Let’s start at the beginning.

What are vital stats?

When you search online, vital stats will include all court records. This increases your chances of finding the information you are looking for. However, it does result in a large amount of information and you will have to determine which ones you wish to examine.

The same cannot be said for searching in person. When you go in person, you have to know what documents you are looking for and where they will be found.

For example: The birth certificate will be in one county while the death certificate is in another. The marriage license will most likely be in yet another county and could be in another state altogether. This makes searching for vital records in person time consuming and difficult. However, if you know all the information and you live close, it is not out of the realm of possibility.

3 Ways to Obtain Vital Records

1. Contacting Vital Statistics Office
   a.    If you know the county in which the record is located you can contact the local vital statistics office.
   b.    Hours of operation vary but since they are government agencies, you can guess they will be open like all the other government offices in your area.
   c.    Generally, you can find the address through the State’s website. Go to the state and look up the county to find the correct address.
2. Walk-in the Office
   a.    This is faster than contacting the office by phone or letter.
   b.    Once you know the location and hours of operation, you can walk-in the office and get service.
   c.    Same day service is often available for birth certificates. Other records will take a while.
3. Online Search
   a.    This is the fastest way to obtain information.
   b.    Online databases will charge a fee for searching. However, you can search for multiple records in multiple cities, counties, and states at the same time.
   c.    The documents you find will represent official documents but they are not certified copies. The results show what you would find if you went to that court.

You can travel from county to county searching through public records or you can search online for vital stats and get results now. The only reason to waste time going to courthouses is if you need the official document. Otherwise, save yourself the trouble and search online.

Familiarize Yourself with Vital Records
Beginners underestimate the power of a good vital records search. They just don’t realize the wealth of information that can be found simply by searching through court records.

Here is just a sample of the records you might find when searching through public records:

• Criminal Background

o    Felonies
o    Misdemeanors
o    Sex Offenses
o    DUI/DWI

• Phone Number and Address History
• Civil Judgments
• Any Bankruptcy Claims
• Arrest Records including Warrants
• Relatives and their addresses
• Roommates,  Associates, and Neighbors
• Date of Birth
• Alias/Maiden Name
• Tax Liens
• Voter Records
• Marriages/Divorces
• Death Index Check

Key to Keeping Searches Secret
Private eyes, police officers, and federal agents rely on searches being kept quiet. You too need this same security when conducting your search. This is what makes online searches so useful. You do not have to go to the courthouse, where people can see you, to ask for information. You can search in the privacy of your own home.

However, you need to make sure your choice of search databases will keep up their end as well. Always check the privacy policy before conducting a search. You do not want a database that will sell your information. Since you put in a credit card to pay, you need some assurance that they will keep your information secret. That is why we recommend a site that keeps your searches in the highest of confidence.

Ethical Requirements of Vital Records Searches
As a beginner detective, you are expected to keep information confidential. Not everything you find should be shared with the general public. You need to remember, just as you want your information to remain private, so will others.

When people ask you to research people, keep their information and the results secret. This is especially true when you locate disparaging information like criminal backgrounds, divorces and other offenses. This information can hurt people and it does involve real people. Therefore, if you want repeat business, you will keep information private.

You can begin your private detective work now by conducting a vital records search. Familiarize yourself with the information and you will be on your way to a successful private eye.

Who uses vital info searches?

Anyone that wants to know someone better. This way you know exactly what you are getting into before you start. Whether you are hiring a person, beginning to date someone, or just curious about some neighbors, the information allows you to know someone much better.

Can’t I just ask them about their past?

You could ask people, but people lie. They may not tell you everything you want or need to know about their history. A guy you are dating may not want to tell you he is married. A babysitter may not want to tell you that they have three DWIs. However, this is all things you need to know before you get involved with the person.

Isn’t looking at someone’s public records nosey?

You can call it nosey but these documents are part of the “public record.” That means it is no longer their private business. It is out there for everyone to see, if they want to look for it. Just because others may not look, does not mean I am being nosey.

Besides, when their past affects my future, I have a right to know. I have the right to know if my neighbor is a sex offender. I have a right to know the person I am dating has a history of domestic violence. Not only do I have the right, it is part of my children’s and my safety.

Won’t they find out I did a people search on them?

A good database will offer you the security of searching without fear of being caught. They will protect your private information so no one will know who or what you searched for. When you do go look up court records, divorce records and such, always check the site to make sure they respect your privacy. There is no reason the person has to find out you looked.

Can’t someone look me up as well?

Absolutely, many times people like to look up themselves in the database. They get a kick out of seeing what the database pulls up. They also like knowing the accuracy of the database. Remember, all of the information is public. That means if you pulled it up so could someone else.  See what vital info is out there on you. You just might be surprised at how detailed the reports are.

Records Found in a Vital Document Search

Every vital records search will pull up a variety of documents. Those documents will vary depending on what can be found. However, you can rest assured that when you use a public records database that is updated everyday that you will get the most information possible.

