No Extended Vacation

A client of ours called me up and asked me if we could meet at the office on Wednesday. Although my boss told us to go back on the 3rd of January, I was planning to extend my holiday vacation a bit until the 5th. Oh well.

I can’t postpone the meeting. Our client is really bent on buying a huge New England real estate before February. However, he’s also quite apprehensive. Some of the property’s tenants said that they have rights or liens on the land. However, they weren’t able to produce any document that proves their claims.

Checking on properties is easy. I usually just go to Webstigate and browse through their database for specific property records. I also make sure that the property hasn’t been adjudged to somebody else by going through court records. I already told our client that he could easily do this by himself. Unfortunately, he’s quite reluctant to use computers.

I wish I brought his records here at home. I’m sure I would be able to finish my search and investigation on the property within an hour.

Late Gift

I received a very surprising call from the court clerk of the county court that I visited last week. He said that he has found the court record that I was looking for.

I was not really expecting that he would find anything in his search. I did not even expect that he would do it this week considering that Christmas has just ended and that the New Year is just a few days away.

I almost gave up on it myself. The details of the suit that the client provided was so vague and incomplete that I thought that the one who would be searching for it would virtually be looking for the invisible.

The news was very welcoming considering that I have been slacking off at work for the past few days. Who would have thought that Santa still had one gift for me in his sack :)

Showing My Gratitude

It’s Christmas morning. Everybody’s still asleep, so I decided to post something here while waiting for them to come down the stairs and raid the Christmas tree for their presents.

Speaking of presents, I received a lot this year. Well, it’s probably because I hosted a party two days ago. All of my college friends who attended the party, EXCEPT GEORGE (just kidding, doc) brought me something.

It feels good to be at the receiving end. However, it also feels great when you’re the one who’s spreading the cheers. I was at the county courthouse 4 days ago distributing gifts to the court staff who generously lent their time and effort to me whenever I’m rummaging through their court records for information.

I gave the sheriff a pair of beach shorts. I remembered him telling me that he’ll be off to Florida during the holidays to test the waters and escape the cold winds.

I sure wish that I’m in a Florida beach, too. The winter chills have been penetrating my very thick sweater lately.

Spreading the Cheers

Believe it or not, I’ll still be doing some court records search tomorrow while wrapping the gift’s that I’ll be giving out on Christmas Eve. It’s not that I have a deadline on Monday. In fact, my boss gave us a breather and told us that we could lock ourselves in our houses until the 26th.

I’m doing an officemate a favor by taking in some of his workload that he labeled as “hopeless.” He has been working on these files for over a month now and he still can’t get the information that he need to complete his report.

He was planning on visiting the state courthouse yesterday to go through the records that he need, but his mind was not exactly up to it since he was also worried that he might not be able to finish his Christmas day preparations if he’ll devote the last days of the week out of town.

I told him to look for the court records that he need online. However, his laptop took an early Christmas break. I thought that he needed a Yuletide cheer, so I offered my help.

Pet Concerns

Yahoo! recently featured an article about the worst celebrity pet owners. I wasn’t able to go through the whole article, but I know Britney Spears is one of them since her photo was pasted beside the title.

I always thought that the pets of Hollywood stars are living a life of absolute luxury. Many of them are even believed to be eating steaks that many could not afford. I wonder if the stars that were featured in the Yahoo! article were previously charged for acts constituting cruelty to animals. Maybe I’ll try to check court records for that.

Despite the fact that many laws have already been passed that shield animals from abuse, there are still people who treat their pets as if they’re non living objects. It’s already sad that these animals have been taken out of their natural habitat. The least that the owners could do is to provide them with a good new home.

Roasting on an Open Fire

My mom wants to blanket our entire roof with Christmas lights. I have no problems with it. In fact, I think it’s a great idea. My dad’s a bit worried about the bill, but he also likes the idea.

While dad is worried that our electricity bill might jump up exponentially, I’m quite concerned about the prospect of having homeless parents this Christmas. I’m sure you’re aware of fires resulting from faulty Christmas light wirings. While the incidents have dwindled through the years, still the harrowing possibility is present.

