Accessing Public Records – Links and Resources
Written by Brinksley Hong
Times this article was updated. Same-day edits are recorded once.
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In the United States, various public records are accessible to the general public as required by law. That can include birth and death records, marriage licenses, property records, warrants/arrests, court cases, and more. To make your search for public records easier, we’ve compiled a selection of links to nationwide, statewide, and countywide public databases. Not every county and state is covered. We’ve also included reliable centralized resources to locate states’ official websites for looking up public information.
Vital Records
Vital records, including birth, death, marriage, and divorce records are typically managed by the Department of Health/Public Health at the state, county, and city or town level. However, in some states, these records are only available to the person named in the record or their immediate family members.
- National Center for Health Statistics
– National portal to locate state and territorial agencies for accessing vital records
Business and Licensing Records
Business records, professional and recreational records are usually issued at the state level, while some licenses are managed by the federal government.
Professional Licenses
- US State of Bar Directories
– Navigate links to all state’s Bar Associations - State Bar of Texas Fina a Lawyer
– Search for licensed attorneys in Texas - The Florida Bar Find a Lawyer
– Search for licensed attorneys in Floria - The State Bar of California Attorney Search
– Search for licensed attorneys in California - AAPA List of Licensing Boards
– Find links to all 50 state’s Medical Board - Nevada Medical Licensee Search
– Find a medical doctor, physician assistant, practitioner of respiratory care, or perfusionist licensed by the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners - Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation Licensee Search
– Search Florida business, contractor, and professional licenses by name, license number, city or county, or license type - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Recreational and Commerical License Records
– Get listings of recreational and commercial license holders - Maryland Department of Labor Licensing Search
– Search Maryland occupational and professional licenses - Utah Division of Professional Licensing Lookup & Verification System
– Search Utah licensed individuals by name and professional or license number - Washington Health Care Provider Credential Search
– Search health care licenses in Washington - Oregon Board of Physical Therapy Online License Search
– Search licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in Oregon - North Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Licensee Lookup
– Search licensed physical therapists in North Carolina - California Department of Consumer Affairs License Search
– Search professional license in California - New Orleans Permits Search
– Search for permits by address, name, or permit number - NPPES NPI Registry
– Search for all active National Provider Identifier (NPI) records - Federal Aviation Administration Airmen Inquiry
– Search airmen by name or certificate number - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Federal Firearms Listings
– Get complete lists of federal firearms listings - Federal Communications Commission Licensing System
– Search for FCC license
Business Fillings
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
– Access informational documents filed by publicly traded companies - Harbor Compliance Business Entity Search
– Navigate all Secretary of State websites for searching business entity - California Secretary of State Business Search
– Search records for corporations, limited liability companies and limited partnerships in California - Florida Division of Corporation Records Search
– Search business entity index and commercial activity in Florida - Better Business Bureau
– Find businesses accredited by Better Business Bureau
Criminal & Traffic Records
Criminal records can be searched at the county, state, or federal level, depending on where the case is prosecuted. If an individual or organization has more than one conviction in multiple jurisdictions, you may need to search each county- or state-specific database to obtain comprehensive records.
Court Records
- Federal Court Finder
– Find a federal court location by location or court name, including appellate, district, bankruptcy, probation and pretrial office, or federal defender organization. - Public Access to Court Electronic Records
– Get electronic public access to federal court records - Virginia’s Judicial System
– Look up case status and information - Oregon Judicial Department Online Records Search
– Search for court case information from Oregon’s courts - Florida Duval County Clerk of the Circuit Court Court Records Search
– View Duval County non-confidential court records - Florida Broward County Clerk of the Circuit Court Case Search
– View court records, indexes, and dockets as well as non-confidential document images from Broward County courts
Inmate Records
- Federal Bureau of Prisons
– Locate the whereabouts of a federal inmate incarcerated from 1982 to the present - California Los Angeles County Inmate Finder
– Find an inmate by name and date of birth in CA Los Angeles
Sex Offender Registry
- Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website
– Search sex offender registries for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Territories, and Indian Country by name or location - Florida Sexual Offenders and Predators Search
– Search sexual offenders and predators in Florida by name or location - Oregon State Police Sex Offender Registry Section
– Search level 3 sex offenders in Oregon by name or address - California Department of Justice Megan’s Law Website
– Search information from the California registered sex offender database
Government Records
This includes records for census, voter & election, bankruptcies, unclaimed property, and state and county office employees.
Census Records
- United Census Bureau
– Explore US census data
Voter & Election Records
- voter411.org
– Locate links to all states’ voter registration databases - United States Election Assistance Commission
– Find links to information like official office websites, voting information, voting registration status, etc in all states and territories - National Association of Secretaries of State
– Find links to all states’ voter registration databases - Florida State Voter Lookup
– Search Florida voter registration status by full name and date of birth - Oregon Secretary of State – My Vote
– Check Oregon voter registration by full name and date of birth - Wisconsin My Voter Information
– Search for voter records by name and date of birth - Florida Department of State Division of Elections Candidate Tracking System
– Find candidate-related information such as campaign finance activity, personal photos, and contact information.
Bankruptcies
- Public Access to Court Electronic Records
– Search bankruptcy case records online. Registration is required.
Unclaimed Property
- Unclaimed.org
– Find links to the official government unclaimed property program for your state or province - MissingMoney.com
– Search multiple participating state’s databases for unclaimed property
State and County Offices Employee Records
- Transparent California
– Search for information on the compensation of public employees in California
Property Records
Property records can include property tax, ownership, deeds and mortgages, and GIS maps. These records are typically managed at the county level and may be held by different agencies.
- NETROline Public Records Online Directory
– Navigate different states’ tax assessors, treasurers, and recorders websites - qPublic.net
– View web-based GIS and find government reporting sources of different states, including appraisal, assessment, and tax - Florida Department of Revenue
– Find links to your county’s property tax information - Florida St Johns County Property Appraiser
– Search St Johns County property owner, valuation, assessments, building information, and sales history - Florida Lee County Property Appraiser
– Search Lee County property owner, valuation, assessments, building information, and sales history - Massachusetts City of Worcester Property Records
– Search Worcester property records by MBL number, address, or owner name - California Alameda County Property Information
– Look up Alameda County property assessed value, taxes, and county parcel info - California San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk
– Look up San Diego County official and property records - Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records
– Search federal land conveyance records for the Public Land States, including image access to over five million Federal land title records issued between 1788 and the present, images of survey plats and field notes, land status records, and control document index records
Vehicle Records
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls Check
– Search vehicles, car seats, tires, and other equipment for safety recalls by license plate number, VIN, or year make model - Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
– Check Florida vehicle information by title number or VIN
If you’re seeking certain public records but don’t know where to look, we’re here to help. Leave a comment below with the type of record you need and the state, and we’ll be glad to assist you in finding the official public database to locate the information.
There’s no guarantee you’ll find the information you’re looking for with the tools discussed in this article. They all source their information from publicly available data sources, such as county, state and federal courts, government departments, and police records, and those sources may contain incorrect or incomplete data. It’s illegal to use these tools to make decisions about employment, admission, consumer credit, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance. Read the Fair Credit Reporting Act to learn more....Was this page helpful?
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