• Birth records
• Death record
• Marriage records / Divorce records
• Adoption records
• Address history, listed and unlisted phone numbers
• Probate records, property records, court records, criminal records

Import Guidelines to Follow when Writing for Vital Documents
When you look for documents, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. It will make retrieving the documents easier when you send off for them.

• Whe you are writing your letters, keep the information to the point. Keep out all the excess information that you do not need.
• Only include one or two request and be careful not to write too much information.
• Do include all the previous names, nicknames, and alternate spellings.
• List all the dates for all the events you want checked. If you do not know the exact date, include a time frame for search information.
• Send the request with a Self Address Stamped Envelope

The most important part is being patient. Remember, the people looking have other things to do. They will look as best as they can, but it takes them time to locate the information. When they find it, they will send you everything they have.

Writing for Birth Certificate Information
When you write the county for a birth certificate, you will want to include the following:

• First and Last name of the Person
• Date of Birth
• Birthplace
• Gender
• Maiden Name of the Mother
• Father’s Name
• How you are related
• Your name and address
• Your driver’s license number
• At Self Addressed Stamp Envelope
• Make sure you sign the request

A Simpler Way to Search
Of course, a much simpler way to search for vital records is searching online. When you search online, you do not have to wait for someone else to look for the “right” form. You do not have to send off requests and wait for replies. More importantly, you can do it all in the privacy of your own home and you do not need all the information. You can look with just a name. Start searching vital documents now.

The information contained in social security records is invaluable. Not to mention, it is also a good way to protect yourself against identity theft.

How does a Thief Steal Identity with a Social Security Number?

A thief who knows your social can easily steal your identity. By knowing some basic information about the victim, the thief can use that as proof they are the victim. Once they have your personal information, the thief can then claim with proof, they are who they are claiming to be. The victim has no way of knowing their identity is even compromised.

Protect your ID with Regular Monitoring

Your best protection is vigilance. If you regularly monitor your SSN records, then you will know immediately when someone tries to steal your identity. The second they open a bank account, you will know where they are and what they are doing. There is no better protection against identity theft than catching it before it starts.

How Else Can a Social Security Search Help?

Since the social security number is directly related to a given person, it is easy to track someone through the social security number. Even after a person dies, the social security number is updated. Many professional and amateur genealogists use the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) to trace records of the deceased.

The SSDI contains the basic information on the person. Looking through it, you can find:

• Name
• Birth Date
• Birth Place
• Place of Death
• Date of Death
• Last Known Address

This is great information for anyone trying to trace lineage or find family. Once you have a name, date of death, and place of death you can easily find obituaries that list surviving family members. Of course, you can search death records without all that information but it does make it easier.

Curious about your social security number? You can conduct your own SSN search now and find out what information is out there about you. You might be surprised by what you find.

Requesting Nonidentifying Information

Almost every state has procedures for accessing nonidentifying information. In many cases, the information is given to the adoptive parents at the time of adoption. The information is generally accessible to the adopted child once they become an adult.

You will need to contact your state agency that holds the adoption records. You can find out who this is in your state by searching the Child Welfare Information Gateway’s National Foster Care and Adoption Directory.

Requesting Identifying Information

Most states have procedures set up to release indentifying information. However, every state varies on how they release the information. You need to contact the state agency dealing with adoption records to locate the information. However, once you have the information you can quickly contact the other members of the adoption.

Generally, the laws require one of the following:

• Consent on file from all parties involved in the adoption.
• An intermediary to gain consent from all parties

Search for the Original Birth Certificate

Once the adoption is finalized, a new birth certificate is issued and given to the adoptive parents. At this point, the original birth certificate is held by the state agency under privacy laws.

While you used to need a court order to get the original birth certificate, 24 states no longer require this information. In these states, you will need one of the following:

• State adoption registry to get access
• Consent on file from all parties
• The adoptee must be a minimum age (18 or 21)

Search Online for Adoption Records

This is the simplest way to find birth parents. Anyone can go online and search through adoption records from the privacy of their own home. The database allows you to search thousands of records from across the country without a court order or an intermediary.

Once you find the information you are looking for, you can do a people search on the same database to locate a telephone number, address or place of employment for the person. Searching adoption records online is by far the easiest method. Start your adoption records search today and see what you can find.

What should I look for first?
The first thing you need to find out is if you were adopted from a Hague Adoption Convention Country or not. You can check the U.S. list of countries to determine if your native country is part of the convention.

What is the difference between a Hague Adoption Convention Country and not?
The only way to enter the U.S. legally from a Non-Hague Adoption Convention Country is to be considered an orphan. Adoptees from Hague Adoption Convention Country do not have to be considered orphaned to enter legally.

What forms can I look for?
Hague Adoption Convention

• I-800 Petition – This petition asks the child be considered a relative.
• I-800A Petition – This form asks the child to be considered eligible for adoption.
• INA – The Immigration and Nationality Act requires all children from Hague Adoption Convention to go through this process.

Non- Hague Adoption Convention

• I-600 – This is similar to I-800 and classifies the child as an immediate relative.
• I-600A – This form declares the child an orphan and eligible for adoption under orphan status.

