Search results are produced by the application of search logic to the name presented to the filing office. Human judgment does not play a role in determining the results of the search.

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

   1. (a) There is no limit to the number of matches that may be returned in response to the search criteria.
   2. (b) No distinction is made between upper and lower case letters.
   3. (c) The character "&" (the ampersand) is deleted and replaced with the characters "and" in each place it appears in the name.
   4. (d) Punctuation marks and accents are disregarded. Punctuation and accents include all characters other than the numerals 0 through 9 and the letters A through Z (in any case) of the English alphabet.

   5. (e) The following words and abbreviations at the end of an organization name that indicate the existence or nature of the organization are "disregarded" to the extent practicable as determined by the filing office's programming of its UCC information management system:

      ATTORNEYS AT LAW, MEDICAL DOCTORS PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, MEDICAL DOCTORS PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION, SERVICE CORPORATION, PROFESSIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY" & ", PROFESSIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY CO, REGISTERED LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, GENERAL PARTNERSHIP, AS TRUSTEE, REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST, BUSINESS TRUST, FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, CREDIT UNION, FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK" & ", NATIONAL BANK, SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP, GEN PART, PROF ASSN, PROF CORP, INCORPORATED, ASSOCIATION, CORPORATION, PARTNERSHIP, ASSOCIATES, CHARTERED, CHARTER, COMPANY, PARTNERS, RAILROAD, LIMITED, PARTSHP, TRUSTEE, AGENCY, ASSOC, TRUST, ASSN, ASSC, BANK, CORP, LTEE, L T E E" & ", MDPA, M D P A, MDPC, M D P C, PLLC, P L L C, REIT, R E I T, RLLP, L L L P, DBA, D B A, FCU, F C U, FSB, F S B, INC, LLP, L L P, LLC, L L C, LTD, SPA, S P A, CO, CU, C U, GP, G P, LC, L C, LP, L P, NA, N A, PA, P A, PC, P C, P S, PS, RR, SA, S A, SC, SP, S P

   6. (f) The word "the" at the beginning of an organization debtor name is disregarded.
   7. (g) All spaces are disregarded.

   8. (h) For first and middle names of individual debtor names, initials are treated as the logical equivalent of all names that begin with those initials. For example, a search request for "John A. Smith" would cause the search to retrieve all records against all individual debtors with "John" or the initial "J" as the first name, "Smith" as the last name, and with the initial "A" or any name beginning with "A" in the middle name field.

      A first name with no middle name or initial is equated with all middle names and initials. For example, if the search request were for "John Smith" (first and last names with no designation in the middle name field), the search would retrieve all records against an individual with "John" or the initial "J" as the first name, "Smith" as the last name, and with any name or initial, or no name or initial, in the middle name field.

   9. (i) If the name being searched is the last name of an individual name without any first or middle name provided, the search will retrieve from the UCC information management system all unlapsed records or, if requested by the searcher, all active records with individual names that consist of only that last name.
   10. (j) 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 with names that, after being modified as provided in this rule, exactly match the modified name being searched.
2. (2) Nonstandard search logic. The filing office provides a flexible Browse Names tool to help the searcher narrow the search to one specific name for the standard search request. It helps identify UCC records filed under old laws or under other laws (like IRS liens). It also helps to find names with alternate spellings, abbreviations and other variations.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 62A.9A-526, chapters 60.68, 60.13, and 9A.82 RCW. WSR 09-12-067, § 308-391-503, filed 5/29/09, effective 6/29/09.]