Guide to Conducting Public Records Research

Finding corporate and court records

Corporate records searches are a powerful tool. These documents may include anything from corporate filings information to bankruptcy records to business licenses.

I recommend: Experian has a service offering comprehensive online business public records reports, much in the way it structures credit reports. LexisNexis allows corporate clients to conduct searches, and Court Records has a variety of court- and business-related records.

Public background information on employees

Finding criminal background information on a potential employee is typically high on the list for any employer. This is normally included in a background check package, and there are countless places to find this information on the Web.

I recommend: Unless you go to a courthouse personally, you will usually pay to obtain general and criminal background information online. Intelius and Search Systems can help you get the job done.

People and address searches

Are you looking for someone or want to know an address? It's probably best to start with a free search engine, which normally has a people locator feature.

I recommend: Try Yahoo, Zabasearch or WhitePages for a free look. Or, for a fee, try US Search.

Search private records

There are a number of records you may seek on a potential employee that are nonpublic. These private records include medical records, social security numbers, credit information and employment history.

I recommend: Unfortunately, there is not much you can do about getting private records without consent. If a potential employee signs off, companies such as Accurate Information Systems and Corporate Screening Services specialize in pre-employment screening.