Archive for the 'Private Investigation News' Category

25 Dec
2009
Why You Should Search Vital Stats First to Get Answers

Vital stats involve so many records; it is hard to begin to explain them all. However, you do not need to know everything in order to start your search. In fact, most people know very little when they search online. This is why searching online is so popular. You can search with less information and still get quality results.

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.


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24 Dec
2009
Why a Vital Records Search is an Important Step in Conducting Your Own Investigation

A vital records search is an important tool in any beginner detective’s belt. Whether you are conducting genealogical research, spying on a boyfriend or girlfriend, trying to locate someone or just practicing your detective skills, the vital records database is an important step in becoming your own private eye.

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.

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23 Dec
2009
Find Vital Info Online without Anyone Knowing that You Did a Little PI Work

Everyday more and more people are learning about the possibility of searching vital info online. This amazing new tool gives you, the average Joe, the ability to find out everything you need to know about someone, just like your own detection agency.

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.

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16 Dec
2009
Why Would Anyone Do an SSN Lookup?

When it comes to looking up information on people, you can never go wrong with an SSN lookup. A person’s social security number is about as individual as you can get. In fact, if you have a person’s social, then you can rest assured knowing that all the information you find will be on that person.

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.

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10 Dec
2009
4 Tips on Finding People Using Birth Date Search

There are many reasons to use a birth date search. Mainly it is trying to locate someone you have lost contact with over time. In these cases, if you have the birth date, then you stand a very good chance of finding the person you are looking for fast. If you follow these tips for locating different people, you just might talk to them tonight.

Finding Old Classmates:
Locating people that you went to school with is often easier than you think. Besides class reunion registries, you have the added benefit of searching for people you’re your hometown. In addition, you have the bonus of knowing the maiden name of classmates.

TIP – When you do a people search by name and hometown, the birthday really narrows down the choices. This makes locating them that much easier.

Finding an Ex
Many times men and women separate on not so good terms, especially when there are kids involved. Then child support stops coming and the ex disappears. The chances are you will know the birth date of your ex, which will help tremendously.

TIP — Do an employment search on your ex. The chances are your ex will have to have a job to support themselves. At the very least, you can get the last employer, which will tell you the town they lived in. This way you can do a people search and then an address search.

TIP – Try a people search as well. Since you have a birth date, you know that you can narrow down the results fast, even on a nationwide search. Then search phone records to get a phone number. After a few quick phone calls, you will know which person is the right one.

Finding a the Right Database
You most definitely want to search online. There is no need to stand in line at courthouses when you can search online. You can search databases in the privacy of your own home and no one needs to know you are searching.

The right database will be more than just “cheap.” You will want a database that has access to multiple records. This way you do not waste your valuable time searching website to website.

TIP – Make sure the database keeps your search private. You can check the “Privacy Policy” page on most websites to determine how they treat your information. In addition, the website should state that the searches are anonymous.

We found a website that has a nationwide database of public records that are updated daily.  Whether you decide to conduct a birth date search with them or someone else, please keep these tips in mind and good luck in your search!

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29 Nov
2009
Are You Thinking about Walking Down The Aisle? Check His Marriage Certificate History First!

So, you’ve met that special someone. You might be thinking, do I have a right to check his marriage certificate from a previous marriage?

And, to be honest, the answer is yes! You have a right to know about someone’s marriage history before you commit the rest of your life to him or her.

You don’t want to go into a marriage without knowing all the nitty-gritty details of his past. If you do, you’re likely to be surprised by information or behaviors that haven’t had the opportunity to present themselves yet.

Ghosts of Marriage Past

Sure, we all have a right to make mistakes, seek therapy, and change our life for the better. But, we also have a need to be upfront and honest with the ones we love.

If your lover or fiancé is hiding something from the past, then that might be something you need to know immediately before you get so many emotions tangled up into the equation.

And, beyond the emotional turmoil that you’ll face with a questionable partner, think of the fact that you’re entering a committed and binding contract with them.

It may seem like a whirlwind of romantic bliss at first, but you don’t want to be surprised by skeletons and ghosts flooding from your partner’s closet.

