Accessing Local, State And Federal Public Records

Courts and government agencies at all levels of government - local, state, and federal - are increasingly making public records available on web sites. Some jurisdictions are just beginning, while others have done so since the mid-1990s.

There are two ways public records are accessible electronically. Some jurisdictions post them on their government web sites, thereby providing free or low-cost access to records. Government agencies and courts also sell their public files to commercial data compilers and information brokers. They in turn make them available on a fee basis, either via web sites or by special network hookups. The following are examples of public records containing personal information available remotely via electronic access.

Property tax assessor files. Typical records contain name of owner, description of property, and the assessed value for taxation purposes. Some systems even provide blueprints of the property.
Motor vehicle records - registration, licensing, and driver history information (varies by state).

• Registered voter files (restricted in some states).
• Professional and business licenses.
• Court files
• Case indexes
• Tax liens and judgments
• Bankruptcy files
• Criminal arrest and conviction records, and warrants
• Civil court recordings

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