Records found at the county courthouse can provide you with a great deal of background information, and most of the records available are open to anyone who requests them. Some of the information that can usually be found at the county level, commonly found on the clerk of the court web site, includes:

• Business records and license information
• Property records
• Police records
• Criminal records
• Civil records including small claims
• Tax records
• Probate records
• Traffic records
• Auto tag registrations
• Voter registration

Depending on the state, many of these records can also be found at a state level as well. It is always best when possible to start at a state level (state district court) and then work your way down to the county level. Whatever method you use, remember that if your target has lived in different counties, you'll need to check each county separately.

If you are unsure of how to go about searching for records at the county courthouse, ask the court clerk or other staff for assistance. Address and contact information for the various county courthouses within each state can be found in the ‘State Government’ and ‘Offline Resources’ sections of program.