Public Records

What are public records?

Public records include any information that can be used or distributed by anyone. There are no legal constraints on the accessibility or distribution of that data. This data can be simple to find online and can include someone’s name, address, phone number, close associates, and more.

Something to consider is not all public records are as easily accessible as others and can come with associated costs.

Where does this information for public records come from?

Think about all the times you’ve entered in basic information like your name, email address, or even zip code when registering for social media sites or sweepstakes. As a result, it is likely that this data is the free data often found online. Other sources of public records come from credit card companies, telephone records, and even public utilities. Common sources of data include:

• Mortgage documents
• Property records
• Court records
• State licensing agencies
• Voter’s registration

Are all public record data readily accessible?

Some information such as mobile numbers, driving records, or criminal records are considered premium data. You likely must pay in order to access the information. This data is more expensive to find, clean, and validate. As a result, these records come at a premium. They cannot be given away for free, as companies often pay to collect this data.

There are many background check report companies on the market where you can find information about both you and others. Whitepages shares a large quantity of data to its users for free and also offers a product called Whitepages Premium where you can access in-depth background information at a cost.

You have the right to know what public records are out there, how it can be used, and ensure it is correct. Above all, public records allow us to stay informed and up to date on the world around.