How to Get Access to Public Records

There are numerous kinds of public records like the number of births, deaths, divorces, marriages, missing people, voters, sex offenders, court records and criminal records that took place in a certain period of time. It is not very easy to obtain these records because it can infringe on the privacy and liberty of an individual. Many states have enacted legislation to protect this private information of its residents. For example, in Arizona birth records are not made available to the public until 75 years after the date of birth. These restrictions make it hard for anyone to get access to records easily. Below are some of the ways by which you can view public records.

Internet is one of the best ways to get access to public records. There are many state Government websites that can provide the information you are looking for. The Department of Health Services for each state is a good place to collect the required information. Another place to look for is free websites that help you to search your family tree and to access public records. Some websites are maintained by professionals and you can get access to information by paying a small fee. One advantage of using these paid websites is the accuracy of information provided by them.

There are other means to access public records and one of the most popular is through libraries. For example, the Huntington Library in California has records dating from 1769 to 1850. Some counties may offer access to public records provided you furnish the right reason for viewing and its intended usage. Sometimes you may find public records on state archives and it is a good idea to check these archives too. These are some of the ways by which you can get access to public records.