A North Carolina Termination Statement is a legal document used to officially terminate or end a security interest in personal property that was previously filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State. This statement is typically filed to provide notice that a certain security interest, such as a lien or encumbrance on personal property, has been fully satisfied, released, or otherwise terminated. The key purpose of filing a North Carolina Termination Statement is to remove the security interest from public record, signaling that the property is no longer encumbered. This is essential as it prevents any potential confusion or disputes regarding the property's ownership and ensures clean title for future transactions. Various types of North Carolina Termination Statements can be filed, depending on the specific situation and nature of the security interest being terminated: 1. UCC-3 Termination Statement: This is the most common type of termination statement, used to terminate a financing statement governed under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). It is typically filed when a loan or debt has been fully paid off, and the creditor releases their interest in the collateral. 2. Partial Termination Statement: Sometimes, only a portion of a security interest needs to be terminated because the debtor has paid off part of their debt. In such cases, a partial termination statement is filed to release the specific collateral related to the paid-off portion, while leaving the remaining collateral subject to the original security interest. 3. Amendment and Termination Statement: Occasionally, a termination statement is filed along with an amendment to modify or update the original financing statement. This type of statement indicates that a change has been made to the original security agreement, while also terminating the specified security interest. 4. Release of Mortgage: While not strictly referred to as a termination statement, a release of mortgage is essentially a termination of the security interest created by a mortgage on real estate. This document is filed when a mortgage has been paid in full, releasing the property from the mortgage lien. When filing a North Carolina Termination Statement, it is critical to provide accurate information about the debtor, secured party, and the filing number of the original financing statement. This ensures that the termination statement is linked to the correct security interest and properly removes it from public records. In summary, a North Carolina Termination Statement is a legal document used to formally terminate or release a security interest in personal property. Whether it's a UCC-3 Termination, Partial Termination, Amendment and Termination, or Release of Mortgage, these statements serve to eliminate any existing claims on the specified collateral and establish clear ownership rights.