Standard Search Logic

What does your standard search logic do?

When you enter a debtor's name and click on "Search", our standard search logic will "normalize" the name and then check for matches. Only the standard search uses our standard search logic.

What does "normalize" mean?

"Normalized" text is text that is modified in order to make it consistent. This helps to improve the results of a standard search.

How do you normalize names?

Organizations:

  • The name is converted to upper case.
  • Ampersands (&) are converted to "and".
  • Characters that are not 0-9 or A-Z, including punctuation, are replaced by a space.
  • Spaces at the beginning or end of the name are removed.
  • If there are two (or more) spaces in a row, extra spaces are removed and only one will remain. 
  • "A", "an" and "the" at the beginning or end of a name are removed.
    • "A" is not removed if it is followed by "and" and a space (such as "A and M, Inc." or "A & M, Inc.")
  • "Ending noise words" are ignored (e.g., "company", "Corp", "Inc", etc.)
  • All spaces are removed.
  • Only names that are an exact match to the normalized name are included in the results.

For example, if you searched for "The ABC Company", your results would include:

  • ABC Co
  • ABC Company
  • ABC Inc
  • ABC LLC
  • ABC Partnership
  • The ABC Company

Individuals:

  • Only the last name, first name, and middle name are used.
  • A last name is required
  • The name is converted to upper case
  • Any characters that are not 0-9 or A-Z, including punctuation, are replaced by a space.
  • Spaces in the last name, first name, and middle name are removed.
  • Only last names that are an exact match to the normalized last name are included in the results.

You can search for an individual using any of these combinations:

You may need to swipe or scroll sideways to see the whole table.
Search terms A search for Will return Result includes records that
Search terms Last name A search for Smith Will return Smith Result includes records that
  • Match the exact last name.
  • Have no first name.
  • Have no middle name.
Search terms Last name, first initial A search for Smith, J Will return Smith, J
Smith, John
Smith, John A
Smith, John Brandon
Result includes records that
  • Match the exact last name.
  • Have any first name that begins with the first initial.
  • Have any middle initial or name.
Search terms Last name, first initial, middle initial A search for Smith, J J Will return Smith, J James
Smith, John J
Smith, John Jackson
Smith, John James
Result includes records that
  • Match the exact last name.
  • Have any first name that begins with the first initial.
  • Have any middle name that begins with the middle initial.
Search terms Last name, first initial, middle name A search for Smith, J Jean Will return Smith, J Jean
Smith, Jane Jean
Smith, Jane Jeanette
Result includes records that
  • Match the exact last name.
  • Have any middle name that begins with the middle name.
  • Have any first name that begins with the first initial.
Search terms Last name, first name A search for Smith, John Will return Smith, John
Smith, John Adam
Smith, John B
Smith, Johnson
Result includes records that
  • Match the exact last name.
  • Have any name that begins with the first name.
  • Have any middle initial or name.
Search terms Last name, first name, middle initial A search for Smith, John A Will return Smith, John A
Smith, John Adam
Smith, John Andrew
Smith, Johnson A
Result includes records that
  • Match the exact last name.
  • Have any first name that begins with the first name.
  • Have any middle name that begins with the middle initial.
Search terms Last name, first name, middle name A search for Smith, John James Will return Smith, John James
Smith, John Jameson
Smith, Johnny James
Smith, Johnny Jameson
Result includes records that
  • Match the exact last name.
  • Have any first name that begins with the first name.
  • Have any middle name that begins with the middle name.