Public Records

Public records resources: a guide to the main record types

Learn what court, criminal, vital, and address records are and where each type is usually kept, then search available records by name and state.

Court and criminal record types
Arrest and warrant references
Marriage and divorce records
Address, contact, and property connections

Search Public Records

Private search · nothing is shared with the person or property

First name

Last name

State

PureDocs is not a consumer reporting agency. Reports may not be used for employment, tenant screening, credit, insurance or any other FCRA-regulated purpose.

The main types of public records

Most searches for a person touch a handful of record families. Each one is created by a different kind of office, which is why the same person’s records can be spread across several places.

Court records: criminal, civil, family, and traffic cases
Criminal and arrest records: booking entries and charges
Vital records: marriage and divorce references
Address and property records: deeds, tax rolls, and address history

Where each type of record is usually kept

Court records are kept by the clerk of the court that heard the case, usually at the county or district level for state cases and by the federal courts for federal cases. Marriage licenses are typically issued and recorded by a county clerk, while divorce decrees come from the court that granted them. Arrest logs start with the arresting agency, and deeds are recorded by the county recorder or register of deeds where the property sits.

Knowing the office matters when you need a certified copy. A search report can point you to the likely county, court, and case or filing details to ask that office for.

Choosing the right search

For a broad view of what is available about a person, start with a general public records search. If you have a specific question, such as whether a divorce was filed, whether a warrant may be outstanding, or how a DUI case ended, the focused searches listed below explain that record type in more detail.

Questions

Before you search

What is the difference between a public record and a certified copy?: A public record is the underlying document held by a court or office. A certified copy is one that the office issues and attests to. A search report summarizes available information and is not a certified copy.
Why are some records missing or sealed?: Courts can seal or expunge cases, juvenile matters are generally confidential, and some states restrict vital records for a number of years. Sealed and restricted records are not expected to appear.
Do public records cover every state?: Every state keeps public records, but what is published and how quickly it is shared varies widely. What a report contains depends on what is available from public and independent sources for that jurisdiction.
Can I use a report to screen a tenant or job applicant?: No. PureDocs is an independent data platform, not a consumer reporting agency. Reports may not be used for employment, tenant screening, credit, insurance or any other purpose regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.