BRB's Public Records Blog

Public Record Research Tip

Private Resources on Unions

Big Labor.com
Big Labor is sponsored by Union Communication Services Inc. Per their website “Every U.S.-based union with a website – national and local – can be found on the Big Labor list in one of three ways: by the union's full name, by its acronym, (examples: UAW, IBT) or by its common short-hand name (examples: Auto Workers, Teamsters).” www.biglabor.com

Unions.org
Unions.org manages a searchable database of union organizations across the U.S. Search by state to find a specific union or find a links list of existing unions in that state.  www.unions.org

Job Tracker
Working America, an AFL-CIO affiliate, offers a unique search for companies who are “endangering their workers” or involved in cases with violations under the National Labor Relations Act. The database contains information on more than 60,000 companies nationwide. Search by ZIP Code, state or company name, or search by specific industry to see the detailed information. The Job Tracker database is at www.workingamerica.org/jobtracker.

© excerpt from The Public Record Research TIPS Book

Public Record Research Tip - Telephones

Free Directory Service for Cells

Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls when they don't have to. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial 800 FREE 411 or 800-373-3411 without incurring any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone.

Location & Service Provider Finders

There are several search service tools that provide the location and service provider for a telephone number. A good one for the U.S. and Canada is FoneFinder. Search by 7 digits of the telephone number or by city or ZIP Code at www.fonefinder.net/

© excerpt from The Public Record Research TIPS Book

Massive Fee Increases Coming to AZ Courts

Per House Bill 2210 signed by the Governor in June, effective September 26, 2008, fees associated with filing and record searching will substantially increase for all superior and justice courts in the State of Arizona.

For example, at justice courts the fee for "research in locating a document (per year or source researched)" and the separate "certificate of correctness of copy of record" fee will each increase from $17 to $24.  The superior court fee for "research in locating a document (per year or source researched)" and the separate "certificate of correctness of copy of record"  will each increase from $18 to $26. The copy fee remains the same at $.50 per copy at all courts.  Nearly every filing fee is increasing. For example, filing fees for civil cases in the superior court will increase from $245 to $286.

What is frustrating to many Arizona record searchers and private investigators is that when a clerk is given a specific specific docket or case number to pull, in some courts the clerk is charging a "search fee" although no searching is performed. Useful advice from several of our AZ PI friends is to bring a copy of the law in hand when visiting certain courts. The good news is that members of the Arizona Association of Licensed Private Investigators are working with the Supreme Court to effectively rewrite the language in the law so there is no confusion.

House Bill 2210 can be viewed at:
www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/48leg/2r/laws/0286.htm

Maricopa County presents an easy-to-read list of the superior court fee changes at:www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/faxondemand/100FeeSchedule.pdf

In the meantime, the Winslow Justice Court in Navajo County AZ recently raised its search fee and its certification fee from $17 to $20.

Rhode Island Public Record Research Tip

Rhode Island has five counties, but only four Superior/District Court Locations — 2nd-Newport, 3rd-Kent, 4th-Washington, and 6th-Providence/Bristol Districts. Bristol and Providence counties are completely merged at the Providence location.

Civil claims between $5000 and $10,000 may be filed in either Superior Court or District Court at the discretion of the filer. Probate is handled by the Town Clerk at the 39 cities and towns across Rhode Island, not at the courts.

 © excerpt from The Public Record Research TIPS Book

Dispelling the Myths of Searching Public Records Online

There is no Free Lunch!

Tempe, Arizona – September 17, 2008 –The scope of information that exists online about people and businesses is staggering. If one needs to search for a public record or to do a background check, one merely has to Google and the problem is solved, right? Not so fast, according to authors Cynthia Hetherington and Michael Sankey. Their new book – The Manual to Public Records Online – reveals how public records and public record searching websites are not created equal, and teaches how to professionally use government and vendor online resources.

According to the authors, “There are four important truths about searching public records online from government agencies—
1. Less than 50% of the available public records from the government can be found online.
2. Government sites can be free or fee-based. Generally, the fee-based sites are more robust. 
3. Most free government public record websites contain no personal identifiers beyond the name.
4. Usually the searchable and viewable information found online is limited to name indexes and summary data rather than document images. Most access sites – especially the free access sites – permit the former, not the latter.”