I haven’t raised this concern yet to my mom. I don’t want to dampen her yuletide mood with my apprehensions. After all, this is the season to be jolly. Maybe I’ll just run a court records search on the manufacturer of the Christmas lights that we’re going to buy and check if they’ve been charged for offering faulty products in the past.

People should be very diligent about this. Otherwise, chestnuts won’t be the only things that will be roasting this Christmas.

Swiping Credit Card Doubts Away

Cara is probably the only person in the whole office building who still doesn’t have a credit card.

She’s not one of those who abhor credit cards because of the exorbitant interest rates that it imposes on holders who are late in paying their balances, though. In fact, she admits that plastics can be very convenient when going around the mall or the grocery store.

The reason why she doesn’t want to decorate her wallet with one of these commerce wonders is that her brother nearly had a stroke when he learned that he has a $4,700 balance on his credit card.

Of course, Cara’s brother contested the amount. It was later found out that somebody was able to access the details of his credit card account. The credit card company did not notify him of the purchases since they were basically the same things that he usually buys using his card.

I assured Cara that what happened to his brother was the exception rather than the general rule. I explained to her that credit card companies usually have an elaborate security scheme or system that protects the account details of its clients. I also advised her to check out a book that guides people on how to secure their personal and financial information.

I conceded though, that there are card companies which have doubtful track records as far as securing the accounts of their client is concerned. I told her to check court records for suits that may have been filed against the card firms for failure to exercise the diligence required of them in securing the financial details of their customers.

Curing The World

I’ve recently read in an international journal that many poor and developing countries are now importing medicine from India. Although most of the drugs manufactured in that South Asian country do not carry the big labels that we’ve grown accustomed to here in the United States, doctors say that they’re as potent as the branded ones.

I’m glad that there are companies or groups which are working hard to keep the cost of medicine down. Unfortunately though, there are some manufacturers who are selling substandard products. A number of cases have already been filed against these corporations or groups or persons. However, some of them managed to sidestep the law and continue to operate up to the present.

People should be vigilant in checking the potency of the drug and in determining which company produced it. They should check court records to ascertain that the manufacturer is a legitimate one, and that it hasn’t been the subject of any criminal or civil suit in the past for producing defective medicine.

Tomorrow Never Dies

A cousin of mine called me up yesterday to ask me if I could accompany her to the county courthouse on Tuesday.

I gave my “yes” conditionally since I’m supposed to submit a lengthy report on Wednesday. If procrastination doesn’t get the best of me this weekend, then I think I’ll even be able to go with her to the mall for some window shopping.

I still gave Renee some advice on how to conduct a courthouse research and what to bring with her though, just in case I don’t get pass by the first chapter of my report this weekend.

I really hope that I’ll be able to go with her. I want to give something to the court clerk who helped me go through 29 court records last month. I was doing a research work on probate proceedings back then, and he unhesitatingly assisted me in searching for the records that I wanted.

Judging His Works

I sometimes wonder why civic groups, supporters, or opponents of Supreme Court or collegiate court nominees go through needless documents for the purpose of showing that the person being considered for the post is competent or otherwise. I mean, if you really want to know if a person can decide a case judiciously, all you have to do is look at the cases that he had written or handled.

Many of the nominees are members of the bench. This makes it easier for people to check if he is competent for the job or not since all they have to do is inspect the court records or decisions which he had penned.

Of course, there are other things or records to consider in order to ensure that the nominee is indeed fit for the job. Indeed, one has to know the applicant’s moral, philosophical, and sometimes even his political leanings, before he can determine if the latter is indeed deserving to be elevated to the post.

Hiding the Shame

I’m not making a bold prediction here as many believe that this is the inevitable -- China will take over the United States as the world’s economic superpower in 2020.

Many economists would second me on this. While many American businessmen have raised their eyebrows on the possibility that the United States will bow down to East Asia in the near future as far as trade is concerned, some may seem have already conceded to this emerging fact by putting up offices and plants in the region.

