Researching Public Records

by Parco, Vincent

• ISBN13: 9780735101098
• ISBN10: 0735101094
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-12-01
• Publisher: Replica Books

Summary

Tells how to obtain information from public sources, and discusses searches for birth parents, investigations of spouses, business partners, and potential employees, and genealogical searches

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction	xi
Part I: Sources of Information
Just the Facts	4	(3)
Getting Started	5	(1)
Organizing Your Search	5	(2)
Basic Public Records	7	(9)
Board of Elections	7	(2)
Department of Motor Vehicles	9	(2)
The United States Post+ Office	11	(1)
The Bureau of Vital Statistics	11	(3)
What's Not Public	14	(2)
Business and Property Records	16	(8)
Property Records	16	(2)
Business Records	18	(2)
Permits and Licenses	20	(4)
Criminal and Court Records	24	(6)
Where to Find the Records	24	(1)
Law Enforcement Officials	24	(1)
Court Records	25	(5)
Other Methods of Obtaining Information	30	(11)
The Trash Pickers	31	(2)
Surveillance	33	(3)
Electronic Surveillance	36	(2)
Going Undercover	38	(1)
Inside Contacts	39	(2)
Using Information Brokers and Hiring Private Investigators	41	(8)
Using Information Brokers	41	(3)
Hiring a Private Investigator	44	(5)
PART II: Kinds of Searches
How to Find Anyone	49	(12)
What Kind of Search Is It?	50	(1)
General Search Guidelines	51	(2)
The Armed Forces	53	(1)
Friendly Searches	54	(3)
Missing People	57	(4)
Adoptee/Birth Parent Searches	61	(5)
The Birth Certificate	62	(1)
Gather Clues	62	(1)
Support Groups	63	(3)
Marital and Partner Investigations	66	(8)
Signs of Infidelity	66	(2)
The Changeable Lawyer	68	(2)
Playing Doctor	70	(4)
Background Investigations	74	(13)
Head Games	74	(3)
The Nuisance Neighbor	77	(3)
The Local Drug Dealer	80	(1)
Employee Background Checks	81	(2)
Business Background Investigations	83	(4)
Property Investigations	87	(6)
A Tricky Business	87	(1)
Commercial Spaces as Residences	88	(1)
Illegal Tenancy	89	(4)
Genealogical Searches	93	(14)
Family Name	93	(1)
Start With Yourself	94	(1)
Interview Relatives	94	(1)
Family Memorabilia	95	(1)
The Game Plan	95	(1)
Genealogical Libraries	96	(1)
Public Records	97	(6)
Foreign Records	103	(4)
PART III: Future Steps
Protecting Your Own Privacy	107	(8)
The Telephone	108	(1)
Your Own Credit History	109	(1)
Medical Records	110	(3)
Other Personal Information	113	(2)
So You Want to Be a Private Investigator	115	(4)
Appendix A: Social Security Numbers	119	(2)
Appendix B: Resources	121	(6)
Pamphlets	121	(1)
Specialized Libraries	121	(1)
Information Suppliers	122	(1)
The Armed Forces	122	(1)
Adoption Information Organizations	123	(1)
Additional Information Sources	124	(3)
Index	127