Sooner or later, some of us would want to take a look at public records for one reason or another. Public records are an excellent source of information and data and will be a valuable tool for certain searches and inquiries. Whether you’re a private individual or a business person, you will find plenty of uses for public records.

Common uses of public records
Public records are records of legal proceedings made available for use by the public – meaning, they can be viewed by just about anyone. Although legal records automatically become public after proceedings are concluded, not all records of this type are filed as public records. In cases involving minors and sexual abuse, for example, records are kept private. The most common sources of public records are county and state agencies and courts, who release public records for a variety of uses, including:

Proof of identity or status
Public records are often used to prove one’s identity and status. Certain situations or events, such as marriages, divorces, claims to wills, inheritance or titles, often require the use of public records.

Genealogy
Public records, such as those sourced from churches, are often used for tracing family history. They are often used as a reference by genealogists and hobbyists to try to find lost relatives or complete a family tree.

Background checks
Probably the most common use for public records is to conduct background checks. Background checks usually involve criminal records, when employers try to determine the criminal history of a prospective employee. It is commonly done as a way to preempt any chances of criminal activity happening, especially if employment involves money, children, confidential documents and sensitive material.

Many landlords also use public records before making a decision to rent out an apartment to a prospective tenant. This allows them to avoid allowing any problematic tenants into their neighborhood.

Another use of public records for background checks is to determine the financial viability of a person. This is often performed by businessmen on prospective business partners before entering into a contract with them.

Purchase of property
Public records are also often used to check the history of properties before purchase. It is common practice among prospective buyers to go through public records to find out about certain information about the lot, including its former ownership, how it was used in the past and what type of structures once stood on it.

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