Before you hire a new employee in Minnesota, you should include a search of Minnesota public records as part of your background check on the new candidate. A quick search of MN public records can reveal a potential employee's criminal past, financial problems such as bankruptcy or foreclosures, and even divorce filings in Minnesota.
Remember, the law can hold you responsible for actions taken by your employees. Thus, it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive background examination that includes public records searches--especially if your business is in an industry that has high risks involving security or legal liability. A thorough search will include:
1. Minnesota criminal records
2. Minnesota bankruptcy records
3. Minnesota foreclosure records
4. Minnesota divorce records
5. Minnesota arrest records
6. General MN public records
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Conduct a free Minnesota public records search
Free Minnesota court records are available, but you should view the information on free sites with caution. Many of them claim to offer free Minnesota arrest records, divorce records, bankruptcy records, and other types of public records information. However, it is very important to validate any free information found, because you could be subject to legal liability if you wrongly deny someone employment based on false records.
I recommend: Use
RhinoReviews to find a reputable, reliable public records search site.
Search local government sites for free Minnesota court records
Under both the Federal and Minnesota versions of the Freedom of Information Act records of all public agencies in the state, including those related to criminal and civil court proceedings, are public records that must be made available to those who request them. Thus, you should be able to find common court records like Minnesota criminal records and Minnesota bankruptcy records because all courts keep records of their cases.
I recommend: Not all county court records are available online. You will probably have to look at
each county's site to determine how to obtain those records. State court information is available at the
LawMoose Legal Reference Library website.
Use a paid online service to find Minnesota public records
Online services can save you tons of time and effort. The fee is usually worth it, as these sites can save you from having to contact the courts directly and from spending time attempting to validate information you may have found on free sites. Of course, not all online services provide the same information, so choose wisely before spending your money.
I recommend: Intelius and
IntegraScan each offer comprehensive searches for a nominal fee. These sites provide instant results and include records from both state and federal repositories.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Individual counties often charge fees for accessing and copying Minnesota Public Records. Find out fees before requesting records. Online services that display the records automatically might cost you less.
- Don't rely only on public records. Compare information discovered in MN public records searches with the information disclosed by the job applicant.
- School records are not public records, so ask applicants to provide transcripts of high school and/or college coursework.
The official source of Minnesota Public Records is
the Minnesota Public Records page at Business.com
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