A Wisconsin Financing Statement is a legally binding document that provides notice to the public of a secured party's interest in personal property used as collateral for a loan. This statement is usually filed with the Wisconsin Secretary of State's office or the county clerk's office, depending on the type of collateral involved. In Wisconsin, there are two main types of financing statements that can be filed: the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)1 Financing Statement and the Agricultural Lien Financing Statement. The UCC1 Financing Statement is the most common type and is used for general transactions involving personal property. It is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code, which provides rules for secured transactions and promotes consistency across different jurisdictions. The UCC1 Financing Statement must include specific information, such as the names and addresses of both the debtor (the party owing the debt) and the secured party (the party with a security interest in the collateral), a description of the collateral, and the duration of the filing. On the other hand, the Agricultural Lien Financing Statement is used specifically for transactions related to agricultural products and services. It is governed by Wisconsin's agricultural lien laws and must contain similar information as the UCC1 Financing Statement, such as the names and addresses of the parties involved and a detailed description of the agricultural collateral. Both types of financing statements serve an essential function in protecting the rights of both debtors and secured parties. By filing these statements, creditors can publicly establish their priority interest in the collateral, which ensures that they are paid first if the debtor defaults on the loan. Additionally, potential creditors can search for existing financing statements to determine if any prior claims exist on a specific piece of collateral. In summary, a Wisconsin Financing Statement is a vital legal document used in secured transactions to establish a creditor's interest in personal property. There are different types of financing statements in Wisconsin, including the UCC1 Financing Statement for general transactions and the Agricultural Lien Financing Statement for agricultural-related transactions. By filing these statements correctly, creditors protect their rights and establish priority in case of default or other legal actions.