Here are some helpful resources to start your investigation. You would be amazed at how much information is really public information, you just have to know where to find that information.
Find any State & Federal Government on the Net – Most all States have up to date information that will guide you to the resources your looking for. This is a good place to start. Click Here
County Assessors office – This office is the easiest way to determine if someone owns property in a particular county. Name, address or parcel number can search the records. These records will usually show the owner of the property but not always. There job is to collect the property taxes, therefore their records contain the name and addresses of the person who pays the property taxes. It can determine if a property is owner occupied or rented. The records will show the site address and the mailing address where the tax bill is sent. Title companies have access to this information too, and will usually give you the information on a one-address basis if you tell them you are interested in the property and would like to know who is the current owner. There is usually no charge for this service.
County Recorder – This is where true copies of documents are kept. Real Estate transactions and Judgments. The records are searched by last name, first name on a county basis. Deeds, quit claim deeds, trust deeds, reconveyances, mechanics liens, tax liens, and other documents as required by law are listed here by date and document number, you can review the actual document, and obtain a copy if needed. It will also tell you who sold the property and how much the loan amount is if one exists. Click here to find your state’s contact information Click Here
The U.S. District Court – Local County Court House – This varies by state, and the size town you live in. Go to your local courthouse for your County and ask to be directed to the right source & location for your need. In most states it will be the Clerks office. Its all public information all you need is the last and first name, although some states require Date of Birth which makes it more difficult but not impossible to get, and they are always happy to assist. Here is where you can find out if an individual has any civil or criminal charges, also for Domestic issues, Divorce, Domestic violence. You search all records on line with their computer, & they have staff to assist you. This information includes traffic tickets, DUI, suspension of license, drug charges, bankruptcy, & civil Judgments. You have to search each category individually, Civil index, criminal index, and you also have to know what county the incident might have occurred, or the person your looking into lives, to be thorough check out all surrounding Counties. Some states have a State wide criminal index,called the State Repository , but you will still have to go to the courthouse to see the file in person.
Click Here to see what your State, county has available to you. This site will allow you to choose your State, then County and then will provide all the information needed to move forward.
Now if you find information that is useful to your investigation you can request copies from the clerk. This is how many attorneys get their information. If you visit any of these offices in person You can request the file, in this file you now have more in depth information, police reports show all names of witnesses, the police officers own report he filed, lawyers used if there is one, past court dates, and upcoming court dates, addresses and phone numbers. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to the clerk, It helps to be polite, patient, and professional. Click Here for your states information. This is public information for FREE !
Tip of advice – Never assume you know someone; you have to plug in every and any ones name that you feel is involved with what ever your situation is.
Local Police Station – This varies by state also, but you wont know until you go there what services they will provide for your investigation, You now have from going to the Court House, Ticket or citation numbers, dates, officers reports, names witnesses. Now ask for the copies of the actual reports, there is a fee involved but not much, now you could have access to photos taken at the scene, more in depth reports. You can also request any phone calls that might have been made to the police station on someone else’s behalf, for instance if someone made a call to the local authorities (police) they should have record you must have the dates. You can see what action if any they took. Something I have done, tell them you are saving your attorney time, and he asked you to get the information. For all they know you could be a reporter for the newspaper. It is public information.
Click Here to find your local Police Station location,phone number, and any online information they have available for you.
Search Warrants – They are public record. The property report will list what the officers found at the location; 10 days after search warrant is served it will be filed. It is public information.
Domestic files – (Divorce) Listed by either party’s name, public information found in the Clerks office, good way to find someones Ex Spouse.
Probate records – Using a deceased’s name will show property and whom it was left to.
Occupational licenses – If a particular state regulates or issues a license for an occupation or a professional license, and then those records are public information.
County Clerk – City Records – Varies by State but maintains records of fictitious business statements, also known as DBA & Business licenses. Any business operating under a name other than its own legal name must file a fictitious business statement, files are indexed by owners name and business name, it will list if it is a sole proprietor or partnership, it may provide you with the partners name. Always run the owners name to see if he has any other businesses. Corporation records – In most states corporation records are public record. In California records are registered with the secretary of state. The Secretary of State has records on all Corporations Incorporated in the State of California or doing business in the State. Corporation name, corporate officers or agents for service can access the records. This information is available by mail for free or in person. Contact your local State for your access & availability. Click here for your state & county information.
Registered Agent – Each Corporation has one and it is the person who legally accepts any lawsuit filed against that Corporation, it could be there attorney. All out of State Corporations should have someone in the state that can legally accept the complaint?
Marriage Licenses – You need full names of husband and wife, including the wife’s maiden name along with the date. The cost is nominal and is public information.
Social Security Administration – Ex wives check your benefits, if you were married for 10 yrs or more and your divorced spouse dies, you could get benefits just the same as a widow or widower.
Change your social security card. Apply for SSI, survivors or family benefits, estimate your retirement benefits. Employee’s benefits under Cobra. Call 1-800-772-1213 or go online at
Did you know a persons Social Security number indicates which state that card was issued? Legally applied for and usually takes place in a state in which a person was born. The first 3 digits indicate location the East Coast is 001- mid west states 330 digits, and West Coast like California in the 500’s the next 2 digits sometimes but not always indicate the year it was issued.
Libraries – Not only can you use their computers for your online research but they also have Phone books for other cities, counties . Newspapers too. A good resource is Polk Directories this is a reverse directory that can find a person by the address, they also have directories that indicate who owns what companies.
Search for hidden Assets During Divorce Click Here for a Complete List
The key is knowing where to obtain the required information
The Private Investigators handbook
Practical methods for legal investigations
Introduction to conducting private investigations
Skip Tracing Basics & Beyond a complete guide to locating hidden accets
Evidence: Investigation, rules and trials by Mari J Frank
Everything Private Investigation Book
The Source book to public records by BRB publications
The Sourcebook to Public Record Information by BRB publications. Locate public record information you cant find with Google or any other online search engine This book will come in handy even after your divorce, used ones are available also . It is a comprehensive guide to County, State, and federal public record information, including phone numbers, fees, restrictions & methodology. Over 20,000 Government Agencies at your fingertips. Whether you are a single mom, business owner, a reporter , an investigator, you can access public records to meet your needs. , Legal research, locating people, locating Assets, Skip tracing , + this book lists every State, then sub divided into counties, for instance under State Agencies you can find their criminal Records dept. along with phone numbers, address and web site, how to access the records and costs, also find court records, sexual offender registry, incarceration records, corporations, Uniform commercial codes for tax enforcement, birth certificates, death record, divorce records, workers comp records, driver records, legislation, a list of circuit and federal courts with all their information, recording offices for every county in every State, Buying this book will pay for itself .