While I’m kind of glad to see that more nations are now getting a crack at prosperity, I’m quite saddened by persisting news that China is climbing the economic ladder by stepping on its people. What shocks me the most though, is that American companies are tolerating this! Shouldn’t every person, natural or artificial, in the United States condemn this kind of human exploitation?

Sweatshops still abound in many countries in the world, especially in developing ones. Some companies openly condemn child labor, but are setting up factories in places where the children are taken out of school and horded to factories.

I’m giving these companies the benefit of the doubt. A few weeks ago, Business Week ran a feature on how some countries are camouflaging human rights violations or sweatshops in order to entice foreign firms to tap their labor force. These companies should exercise due diligence in contracting with these outsourcing companies by checking court records if they have been charged for illegal labor practices. Economic progress should be synonymous with human progress. The former cannot and should not be made at the expense of the latter.

Warming Up

Coffee has been known to be a good body warmer. I guess many can attest to that since my favorite Starbucks branch has been filled to the brim with coffee lovers lately. The Yuletide breeze has been letting its presence felt these past few days, and many people (including myself) are going to the coffee shops more often to sip the chills away.

I had a short chat with the branch manager a few days ago. He said that he’s really finding it hard to serve the customers promptly. I almost seconded him on that sarcastically since I’ve been waiting for my cappuccino for 20 minutes already.

He had with him a few application forms in his hand. He said that he will be hiring 3 more employees for the holidays, and that he’s just waiting for the results of the court and criminal records searches on them.

Until then, I guess I have to settle for instant coffee if I want a quick warmer.

Cut and Paste

Have you ever wondered how judges manage to write lengthy decisions and still be able to hear cases without delay? For many, reading court records is difficult enough. It’s not surprising then, why many revere magistrates for their intellect and dedication to their profession.

While drafting a court opinion takes a lot of work, they are not exactly very difficult to do. The countless footnotes that usually litter decisions may seem to suggest that its author went through a lot in order to come up with it. However, these references are actually time-savers.

Judges cannot just issue a ruling based on personal opinion. He has to weigh in the evidence, and apply the appropriate law on the matter. However, the law can sometimes be applied or interpreted in a number of ways. In order to avoid any inconsistency, courts are enjoined to follow precedents.

The rule on precedents has tremendously aided judges in disposing controversies quickly but accurately. In deciding a particular controversy, all that a judge has to do is to look for a Supreme Court case that has the same facts. If he has found one, then his task is reduced to just copying the ruling of the highest court of the land.

Cloudy Deals

With operating costs continuously climbing, airline companies are now seriously entertaining merger proposals from competitors.

CNN has been running short features or segments on the matter as a number of established airlines are planning to join forces with competitors. I’m sure you’re already familiar with U.S. Airways’ bid to take over Delta. Then there’s the proposed Air France-Alitalia deal across the Atlantic.

I’m not sure if I could validly claim that I’m a jetsetter or a frequent flyer, but I do fly around several times each year. This issue concerns me since many suspect that a monopoly in the industry would blow up airfares. I’m also worried about some safety concerns since the dominant airline might not have a sterling track record as far as maintenance is concerned.

I’m not sure if the skies are safe anymore, especially since airlines are cutting down on some expenses, including spare parts and mechanics. I guess I have to check out some of the airline companies’ court records and see if they’ve been previously charged for mishandling goods, or for endangering the lives of their passengers due to faulty aircraft repairs.

I Need An Interpreter

I was at the public library the other day looking for interesting finds on the classical literature section. The reading area was nearly empty, except for a number of people who appeared to be law students. My search was fruitless, so I decided to just browse through the latest periodicals.

I sat near the group of students since the area around them is well lit. I discovered that they were indeed law students, and were going through piles of statute books and court records.

One student was complaining that he’s having a hard time understanding the court decisions. Poor kid. I had a similar experience a few years ago when I was first introduced to legal documents.

