collateral?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-is-a-lender-required-to-conduct-an-environmental-records-search-for-real-estate-colla"},{"question":"When must a lender take a lien on specific equipment for collateral, beyond a blanket lien?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-must-a-lender-take-a-lien-on-specific-equipment-for-collateral-beyond-a-blanket-lien"},{"question":"Is a separate lien required on each piece of equipment if a blanket lien is already in place?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/is-a-separate-lien-required-on-each-piece-of-equipment-if-a-blanket-lien-is-already-in-pla"},{"question":"Does the SBA take a lien on my personal home as collateral?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-the-sba-take-a-lien-on-my-personal-home-as-collateral"},{"question":"Is a blanket lien on all business assets a standard SBA requirement?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/is-a-blanket-lien-on-all-business-assets-a-standard-sba-requirement"},{"question":"What is the SBA's general requirement for lien position on business collateral?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-is-the-sba-s-general-requirement-for-lien-position-on-business-collateral"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Lien Search","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lien-search","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}