The ny private investigators find people through public records and skip tracing on the Internet. The term "public record" has always been very misleading. Even though a record is "public" and available for public, in reality it may not be readily available. The availability of numerous public records via the Internet has addressed some of the accessibility issues. This has been a tremendous advancement for the professional researcher, investigator and skip tracer. Initially you had to spend numerous hours digging through public records, often on a wild goose chase but today everything about you is available via the Internet. While skip tracing through online county clerk of court records, you can most often use the civil and criminal indexes (don't forget the traffic citations and parking violations), marriage records, property conveyances and UCC filings. Often you can access property tax/ownership rolls, and "business tax receipts" (business and occupational licenses) through the county tax collector. So, private investigationsare not that tough.

For an excellent meta-site providing free public records and links to them via the web, go to Search Systems at searchsystems.net.

What's available varies greatly from state to state, with many states differing greatly on what is and is not considered "public". The US Supreme Court ruled some time ago (docket number 98-1464, decided January 12, 2000) that driving records are not "public" records, and therefore will only be available on a very limited basis in every state. Even when information is considered "public," agencies still may not provide free web access to the information. In these instances, we're no better off than we were 10 years ago, and are forced to use a fee-based commercial database, court researchers and investigators or send a mailed request directly to the clerk.

Search Systems was the first on the Internet to establish a directory of hard-to-find public record databases. Each link is handpicked for content and usefulness and is offered with a service description as well as offers us the chance to get the facts on people or businesses from area which used to be out of reach. Researchers can access a directory of criminal record databases, verify contractor and professional licenses check out corporations, and look up property records and business permits, marriage and death records, the location of sex offenders, and much more.

BRB Publications puts out a pretty good list of public records sites and reference material too, which can be accessed viabrbpub.com (and it's free).

The following are online public records most often used by ny private investigators and a description of each; again, differences are going to occur between states and counties:

Civil Index- A list of civil actions filed through the courts which often include lawsuits, judgments, liens, divorces, foreclosures, affidavits, powers of attorney, etc. The civil index may also include traffic infractions and parking violations in some areas.

Criminal Index- It is a record of arrests and case disposition concerning the accusation of crimes, including felonies and misdemeanors, committed by persons. The criminal index may also include traffic infractions and parking violations in some areas.

Real Property Records- Include deeds, titles, mortgages, easements, gas/oil/mineral leases that can help in private investigations.

Tax Collector or Assessor- It provide online information concerning sales and use tax registration, property taxes and assessed values, business licenses, etc.

Recorder's Office- It handles all recorded documents, marriage and birth records, election information, UCC filings, liens, judgments, military discharges, notaries, archives, etc.

Federal Court Records- Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) is an electronic public access service that allows users to obtain case and docket information from Federal Appellate, District and Bankruptcy Courts, and the U.S. Party/Case Index via the Internet.

Prisons and Jail Searches- In case you are conducting private investigations on a person who is in the Federal prison system, you can call the Bureau of Prisons and they will run a search on a name and DOB for free- (202) 307-3126. You might try their online inmate locator atbop.gov as well.

For state prison information you can start your search from the "Resources" or "Inmate Locator" page located atcorrections.com.

Death Records- Death Master File (DMF) from the Social Security Administration (SSA) contains records of deaths that have been reported to the Social Security Administration. You can access this information by going onssdi.rootsweb.com. You might also try searching through obituaries via online newspaper aggregators as some county coroner's are now placing their unclaimed dead persons into online searchable databases too.

Another website you shouldn't forget to check is the sex offender registry onfamilywatchdog.us.

For additional information on how ny private investigators find people through public records please visit our website at www.rqinvestigations.com.