I wonder why some judges choose to be esoteric when writing their orders or resolutions. Judicial decisions do not just concern lawyers. As they are the interpretations of the law, people are expected to be aware of them in order to be properly guided as to the true meaning of the law.

Judges and lawyers should really keep their language simple. After all, laws are primarily made for ordinary people like us.

e-Life

Have you already tried buying things online? I’m simply amazed at how things, activities, or transactions are steadily being done electronically. There used to be a time when shopping means hours of carpeting malls or stores. Nowadays, people won’t even suit up to buy clothes from Calvin Klein or Armani.

The Internet has revolutionized the way we shop. Wait. Let me correct that understatement. The Internet has revolutionized the way we live. Everything can now be done at the touch of a button, and you know that’s not an exaggeration.

You might abhor at the way things are going. My mom can’t seem to contain her amazement every time I tell her that I’m shopping from my computer. However, she is very reluctant to try it herself for fear that her credit card details might get intercepted.

e-commerce may have saved us from road hazards, but it certainly hasn’t spared us from a variety of frauds. If you’re really bent on roaming around cyberspace for good buys, make sure that the Web site or online company you’re purchasing from has a clean record. Heed the advice of experts on how to shop without getting robbed online. You could also browse through court records and check if those e-vendors have been previously charged for fraud.

A 'Minor' Problem

Whenever I am posting articles on my blog, I usually wonder if they influence those who stumble upon them. Maybe some think that I have this weird obsession on public files or documents, such as court records.

It would seem that one person did find my posts interesting. I received a message from him a few weeks ago, telling me that my articles have convinced him that one should really be careful when dealing with strangers.

His first attempt to practice the things that I’ve been preaching didn’t go smoothly. He interviewed two teenage boys that he intended to hire for a small garage makeover project. After gathering their personal details, he then proceeded to browse through court records to check if the two had previous troubles with the law. To his dismay, he was denied access to some records.

I told him that juvenile records are usually sealed. This doesn’t mean though, that he’ll always be stuck in a dead end as far as conducting background checks on teens is concerned. There are many ways by which one could investigate or go through the profiles of persons, regardless of their age.

Kids Stuff

I have never outgrown my love for toys. My friends would usually suppress a chuckle whenever I volunteer to take their kids at Toys R Us because they know that I’ll surely end up buying stuff for myself.

I’m not really particular when it comes to toy marks or brands. Back when I was still a kid, I usually just tell my parents that any toy would do as long as it has wings. I found out a few years later that brands or marks sometimes do matter. There’s this one toy maker that drew the ire of many parents and consumer groups for having distributed faulty products.

If you don’t want your children to wear holiday frowns next month, make sure that the manufacturer of the toy that you’ll be buying has a good reputation for producing durable goods. Check court records if the company has been the subject of complaints in the past.

Ah... Did You Vote Wisely?

I’m not really fond of talking about politics. All politicians do is talk, so I guess talking about them is a needless superfluity.

The issues that politicians talk about are important though. Whether they’re talking about Iraq or your local county, we should be concerned and even actively participate in it.

While our government is essentially democratic, we leave the policy and decision-making to the politicians. If we’re going to surrender a big part of our voice to them, then we have to make sure that they are responsible and competent.

So my question now is, have you voted wisely last week? People shouldn’t just rely on posters in order to determine if a candidate is up for the job. Responsible voters should be checking various databases or files, such as court records, for possible blemishes in a candidate’s character.

If you just half-heartedly exercised your right and responsibility to vote wisely, then you may have just ended up with a mayor, congressman, or senator who probably won’t serve you wholeheartedly for the next 4 years.

How to Sort Out Court Records

If I’ll be given a dollar for every lawsuit that is filed in the country, I would already be in a Caribbean island by now basking in the sun. People seem to have a penchant to bring every pain and problem they have in court. Lawyers are only too happy to oblige to this insatiable craving for judicial intervention.

This gluttony for legal remedies has bloated court dockets. If you’re a legal researcher, or just an ordinary person who wants to look for a particular case, then you’ll be in for an unpleasant surprise.

