Whether you're looking for information about a potential employee or researching facts on a property, you need to access Alabama public records. Public records are documents that have been filed or recorded by either public agencies or private individuals. Such records include birth and death records, marriage and divorce papers, criminal records, real estate documents, licenses, and so on.

State of Alabama public records are held by the federal, state, and local governments, who in turn determine their availability.
Although they're accessible to the public, you may be expected to pay for some information; the fees will vary depending on the department and state. You can always visit state departments and offices for public records, though there's a breadth of information online.

When researching Alabama public records, remember the following:

1. When doing a background check on an individual, you may want to consider a nationwide search. This will cover information, not just in State of Alabama public records, but in the country as a whole .

2. Make sure that the official public records in Alabama you get are up to date.

3. Get information from a credible source when searching Alabama criminal records online. You may be liable for turning someone down if you base a hiring decision on incorrect facts.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search Alabama state public records when researching real estate options

Information on real estate is always available to the public. If you're looking for specific data on a particular property, such as zoning information, assessments or building requirements, you can find those on government sites, such as county offices. Additionally, you can research title and deed information, find out who owns a property and get tax information.

I recommend: Real Marketing is a major online resource that provides links to Alabama county assessor's offices, county recorder's offices and county treasurer's offices. You can find comprehensive property information by visiting these online government resources.

Consider checking Alabama court records before you hire an employee

As a business owner, it's smart to run background checks on potential employees, especially if you're hiring childcare providers and teachers. Background checks can range from verifying a person's Social Security number, to a detailed account of the person's history and acquaintances. Before doing a background check, you must get permission from the individual.

I recommend: The Alabama Criminal Information Center can help you obtain criminal records. Additionally, alacourt.com offers eCourt, instant access to trial court records for Alabama counties provided by the Alabama Administrative Office of the Courts. Subscription is required.

Track down anyone with an Alabama vital records search

With the assistance of the Internet and the right data, you can track down any individual, living or deceased. If you already know the person's Social Security number, date of birth, or last known address, you can use these to research vital records. Less information than that makes your search a little more difficult, but still possible.

I recommend: You can find Alabama birth records, and death, marriage and divorce records at the Alabama Department of Public Health. Intelius can help you track someone down using a variety of information.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act regulates how consumer credit information is collected and used by outside companies-- not employers. The act also restricts reporting on Alabama arrest records and other negative information after seven years, with the exception of criminal convictions.