Honesty and Trust in a Marriage

If your partner hasn’t been completely honest with you, you need to find out! Hiding or lying about important details from previous marriages is the first sign of trust and abandonment issues.

And, if your partner has been married several times, then the likelihood of a successful marriage decreases. When you think that he might be hiding his marriage history from you, then he’s probably trying to hide the reason that those marriages failed.

In order to change or fix those problems, he’ll need to learn to be honest and forthcoming with any personal or psychological problems that he’s facing. Marriage isn’t all glossy daydreams. Love requires work, empathy, compromise, and understanding to really be successful in the long term.

You Need to Know About Past Marriages

A lot of vital information is on a marriage certificate. Dates, names, contact information, address histories, divorce information, and more. He may even have a marriage in his past that hasn’t been completely legally processed as a divorced!

You might need to know if he is telling you the truth. Who knows what you’ll find? The only way to be fully certain is to look up some hard copy, objective information. Don’t just throw your fate to the winds.

Download the marriage certificate documentation you need to investigate the hard evidence, and see if you and your partner are ready to move to the next step and walk down that aisle on equal footing.

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18 Nov
2009
Has Your Lover Been Married Before? Check Their Divorce Documents Online!

If you’re curious about a lover’s previous marital status, or any marital problems they might have had in the past, then it would be in your best interest to investigate their divorce documents.

Knowing about the nature of your lover’s past relationships could be the best way to understand exactly what you’re getting into. Statistics show that that over 50% of first marriages end in divorce, whereas second and third marriages end in divorce 60-70% of the time.

So, before you jump into a marriage, you might want to keep in mind your success rate if you or your partner has been married before. And if you think that your lover has been hiding something from you, think about all the information you can attain in a divorce document.

Length of Previous Marriage

Sure, many people marry young, and those marriages don’t tend to last long. If their previous marriage was short, you may wonder why it ended so abruptly. If their marriage was rather long, you might ask yourself what changed in the marriage to end such a long relationship?

Sometimes marriages end in nasty affairs and adultery. Sometimes people just drift apart. If you’re thinking of being with someone for the rest of your life, you should probably know these things about your lover.

Did Your Lover Commit Adultery?

Toward the end of a marriage, it is possible for someone to seek satisfaction outside of their marriage.

If adultery was mentioned or accused during the divorce proceedings, then you will be able to find those accusations in the public divorce document. You certainly would want to know if your lover is the type to sleep with other people, especially if you are planning to get married.

These kinds of details tend to be kept private or hidden, but isn’t it your right to know if the person you are with is the kind of person to behave in such a risky and hurtful way?

After all, it could happen to you too!

Does Your Lover Have Kids?

If your lover has been married before, then it is also likely that they have kids or stepchildren. It is even more likely that he has child support responsibilities or other financial obligations to those children.

Before you get into a serious relationship, find out if your lover has any of these financial/emotional obligations. Search for divorce documents online and see if you and your partner are ready to take the next step!

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14 Nov
2009
How to Conduct a Vital Records Search without all the Hassle

When you conduct a vital records search, you need to know what your purpose is because that will greatly change your method of searching. As there are many different types of vital records, there are also many types of searches. We will go briefly over how to search for each.

Search vital records for marriage/divorce certificates
If you want a paper copy of your marriage license, then you will have to go to the county and state where you were married. There is no way around it.

However, if you are searching for marriage records, then you can go online and do a marriage records search. All you need is the maiden name of the bride or the groom.

Search vital records for birth
If you need a paper copy, again you will need to go to the county. Birth certificates are easier to get, but they will have to be mailed. Do not expect to get it the same day.

Searching for a birth record online is much faster and easier. All you need to know is the name. However, if you know the name, age and state, you are golden. The results pop up instantly.

TIP– People mistakenly look in birth records for children they do not know where were born. When looking for unknown children, it is best to look in divorce records. Divorce records list the children of a marriage.

Search vital records for adoption
Adoption records are the hardest since you never know if names have been changed. However, adopted children still try to find their biological parents and vice versa. Now it is easier than ever.

Tools online allow parents and children to search online through thousands of records in an instant by simply inputting their names into a database. If it turns up something, then they can try to contact the person. If it does not, then they have not lost anything.

