Public Records 

What are public records?  

Public records refer to legal and official documents, information, or data that are accessible and available to the general public. These records are maintained by government agencies, institutions, or organizations, and they play a crucial role in promoting transparency, accountability, and open access to information.  

Types of public records 

Public records encompass a wide range of information, including but not limited to: 

• Government Documents: Records generated or collected by government entities, such as birth and death certificates, property deeds, court rulings, and business licenses.
• Legal Records: Legal filings, court records, lawsuits, and judgments that are part of the public domain.
• Corporate Filings: Information related to businesses and corporations, such as articles of incorporation, annual reports, and business registrations.
• Criminal Records: Records of criminal offenses, arrests, convictions, and related legal proceedings.
• Property Records: Information about property ownership, sales, mortgages, and tax assessments. 

Importance of public records   

Public records are important for several main reasons: 

• Transparency and accountability: Public access to records allows for increased transparency and provides the basis for citizens to hold governments and organizations accountable for their actions.
• Legal and historical research: Researchers, historians, and legal professionals rely on public records for academic, legal, and historical research purposes as these records are often the best primary sources for projects. 
• Business and financial transactions: Companies and individuals may refer to public records for due diligence, business planning, and financial decision-making.
• Protection of rights: Public records ensure that individuals' rights, such as property ownership and legal status, are safeguarded and documented. 

Accessing public records 

Public records are typically accessible through government websites, official archives, or specialized platforms that offer aggregated and organized public information. Some records may be available in physical locations, while many are increasingly digitized and accessible online.  

While public records can be accessed by anyone, there are often safeguards in place that ensure those accessing these records have a legitimate reason to do so.  

Access public records with LexisNexis 

With Nexis® Research Solutions, users gain access to an extensive collection of public records, legal documents, news articles, and other relevant information. The platform provides a user-friendly interface to search, explore, and analyze data efficiently. 

LexisNexis Public Records offers access to more than 81+ billion public records aggregated from 10,000+ sources. Quickly track down vital information, find charitable organizations, evaluate corporate giving potential, and uncover lesser-known connections between people, companies, and locations. 

*Access to U.S. Public Records content is subject to credentialing. Due to the nature of the origin of public record information, the public records and commercially available data sources used in reports may contain errors. Using public records for direct marketing activities such as direct mail or telemarketing is prohibited. 

Due to the nature and origin of public record information, the public records and commercially available data sources used in reports may contain errors. The LexisNexis Public Records services are not provided by “consumer reporting agencies,” as that term is defined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. §, et seq.) (“FCRA”) and do not constitute “consumer reports,” as that term is defined in the FCRA. Accordingly, these LexisNexis services may not be used in whole or in part as a factor in determining eligibility for credit, insurance, employment or another eligibility purpose in connection with which a consumer report may be used under the FCRA. 

 

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