- 1
Do a quick Internet search first.press image by Petro Feketa from Fotolia.com
Type in the person's name in a search engine and see what comes up. You'll be surprised at the number of references that include the person about whom you are trying to find personal information. Look for obituary listings that include your person's name as a survivor because you will potentially learn names of close relatives who were also survivors of the deceased. - 2
Land records show property transfers and mortgages.detached house image by martini from Fotolia.com
Find the land-record website in your state and do a free public access search. Land records contain deeds to property, any mortgage records on the property and any tax liens that have been placed on the property. You can view free public access records in their entirety on the Internet. - 3
Probate court records are available to the public in many cases.US Supreme Court image by dwight9592 from Fotolia.com
Go to the probate court in the town where the person lives. Do a free search on the public computer that sits on the clerk's office counter. According to the National Center for State Courts, if the person was involved in probate court, a record of the docket number and dates of involvement will come up on the computer. Write it down and ask one of the clerks for the file. You can review the file in the clerk's office and take notes, but you can't make copies. - 4
Criminal files are public record.row of a4 files image by Scrivener from Fotolia.com
Go to the superior court and district court next to see if the person has any criminal charges. Search the public computer in the clerk's office for docket numbers and dates; then ask for the file. You are allowed to review criminal files at the clerk's office and take notes. No copies are allowed.
Source...