Search Logic

PURPOSE: This rule explains the method through which the filing officer shall conduct searches. (1) Search results shall be produced by applying standardized search logic to the name presented to the filing officer. Human judgment does not play a role in determining the results of the search, except with respect to supplemental responses regarding individual debtor names that are not automated. The following guidelines apply to searches: (A) There is no limit to the number of matches that may be returned in response to the search criteria; (B) The characters searched are letters “a” through “z” and numbers “0” through “9” and all other characters are disregarded; (C) No distinction is made between upper and lower case letters; (D) Punctuation marks, accents and suffixes are disregarded; (E) Words and abbreviations at the end of a name that indicate the existence or nature of an organization are disregarded in the search. Such words include, but are not limited to: association, bank, church, college, company, corporation, club, foundation, fund, incorporated, institute, limited, society, syndicate, trust, union, limited partnership, LP, limited liability company, LLC, limited liability partnership, LLP, or like words or abbreviations of the foregoing. These words and abbreviations are set forth in the “Ending Noise Words” list as promulgated and adopted by the International Association of Commercial Administrators (IACA); (F) The words “a” and “the” at the beginning of the search criteria are disregarded; (G) All spaces are disregarded; (H) For first and middle names of individuals, initials are treated as the logical equivalent of all names that begin with such initials, and the first name and no middle name or initial is equated with all middle names and initials. For example, a search request for “John A. Smith” would cause the search to retrieve all filings 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 or no name or initial in the middle name field. Additionally, a search request for “John Smith” (first and last names with no designation in the middle name field), would cause the search to retrieve all filings against individual debtors with “John” or the initial “J” as the first name, “Smith” as the last name and any name or initial or no name or initial in the middle name; and (I) The word “and” and the symbol “&” are equated with each other. (2) After using the preceding rules to modify the name of the requested debtor to be searched, the search results will reveal only active filings unless the search request explicitly states that lapsed filings are to be included in the search results. AUTHORITY: section 400.9-526, RSMo Supp. 2001.* Original rule filed Sept. 30, 2002, effective March 30, 2003. *Original authority: 400.9-526, RSMo 2001.