In order to save yourself from having to dig through tons of documents in courts, or from endlessly pounding your keyboard for cases, you must first know a few details about the suit that you’re looking for.

You’ll have the court record that you want in no time if you know the case number, but having the title alone may not be sufficient enough. For example, if you type “People vs. Johnson” in your favorite search engine, it will probably give you a few hundred cases that have the same title.

Before conducting your search for a particular court record, try to find out first when it was promulgated. It doesn’t have to be the exact date. Even the year will do. This would greatly narrow down your search and save you time from having to go through hundreds or thousands of cases that bear the same caption.

If you're pressed for time, I suggest using a reputable court records search service provider. They may charge you a small fee for using the service but at least you don't end up tearing at your hair out of frustration!

A Source of Interesting Facts...

Game consoles are fast becoming a common fixture in every household. I even think that it’s already a common and must-have home appliance.

Kids today are very lucky. The only form of video entertainment that I had when I was 5 years old was a Donkey Kong Game and Watch that my aunt gave me for my birthday. The game did not have any plot, and the actions were irritatingly repetitive. I grew tired of it after a few days after.

I kept myself busy back then by reading the almanac or trivia questions in the newspaper. It’s kind of nerdy, I know. I didn’t have many friends until I reached high school, so my childhood days were spent mostly at home.

Although I spend more time outside and with other people now, I still love reading almanacs and other sources of interesting facts. A few years ago, I found out that court records are very good sources of information. The facts may not be as relevant as those in the almanac, but it’s just as interesting ;)

It’s even more interesting sometimes since the court records that I usually check out are those from my city. It’s not surprising then that some of the parties in the cases that I’ve read were very prominent figures in the place where I live in. If almanacs don’t satisfy your curiosity anymore, try going through court records.

Tolerated Fraud

It seems that advertisements hound us wherever we may go. We see them on the road in huge billboards, and even on the Internet in the form of annoying pop ups.

I can’t blame those companies for bombarding consumers with tons of information about their products. They do have to make a living. What I don’t understand and detest, however, are exaggerated claims. You would often hear or see companies claiming that their products are the best or that they were the first ones to come up with it.

Which company is telling the truth? That’s quite a difficult question to answer considering that most information on the Internet about a product comes from the producer itself. Companies that have similar goods often fight though, and these conflicts sometimes end up in lawsuits.

Maybe the question as to which company came up first with the service or product can be answered by looking at their arguments and the evidence that they’ve presented in court. Court records might be able to answer once and for all as to which corporation is telling the truth.

American Idol

American Idol fever hit the country like a storm. Its TV ratings continue to float high above the others in its time slot. Almost everybody that I know watches it, or at least has an idea as to what the show is all about.

I have a high regard for some of the contestants, especially those who have gone through a lot just to make it to the show. I admire their very persistent character, and the way they handle victory and defeat.

There are times when admiration turns to idolatry though. I noticed this among many American Idol followers, especially the teenagers. I don’t see any problem with it, as long as it doesn’t turn to rabid fanaticism, and if the object of their respect and admiration has a sound and solid character.

I believe people should be careful about those they look up to as their role models. There’s more to a person than meets the eye. If you really want to know if he or she has a character worthy of admiration, then try to check public court records and see if your 'idol' has had a rough relationship with the law. A good role model, after all, respects the law and his fellow beings.

Giving the "Eyebrow" on Your Employer

Don’t you find it very irritating and a bit offending whenever you’re being asked for a certification that you’ve committed no crime or any wrongdoing whatsoever by your would-be employer? I know that they’re just being cautious, but sometimes the request ticks me off.

It’s not as if many applicants carry an AK-47 during interviews. In my case, I even go in with a clean, shaved look that I pair with a great smile (sounds like a personal ad, huh?). It’s sometimes hard to prove yourself worthy for a position, especially character-wise. But did it ever occur to you that your prospective employer might not be worthy of you?

There are employers who do not treat their employees well. Beware of companies that fire their employees in a whimsical manner, or withhold promised benefits and bonuses. Check the court records in your state if your would-be employer has been charged for any offense against the welfare of their workers. Who knows, your future boss might just not have what it takes to HIRE you.

