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How to Perform a Public Records Search

Sonia Nair
Many a time, a public records search may prove useful to gain information about a particular person or a subject matter. Here are some tips to perform this type of search.
Imagine that you are hiring an employee, about whom, you want to know more. Your need is genuine, as this prospective employee is required to handle some important and confidential matters concerning your firm. In such a case, you may opt for a background check to gain more information about this person. Such background checks have become a routine procedure in various organizations.
You may come across situations, where you have to go for a public records search, in order to come up with information about some person or subject matter. You are about to buy a home, and you want to know the price for which the current owner had bought it. This can be done by searching the records of home sales. You want to conduct a criminal background check on your new neighbor, who looks suspicious.
In such a case, you may opt for a criminal records search. You may also check the bankruptcy records, so as to have an idea about the financial past of some person. So, this type of search may become unavoidable at times, and a basic knowledge about it may prove helpful in such circumstances.

Public Records Search

Public records are documents regarding public business. Such documents are maintained by concerned authorities. There are various types of public records regarding births, deaths, marriages, divorces, home sales, sex offenders, and bankruptcy.
These records are maintained by the concerned authorities of specific jurisdictions. While some of these records are open for the public, some others are not, due to security concerns, or for any other reason.
  • In order to perform a public records search, you may contact the concerned authorities in person, or through mail, or post.
  • In case, you approach them personally, you have to follow the instructions given by the concerned official. In some cases, you may be required to remit a nominal fee.
  • Compared to these two methods, the third option is the easiest one. It is nothing other than searching online. Nowadays, some of these public records can be accessed online, and in this case too, you may or may not be required to remit a nominal amount to use the service.
  • There are different websites that maintain some of the public records, and you may also avail their service. You can get information about such websites through your favorite search engines.
  • Some of these websites may offer such search for free, whereas others may charge you. In some cases, you may conduct initial searches for free, but further search may require you to remit fees.
  • All you have to do is to type the name of the person, about whom, you want the information. Any extra information about him/her, may also prove useful for the search. Information, like the native place, date of birth, or parents' names, can be used to narrow down the search results.
There are websites that are specialized in certain areas, like deaths, divorces, bankruptcy records, property records, and sex offenses. If you want such specialized information, try such websites.
You may resort to any of the above said methods, but searching online is the easiest one. However, while searching online, compare the results of more than one website, so as to check the authenticity of the information.
Use whatever information you have, to narrow down the search results, and find out the concerned person. If you are not comfortable with the above said methods, you may always opt for the age-old method - private investigators. Hire an expert investigator, who will do the search for you.