The authors also present public record searching guidelines when using sites maintained by private entities. The public is often fooled by websites that tout misconceptions or unrealistic features. The Manual gives an information edge on how to evaluate sites and also on the best sites to use based on topic or record category.  The 600 pages of insight and evaluation place the reader on the right path to become an expert.

 Cynthia Hetherington, a licensed private investigator and President of the Hetherington Group, is a nationally known speaker and she is author of Business Background Investigations.  Michael Sankey is the founder and CEO of BRB Publications, Inc. and he is author or editor of more than 60 publications including The Sourcebook to Public Record Information and The Public Record Research TIPS Book.

The table of contents can be found at www.brbpub.com/books/toc/

VA Public Record Research Tip

In Virginia, fifteen independent cities share the Clerk of Circuit Court with the county - Bedford, Covington (Alleghany County), Emporia (Greenville County), Fairfax, Falls Church (Arlington or Fairfax County), Franklin (Southhampton County), Galax (Carroll County), Harrisonburg (Rockingham County), Lexington (Rockbridge County), Manassas and Manassas Park (Prince William County), Norton (Wise County), Poquoson (York County), South Boston (Halifax County), and Williamsburg (James City County).

Charles City and James City are counties, not cities. The City of Franklin is not in Franklin County, but is its own separate jurisdiction. The City of Richmond is not in Richmond County, but is its own separate jurisdiction. The City of Roanoke is not in Roanoke County, but is its own separate jurisdiction.

© excerpt from The Public Record Research TIPS Book

AR Public Record Research Tip

In Arkansas, there is no statewide access to county assessor data; however, all counties cooperate with at least one commercial vendor. Registration, login, and fees required to search assessor records for 41 counties at www.arcountydata.com. Access property data free for 25 counties at www.actdatascout.com. Subscription for deeper info for a fee. 36 counties are available at www.datascoutpro.com/ by various subscription.

 © excerpt from The Public Record Research TIPS Book

IN Public Record Research Tip

54 Indiana Cities and Towns have the exact same names as Indiana Counties
Most common names of Indiana Cities and Towns include:

there are 5 Mt Pleasants - in Cass, Delaware, Johnson, Martin, and Perry Counties

there are 4 Buena Vistas - in Franklin, Gibson, Harrison, and Randolph Counties

there are 4 Millersburgs - in Elkhart, Hamilton, Orange, and Warrick Counties

there are 4 Salems - county seat of Washington County, others in Adams, Jay, and Union Counties

there are 3 Hamiltons - in Clinton, St Joseph, and Steuben Counties

there are 3 Needmores - in Brown, Lawrence, and Vigo Counties

there are 3 Wheelings - in Carroll, Delaware, and Gibson Counties

© excerpt from The Public Record Research TIPS Book

IL Public Record Research Tip

In Illinois, court fees are set by the Clerk of Courts Act (705 ILCS 105). The statute sets different pricing for court filings and services based on three county population tiers;  under 500,000, between 500,000 and 3,000,000, and over 3,000,000. The higher the population, the higher the fee.  For record searching fees, the statute also gives a minimum and maximim that that can be charged with rules how to reach the maximim. Searching is supposed to be calculated at a per year searched basis. In general, search fees range from $4.00 to $9.00 per name per year. Copy fees are generally $1.00 or $2.00 for the first page then $.50 per page for the next 19, then $.25 per page. Usually.  The bottom line is you will find pricing all over the board.

© excerpt from The Public Record Research TIPS Book

CA Public Record Research Tip

When searching for public records at California trial courts, per statute there is no name search fee unless the search takes more than 10 minutes, in which case the fee is $15.00. Certification is $15.00 per document plus copy fee; copies are $.50 per page. Most courts follow these guidelines. However, some clerks consider every search takes more than ten minutes and charge regardless.

© excerpt from The Public Record Research TIPS Book