Think Before You Eat

I’ve always resented it whenever my mom admonishes me for eating too much junk food. Sure, it’s called junk, but the nutritional facts on the wrapper say otherwise. Between the company’s nutritionist and my mom who has a very obvious bias against my nachos, who would I believe?

My tongue does the choosing so naturally I believed the junk food company more than my mom. However, as I grew up, I’ve come across a lot of news about complaints against food companies regarding the falsities that they were indicating or claiming as to the ingredients and dietary benefits of their products. Some ended up in lawsuits.

If you think you’re favorite barbecue chip producer is not that trustworthy, try going through court records and see if you could find anything against them. Even if you’ve heard that they’ve been acquitted or absolved from any wrongdoing, the evidence against them may prove to be very informative, especially if they came from impartial experts.

Examining your Lawyer

Lawyers are supposed to be experts on the law. Logically, they are the last group of people that you would expect to see in jail or in court as the accused or defendant. Sadly, some of them do end up violating the laws that they swore to uphold and protect.

If you’re contemplating on hiring an attorney for your legal problems, make sure that he has no similar problems of his own. A lawyer who is busy defending himself will not be able to devote his entire time to his clients, or to anything else for that matter.

If the lawyer is candid, he would immediately disclose his past or present problems with the law. However, you can’t expect every attorney to be bold and honest enough to admit that they have committed a personal lapse on something that they should already be very familiar with. Go through court records in the state where your lawyer practices or conduct a background check on him and discover if he has a sterling character... or a tainted one.

History Books

Every park, road, and building in your locality has a story. You may not be aware of it, but some important or controversial event may have happened on the house that you frequently pass by when going to the office.

The public library is the usual repository of the records that contain accounts of the different events that transpired in the locality where it is situated. Researchers and history buffs usually resort to newspaper clippings for information. However, newspapers are sometimes unreliable and inaccurate story tellers, especially when the reporters add 'sweeteners' to their articles.

If you want a more accurate transcript of what happened in a particular place, check out the court records in your county, city, or state. The house that you’re interested in might have been the subject of a mortgage suit a few decades ago, or the park that you frequently go to might have been the site of a gruesome murder. Court records can tell very interesting tales.

Business 101 through Court Records

I sometimes envy those people who earn a living without having to pay daily homage to a timekeeping machine. I’m sure you feel the same thing too, especially when you’re always tied up at the office.

Many are already putting up their own businesses in order to free up more time for themselves and their families. Setting up your own business takes more than just having sufficient capital though. There are various rules and regulations that are needed to be observed and complied with.

If you want to have an idea as to the “do's” and “dont's” in starting up and maintaining a store or a shop, you may want to check out the court records in your state that involve businesses. Court records are more effective in explaining to people what should and should not be done since it involves facts and disputes concerning a particular business law.

There’s nothing wrong in going directly to the text of the statute for guidance. However, if you’re the type who looks up to the ceiling whenever confronted with an esoteric legal term, then I suggest that you look into court records instead.

Ignorance of the Law Can Never be a Bliss

We are all familiar with the legal maxim that ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance therewith. Unfortunately for some, they found that out a little bit too late and ended up either in jail or in debt from the millions that they had to pay in damages.

Reading the various state and federal laws will definitely help you from ending up wearing orange-colored clothing for the rest of your life. However, it may come as a surprise to many that reading the law, no matter how voluminous the materials may be, is not enough to fully understand it.

Courts may have a different interpretation as to what the law really means. Hence, it is very important for all of us to be aware of the different interpretations or constructions that each statute has in order to ensure that we comply with them in the manner that the courts prescribe. Make sure that you include reading about previous court records as part of your endeavor to know more about our laws.

Make Your Own Miracle

Have you ever tried making your own miracle? Some people have already tried and emerged successful. This is the tagline of one of my favorite movies, Lorenzo’s Oil. The film is about a boy who develops a very rare disease that has no potent cure available.

