Quick Start: inet-investigation.com teaches how to find and interpret public records in the United States. Most public records are not stored in a single national database — they are maintained by the government agency that created them, in the jurisdiction where the action occurred. This site explains what records exist, where they are held, and how to search them effectively.
inet-investigation.com is a research guide for anyone who needs to find, understand, and use public records effectively. Whether you’re investigating a person, verifying a business, researching a property, or trying to understand what records exist about you, this site explains how the systems work and how to search them.
This page is the best starting point if you’re new to public records research.
What This Site Covers
This site focuses on three core questions:
- What public records exist
- Where those records are held
- How to search them effectively
Every guide is built on primary government sources — official court portals, statutory law, and government agency records — not commercial databases or aggregated data.
Who This Site Is For
This site is designed for people who need reliable information about public records, including:
- Investigators and journalists verifying facts through official sources
- Landlords conducting tenant screening and eviction history research
- Employers and HR professionals conducting due diligence
- Researchers verifying historical records and legal history
- Business owners investigating partners, vendors, or counterparties
- Individuals researching their own public record
The guides on this site explain how records systems actually work, using official government sources rather than commercial databases. The tone is professional and investigative — written for readers who need accurate, actionable information.
The Most Important Thing to Understand
Public records in the United States are not centralized. There is no single database that contains all court records, all property records, all criminal histories, or all government filings.
Records are maintained by the government agency that created them — in the jurisdiction where the action occurred. A property deed is held by the county recorder where the property sits. A criminal case is held by the court that handled the prosecution. A business registration is held by the Secretary of State in the state of formation.
Finding records requires identifying which agency created them and where that agency stores them. That’s the core skill this site teaches.
Types of Public Records
Court Records
Legal proceedings including criminal prosecutions, civil lawsuits, evictions, bankruptcies, divorce proceedings, and probate matters. Federal court records are searchable through PACER (pacer.gov). State court records require searching each state’s court portal or county clerk system separately.
Property Records
Real estate ownership, deeds, mortgages, and liens. Maintained by county recorders and county assessors. Most counties have free online portals searchable by owner name, address, or parcel number.
Criminal Records
Arrests, charges, and case outcomes at municipal, county, state, and federal levels. No national public criminal database exists. State court portals, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (bop.gov), and county jail rosters are the primary official sources.
Business Records
Corporate registrations, LLC filings, and professional licenses. Maintained by the Secretary of State in the state of formation and by state licensing boards. Generally free to search through official state portals.
Vital Records
Births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Maintained by state vital records offices and county clerks. Access rules vary significantly by state and record type.
Government Administrative Records
Meeting minutes, contracts, permits, zoning decisions, and agency correspondence. Accessible through FOIA at the federal level and state open records laws at the state level.
How Public Records Are Organized
| Level | Record Types | Primary Custodians |
|---|---|---|
| Federal | Federal court cases, bankruptcy, federal agency records | U.S. District Courts (PACER), federal agencies (FOIA) |
| State | Business filings, state court cases, professional licenses, vital records | Secretary of State, state courts, state agencies |
| County | Property records, local court cases, probate, deeds | County recorder, county assessor, county clerk |
| Municipal | Building permits, zoning, local ordinance violations | City departments, municipal courts |
Because these systems operate independently, a complete investigation typically requires searching multiple levels of government across multiple jurisdictions.
How to Start Researching
Step 1 — Identify what type of record you need. Court records, property records, criminal records, business filings, and vital records are held by different agencies. Start by identifying which category applies to your research.
Step 2 — Identify the jurisdiction. Records are tied to where events occurred — not where someone currently lives. The county where a property is located, the state where a business was formed, the court where a case was filed.
Step 3 — Search the official government source first. Government portals are the authoritative source. Most are free. PACER (pacer.gov) for federal court records. State court portals for state cases. County recorder and assessor sites for property records. Secretary of State portals for business filings.
Step 4 — Use commercial tools to identify jurisdictions, not as primary sources. People-search tools like BeenVerified and Intelius can help surface address history and suggest which jurisdictions to search. Always verify findings through official government sources.
Step 5 — Document what you searched. Note which systems you searched, the dates, and what you found. A research result is only meaningful relative to what was actually covered.
The Legal Framework
Public records access is governed by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) at the federal level and equivalent open records laws in every state. These laws require government agencies to make most of their records publicly accessible.
Key laws researchers should understand:
- FOIA (5 U.S.C. § 552) — governs access to federal executive agency records
- FCRA (15 U.S.C. § 1681) — governs how public records can be used in employment and housing screening
- DPPA (18 U.S.C. § 2721) — restricts access to motor vehicle and driver records
- CFAA (18 U.S.C. § 1030) — prohibits unauthorized access to protected computer systems
Every guide on this site explains the legal framework relevant to that record type. All research methods described here cover lawful public-records access only.
Where to Go Next
Public Records Basics
→ How Public Records Are Organized in the United States
Court Records
→ How Court Records Work in the United States
→ What Is PACER? A Beginner’s Guide to Federal Court Records
→ How to Search State Court Records Online
Background Research
→ How to Look Up Criminal Records Online
→ What Criminal Records Are Public?
Property Research
→ How Property Records Work in the United States
Investigative Methods
→ How Private Investigators Find People
Disclaimer: This site is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Public records laws vary by jurisdiction. Consult a licensed attorney for guidance specific to your situation.