Search vital records for death records
When you search for death records, you are likely to turn up the date, cause of death, obituary notice, relatives, and probate records. All you need to do the search is the first and last name of the individual. Like all searches, you will need to narrow down the search once the initial results start coming in.

Gone are the days of hiring a private eye to conduct a vital records search for you. You no longer have to weed through dusty microfiche in a cold damp library. You can search vital records in the comforts of your own home.

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13 Nov
2009
Find by SSN FAQ

Using the social security number to locate a lost loved one is simpler than you might think. In fact, you can find by SSN someone you love in very few steps.

Who uses the SSN to track down loved ones?
Parents
We have all heard of devastated parents who are searching for runaway teens. Some parents go years looking for their teens that just don’t show up. Parents who have been separated from their child for decades are in luck. Before, the Internet was not around and a SSN search was not possible. Now, parents can do a quick search and see if their runaway child has used the SSN number anywhere.

Old Husband/Wife
The marriage dissolved, but the feelings didn’t go away. Or maybe a child from the marriage wants to meet their parent after all these years. A search from the SSN could really come in handy. A quick look at the old tax records could pull up the social security number and just maybe you could track down your old spouse.

Is a Find by SSN Legal?
While many aspects of the social security number are private, the Freedom of Information Act makes plenty of documents legal. For example telephone records, address, marriage and divorce records just to name a few are perfectly legal to search. This information will give you plenty to go by to find your lost one.

How you “Find by SSN”?
Doing a find by social security number is simple.

You will need:

  • Internet connection
  • Credit card/PayPal
  • Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Last Name

Go online to a “Find by SNN” database. Make sure the database is trustworthy, as you do not want to give the SSN to a malicious website. Type in the social security number and the last name and click search. It really is that simple.

What information can I find with a Social Security Number?

A social security search can turn up the following possibilities. Of course, some of these will only turn up only after the person has died.

  • Personal Papers
  • Death Certificates
  • Funeral Home Records
  • Bank Records
  • Voter Registration
  • Former Employers

Do I have to be a private detective to do a find by SSN?
No, absolutely anyone can search by social security number. There is no special license or requirements.

You can start your find by SSN today simply by deciding you want to try. Your loved is out there somewhere. All you have to do is look.

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11 Nov
2009
How to People with a Search by SSN and Other FOIA Searches

Sometimes things happen and we lose contact with those we love the most. That is when a search by SSN means the most. It may have been a fight. It may have been a death. It could have been any number of things that made you lose touch with someone you care about.

Now years have passed, and you are uncertain if you will ever see that person ever again. However, some things you can do may help you locate that lost love one.

Locating People by Social Security Number
Social security numbers are individual and they track people down the fastest. If anyone in the family has the social security number of the lost individual, then try to find it first.

Then all you need to do is go online and do a reverse social security number lookup. Enter the number along with the last name. This information will give you current and previous addresses of the individual. If nothing else, you will get a phone number and a place of employment.

From there, you can either do another reverse lookup on the phone number or place of employment to find the address of the individual. Then it is simple as calling or writing the person.

Locating the Person by Marriage Records
If you are looking a loved one and you are afraid they might be married, then a court records check is always a good idea. Then information is available to the public by Freedom of Information Act.

You will need:

  • Name of Bride/Groom
  • City (optional)
  • State (optional)
  • Age (optional)
  • Credit Card/PayPal
  • Internet Connection

The more information you have the better because it helps to narrow down the possibilities. All you do is go online to one of many court records databases. Type in the name of the person you are looking for with any additional information you have. Then you narrow it down until you get to the person you are trying to locate. It will then list any marriages associated with that person. If there is a marriage record, then you can cross check for a divorce record.

Locating People with a General People Search
If all else fails and you still are searching, then you can do a generic people search. This takes more time and you will need to narrow down the list more, but you can still find the person. Type in the name, city and state, and start narrowing down the list of people until you think you have found the person.

Your loved one is out there and you do not have to hire a private eye to find them. You can start searching today by SSN or through other databases in the comfort of your own home. You just may find your loved one tonight if you start looking.

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