The boy’s father (played by Nick Nolte) sought the help of doctors who have devoted years in studying the disease. The experts were of the position that the chances of recovery were very slim, and that there is nothing much that can be done. Unfazed by the doctors’ pronouncement, he embarked on an intensive research on possible cures. Through hard work and perseverance, he eventually did found one and proved the experts wrong.

A similar situation could happen to you when engaging the services of a lawyer. Your counsel may say that your case is virtually hopeless or he may have a different opinion as to its chances and merits. While members of the bar are indeed knowledgeable on legal matters, they are far from being infallible. If you think that your lawyer failed to appreciate your case, make your own miracle. Do your own research. Try to look for court records that have facts similar to or related to your case. You might pick up something from it that can greatly help your case.

Ready to start? Try our No. 1 online court record provider pick - Court Record Online.

Court Records – Your Pocketbook Alternative

I’m sure that I’ll be raising many eyebrows by what I’m about to say, but I really think that court records are very good sources of entertainment. I’m not a fan of legal terms and procedures. I even frequently wonder why lawyers make everything complicated, especially the very simple task of narrating the facts of their cases.

Fortunately though, court records are often easy on the eyes and on the mind even for persons like me who are not really amused with words or phrases such as “habeas corpus” or “obiter dictum”. I even find many of them as resembling a John Grisham classic.

Nothing beats reading real-life stories, especially those that involve struggles with the law. If you’re tired of going through the Fictions Section of your favorite bookstore, then I suggest that you try flipping through the pages of court records where the action and the drama are as real as anywhere you can get.

Court Records - Find Out Who Owns What

When people think of 'court records' they immediately associate it with criminal cases or something of a dire nature. However, when looking up the history behind a piece land, court records are actually very valuable resources to have.

Property records detail many things about real estate such as a list of its owners, their contact info, when the property was last sold and its current value. These documents can be very useful whether you are simply doing research on a valuable or historic piece of land or whether you are actually disputing someone's ownership of it.

Porperty records are also often used by people who want to look up the property's history before buying it. So the next time some real estate presents itself on you, look it up first and see if it's worth your while.

Court Records May Provide a Clue Regarding Your Adoption

In many states, adoption records are only public if they are 'old' or past a certain number of years. If they have not met this criterion, then it is very likely that the adoption records are sealed. To have them opened, one would have to file in court to unseal these records. And of course, the outcome of these cases is not always to allow the opening of such records.

If you just recently found out that you were adopted and now want to search for your birth parents, consider looking at court records that your birth parents may have filed in an effort to reach you. Of course, this is harder said than done and you need to ask your adopted parents a lot of questions but if you really want to find your birth parents, you should not leave any stone unturned.

Looking Up Criminal Records

Court records available today include court case files for civil court and for criminal court. The latter features court records of convicted criminals and will often inform you about the nature of the crime, the warrant for arrest, court proceedings and the result of the case.

Now why would you want to look up someone's court records? Well, unless you stay indoors and never go out and thus not have contact with any other human being, then it is probably a normal occurence that you come into contact with different types of people all the time. Ordinary contact such as people you normally see on your commute to work may not be cause for you to look up if they have any criminal record, but anybody you place in a position of trust should be subject to one.

For example, are you hiring new employees, getting a new nanny for your kid(s), or getting a driver? If your child is off to college, how sure are you his/her roommates are 'ok'?

It is never bad to err on the side of caution. And with times today the way they are, there is much more to pay if you are not careful.

Court Records Become More Accessible...

Reading through some news items today, I am brought back to the fact that searching for court records is very much a 'necessity' in many lawfirms. An article posted on Business Post today (click here for the full article) expresses the Ohio State Bar Association's plans to increase its legal search database to include case law and statues from all the other 50 US states. The records will be made available via the association's Casemaker digital library... for a fee of course.

Actually, despite this 'fee', many welcome the idea with open arms as Casemaker is an inexpensive alternative to such popular research tools as LexisNexis and Westlaw.