How do I know if I was adopted from a Hague Adoption Convention Country or Not?
There are 77 countries involved in the convention. You can find a complete list of countries by checking the U.S. list of countries. There you can check the county from which you were born to see if it is a part of the convention.

Is there any other way to be adopted from another country?
Since every country has different laws, it is possible to be adopted in a different manner. However, you cannot enter this country legally through any other manner. This is why adoptive parents are advised to seek out these forms first. Otherwise, while they can adopt the child, they will not be able to bring the child into the country.

How do I finding Court and Adoption Records
You can quickly and easily search through U.S. records online. The online database will be able to sort through the adoption info and give you the information you are searching for.

Can you locate your birth parents after such a long time of no contact?
While no one can say you can find the people 100% of the time, a good database will give you access to 90% of the people. This means you have a good chance of locating your birth parents once you start your search.

I Have a First Name but no Last Name. Can I still search?
Obviously, the more information you have, the more likely you are to receive accurate results. However, if you have a first name, then you are closer than most people who begin their search.

You will want to search for a last name, a birth date, approximate age, or possible state they live in. Any one of these items will narrow down the pool enough for you to start making phone calls.

I Don’t Want my Adoptive Family to Know I am Looking. Is it Possible?
While you can receive tons of information from your adoptive family, they do not need to know you are searching. The best part of searching online is the privacy factor. No one but you needs to know about your search. Search in the privacy of your own home and share the results only if you choose.

Do I Have to Hire a Private Eye?
Absolutely not. In fact, websites like this can give you all the information you need to search for yourself.  You can read all kinds of tips to improve your search such as:

• How to locate someone by birth date
• How to locate someone by SSN
• Where to begin your birth parent search
• How to locate someone through court/vital records
• How to use an address search to find a more current address
• And So Much More

Deciding to search for your birth parents was hard enough, searching should be easy. Quickly and easily, locate birth parents with the adoption record search. Your information will stay private and you can begin as early as right now. Good Luck Searching.

Mistake #1: Wasting Time Searching Paper Documents
Yes, you can go through the National Archive to search for bankruptcy documents. But why would you? Searching there means you have to travel around to find the right archive and then search through years of documents hoping to pull up the right case.

Solution – Utilize online court searches. Even if you need a certified copy, searching online first helps you narrow down your search. Online you can check all 50 states from the comfort of your own home. In addition, you get the results instantly. What could take you days or weeks to find in an archive is readily available online. Once you find the case, you can easily request an official copy with the docket number.

Mistake #2: Not Knowing What Bankruptcy Case You are Looking for
When you are searching through tons of court cases, it helps to know what you are looking for. Even an online search is not a mind reader. It can only provide you information on what you know you are looking for.

Solution – When it comes to bankruptcy cases, there are three main types. You can look for Chapter 7, Chapter 11, or Chapter 13. There are other bankruptcy cases but these are the main three. Determine which one you are seeking and your search will narrow down fast.

Mistake #3: Searching Too Little through Court Documents
Is a bankruptcy case what you really need? Does it have to be a bankruptcy case or will another court document do? Maybe you don’t need a court case at all. Sometimes the information you are seeking comes in the places you least expect.

Solution – If it does not have to be a bankruptcy case, then search all court records. When you use an online database, you can find records you did not know existed. Sometimes broadening your search actually helps you get better results.

The easiest and fastest way to find court cases is with an online database. You can start your bankruptcy search now and avoid all the common mistakes. The information you are looking for could be just minutes away.

Why do an SSN lookup?

Employment Check – There are many reasons to use an SSN check. The most widely used reason is for an employment background check. Whether you own a large business, want to hire a crew for your home, or simply want to hire a nanny, a social security check will provide you the information you need on anyone.

Nosey Neighbor - Sometimes people just want to be nosey. They are curious about co-workers, neighbors, and other people in their lives. Then they get their hands on this juicy piece of information and cannot resist. They just simply must look up all the information they can. (This is another reason to keep you SSN well-guarded.)

Finding Someone - If you have a social security number, tracking down a lost loved one is super simple. You can check all kinds of records to find out where they are now. Parents often have their children’s SSN. Ex-husbands and ex-wives can find the SSN on old tax records. If you shared a bank account with someone, it might be there as well.

The SSN gives more info than you think

It is a little known fact, that you do not even need a search to find some valuable information from a social. Since 1973, all social security numbers have been given from a central office and that number is based on where you live. Even before 1973, the numbers were based on where you live but it was given by a district office.

This means that if you have the first three digits of the SSN, then you now know what state they received their SSN. This is crucial anytime you are trying to locate someone. Any information you can get is good information.

You can find a complete list of the states and their corresponding numbers at the Social Security Number Verification Service website.

Where to conduct a SSN search

Since the SSN is very private, you will not want to trust the number to just any database. You will want to make sure they keep the searches confidential and private. For a quick and easy SSN lookup try a professional that guarantees your satisfaction.