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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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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When researching genealogy, every piece of information you discover is a new piece of the puzzle and a social security number is no different. However, knowing how to conduct a search by social security number is a different story altogether. Basically, a social security search is conducted based on whether the person is living or dead and whether you want to search online.

Let’s start with a living person.

Social Security Search for a Living Person
If you are trying to search for a living person by their social security number, you will need to conduct a reverse social security number look up. This means you go online to a social security number database and input their number and last name. You will need a credit card or a PayPal account to process the information.

Since a living person’s information is highly private, the most you can expect is current and previous addresses and phone numbers. You may get a current employer listed. However, that should be enough to get you in contact with whoever you are looking to contact.

Social Security Search for a Dead Person via Social Security Administration
The SSA will conduct a records search. All you need to do is provide the SSA the full name, state of birth, proof of death, and social security number of the deceased. You wait while the SSA does the research and then they send you their findings. It is not exactly the fastest of searches, but it is a government agency so what do you expect?

Freedom of Information Officer
4-H-8 Annex Building
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

Social Security Search for a Dead Person Via the Internet
By far the fastest way to find records is an Internet search. It works the same way as a living person search except you can find more since the person is dead. When you conduct a social security search, you can expect to find:

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

Locating a social security number in genealogy research really is a treasure. Don’t let your treasure go to waste. Start your social security records search today. It really is easier than ever.

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Many people get excited when they discover a social security number during a records search. Unless you know how to conduct a people search by social security number, it really doesn’t do much good.

While a social security number is limited to just one person, most public records do not list the number. Consider your records for example. How many of your records have your social security number plastered on it? Unless you want to hire a professional, you need to start using this information creatively.

If the person is dead, request a Social Security Administration records search
If you know the name, state of birth, and date of birth of the individual you can request the Social Security Administration do a social security records search. You will need to provide the Social Security Administration proof of death since this information is not available on anyone that is living.

Freedom of Information Officer
4-H-8 Annex Building
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

It is libel to turn up something worthwhile, although, I would not hold my breath waiting for the information. The SSA is notorious for taking their time in records research.

If the person is dead, you can do an Online Social Security search
An online social security number search will get you results much faster. I must say the Internet made genealogy research fun again and practically put private detectives out of business.

Not to say that private eyes can’t do better work because they can. They can dig up stuff that you probably can’t find. But if you have a social security number and a last name, enter it.

There are tons of online reverse social security number databases to choose access. Personally, I like using ones that have PayPal but as long as you have a credit card, you are good. You need the social security number and a last name. You should be able to access stuff like:

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

If the person is still alive, you can search Online
Actually, if the person is alive, you can only search online or hire a private detective. A person’s social security number is private and there is not a whole lot of information to be found for a living person.

Do not expect to find a lot of information on a living person. Although, even with the privacy surrounding a living person’s social security number, you can do a reverse look up and you can find a person’s current address.

Therefore, if you are currently looking for an old flame and happen to have their social security number lying around the house, give it a shot. A people search by social security just might worth a shot.

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