And the best part of all? Lawfirms are stating that the savings they will incur can be passed on to consumers. Dare we believe the statements of these lawyers?!? ;)

Beware of Sexual Offenders in Your Area

Perhaps one of the most sickening topics plaguing America today is the increasing occurrence of child molestation. As a parent, it is our duty to provide for our children and to ensure that they live in an environment of safety.

One of the best ways you can protect your child is to conduct a court and criminal record search in your state for sexual offenders. Please do not think that a 'good neighborhood' is good enough. We all know that evil does not choose a specific place, , race, or income bracket.

It does not take much effort to conduct a criminal records search. Do it now. You owe it to your child and to your peace of mind.

Court Records - Murder She Wrote

In my spare time, which are too few and far between!, I actually like going over the Crime Library. Of particular interest to me are the unsolved crimes of the past. So much is attributed now to DNA analysis and the art of forensics that I cannot help but wonder how these crimes may be solved NOW or how easy it would have been to solve them had the tools we have now were available then.

Sometimes I come across 'popular' crimes and sometimes I read about crimes I have never heard of. And sometimes, I come across items that are simply of interest in my line of work and for those I go the extra mile and try and search their court records to see what really happened. I also especially do this when the crime is about to be made into a documentary or a movie as I have this penchant for checking how true the rendition is.

Anyway, before you get the wrong idea, I am not promoting crime at all! But if, like me, you're into thrillers and Murder She Wrote-type of content, then the Crime Library is perhaps for you too.

Court Records - Information in Black and White

Growing up, I have always heard about my grandmother's brave pursuit of justice. She owned an apartment building and one bright day, a truck carrying gasoline hit it and the building was razed to the ground. The company responsible for the fleet was very powerful and so what was expected was that a tidy sum would be given to my grandmother as compensation and that was the end of it... my grandmother thought otherwise.

My grandmother who took pictures of her burning building, the truck that hit it and the DRIVER noted that the driver was actually drunk. To cut the long story short, my grandmother said no to the sum, sued the company for all it's worth, years passed, and she won. David has beaten Goliath...

This story would repeat itself over and over and since she died before I was born, it sort of made me view her as a Super Woman. So one day, I just decided to see if the story was true. I searched for the court records pertaining to her case. The document arrived and I spent all afternoon reading it; after that, I concluded... she really was Super Woman!

Choosing a Court Records Search Provider

Conducting a court records search is not an invasion of privacy. After all, these records will not be ‘open to the public’ if it was. Whatever your reasons are for making a court records search, know that the information is only as complete and updated as the source.

There are a lot of people who look up court records so it’s not surprising that many companies online are now providing the service. However, not all providers are created equal.

When looking for quality providers, choose one that…

- allows anonymous or confidential searches;
- offers correct, complete and updated results; and
- offer a money back guarantee!

So who are the best court records providers out there? Check out this list.

Why Access Court Records?

How can court records be useful to you? There are a number of different court records that are open to the public and can easily be accessed. Many can be found at the county or federal courthouse, and some are now available online. Usually there is not a fee to just look at the court records, but it can cost to make copies. All court records are public except juvenile records or in special cases when the judge seals the records.

Court records encompass a wide variety of different records. These records include court case files for civil court and for criminal court. Criminal court records will tell you information on the complaint, warrant for arrest, trial proceedings and the resolution of the case. Other court records include pleadings, complaint or petition for a case, trial transcripts, deeds, mortgages, marriages, divorces, leases, petitions for things such as name changes, contracts, land records such as oil and gas leases and land surveys, probate of wills, tax liens and debtors liens. Some common uses of court records:

• Perform background checks
• Research a piece of property before buying it
• Find the owner of a piece of property
• Research family history and genealogy

Background checks are the most common use of court records, and can be beneficial in many ways. You can discover if a potential business partner has excessive debt, or if a contractor you intend to hire for work in your home has a clean record. You can ensure that your child care provider doesn't have a criminal background. One interesting use of court records is to research your family's history. This can be done by searching for previous property ownership, records of marriages and divorces, and probates, or estate records.