Public Record Searches

- Promise and pitfalls of the Internet

The arrival of the Internet, with its ability to transmit detailed information almost instantly from any point on the planet Earth to any other, has changed the process of the public records search dramatically. A few clicks of a computer mouse can summon reams of data about remote people and places - making public record searches easy and convenient, and simultaneously eroding the boundaries of privacy to some extent.

Public records searches can put a wide variety of information at the user's fingertips from almost anywhere on the globe where a computer can be connected to the Internet - from the home, to the library, to a laptop at an airport or a beach resort. These records can include data on people - such as criminal records, past addresses and job information, telephone numbers, marriage and divorces, birth records, death information, and much more. Other public records detail property ownership, the details of businesses, mortgage terms, and other information relating to places and organizations rather than people.

Tempting as this array of data may be to the enterprising seeker for a public records search may be, however, there are a few considerations which should be borne in mind before the searcher plunges headlong into the flood of records sites. One of the most important is that although some information is legal to obtain in some states, the legality does not necessarily cross state boundaries.

For example, criminal records may be available legally in Oklahoma, but not in Nebraska. In this case, some public records search companies based in Oklahoma may offer criminal records for every state, but the searcher may not be aware that it is illegal to obtain Nebraska criminal records even through an Oklahoma company. Thus, they may unwittingly pay for data which they cannot actually use in any public arena, and which might even get them in trouble for privacy violations.

Generally, legal restrictions are applied on the basis of a person's state of residence, not on the location of the searcher or the public records search company. When beginning a search, it is wise to discover the major restrictions on public information in the state where the search subject lives. This should be done before any records searches are paid for. It is not necessary to ferret out every obscure law relating to privacy, but a web search to determine if the desired information is actually legally obtainable will save disappointment later.

Prudence also warns us to check the credentials of the public records search company that we are about to use. Although many websites offer legitimate information, others foist off inaccurate or even completely false data on the searcher. Such websites are interested only in quick money, and make no effort to furnish professional, honest service. Again, a few simple precautions are enough to forestall this problem. Checking the company's claims - the more exaggerated the claims, the more likely the data is to be inaccurate, seeing if it has Better Business Bureau or other third-party approval, and getting a general feel for the firm's professionalism all serve as an excellent basis for a making a good choice.

Luckily, there are also many legitimate companies, and free resources also exist, including genealogical records through certain websites, government databases such as the sex offender list, and so on. With a little common sense and a few straightforward precautions, anyone can avoid the pitfalls and make the most of the promise of a public records search on the Internet.