Find public indexes from state, county, and local government authorities
Archives preserve documents and other records that hold historical significance. They may also keep public records such as birth certificates, property sale records, and historical maps. Archives may provide a public index to search for their documents by type, location, name, or business name. These public indexes can also provide information on historic property boundaries, death certificates, and criminal records, making them valuable resources for conducting genealogical research. Archives may provide access to a public index on their website.
Clerk Offices maintain public records for a county or local government, including vital records, property records, and permit records. Clerks may provide a public index to search their records, which can provide information on birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce records, and death certificates. A public index may also contain property tax assessments, real estate appraisal reports, property owner information, and other records related to property. Clerks may provide online access to their public index, which can be used for many forms of research.
Courts act as judicial bodies to resolve legal disputes, including civil and criminal cases. They may also provide a searchable public index of their court records, including case information, trial outcomes, and any sentences, plea bargains, or settlements. Many public indexes allow searches by name or business name, by case number, or by court or case type, which can provide information on misdemeanors and felonies, traffic court violations, family court cases, divorce records, and appeal records. Many Courts provide online access to their public index.
Libraries collect and store documents and multimedia records which they make available to the public. A Library, especially a state library or municipal library, may also store public records. Libraries often make these records available through a public index, or a searchable database to locate government agency reports, government publications, vital records, and other public documents. These records can be used to find information on any individual or business, look up government documents, or conduct a background check, and public indexes may be available on the Library website.
Town and City Halls provide municipal services to their area, which includes keeping a number of documents that are accessible to the public. These public records, including vital documents, property records, and permit records, may be available through a public index database. Public indexes can provide searchable databases for birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce records, and death certificates, as well as property-related records like property tax assessments, property appraisals, and property owner information. These records can help conduct a background check or locate information about a person or business.