Hiring a new employee is one of the most common reasons for using Massachusetts public records. A small business may prefer to take advantage of the free information available online instead of hiring another company to perform this service.

Finding an applicant with the right job qualifications is only part of the hiring process. Background checks should be essential because the employer can be held responsible for an employee’s actions on the job. Massachusetts police records can help identify individuals that could be a poor choice due to their credit or criminal history. Employers must also specifically check people who will be working with children or the elderly for any history of abuse.

There are three types of public records of particular interest when performing background checks:

1. Credit reports that show current lines of credit, payment histories and declarations of bankruptcy.

2. Massachusetts vital records that show past convictions, births or divorces. These may also be useful in determining criminal history, residency requirements and alimony payments.

3. Registered sex offender lists. Massachusetts requires convicted sex offenders to be kept on a list for a specified period after their conviction.

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Use Massachusetts court records to get general information on individuals

Mass. court records can include Massachusetts divorce records, birth records and death certificates. Many cities and counties in Massachusetts have websites with this information that is freely available to the general public.

I recommend: The Suffolk Registry of Deeds allows for a search of deeds using a variety of criteria. The Town Clerk for Lexington has instructions for obtaining a variety of public records including birth, death and marriage certificates.

Use state of Massachusetts public records to get information on criminal history

Law enforcement agencies keep criminal records which may be publicly available. Laws vary widely by state as to the specific information you will be able to obtain. Some government agencies may also charge fees.

I recommend: The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security provides guidelines for requesting criminal records. The Massachusetts Criminal Defense Resource Page describes how to retrieve your own criminal records or youthful offender records.

Use public records to conduct a Massachusetts background check

There are many sites dedicated to performing background checks for prospective employees. These checks can also include Social Security number verification, education verification and reference checks.

I recommend: Bay State Detective Agency provides background checks in Massachusetts and also provides a range of other investigative services. Rewarding Work Resources is based in Massachusetts and specializes in pre-employment screening.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You will first need to obtain some basic information on the individual you are seeking Mass. public records for. Job applicants will need to provide this information on the application form or on a separate form for the background check. Individuals must also grant permission for a background check in most cases.

Every responsible small business owner knows that performing a Massachusetts background check is a good idea when screening job applicants. A thorough search of MA public records can reveal your potential new employee's criminal past or history of financial troubles, and even apprises you of any prior divorce records in Massachusetts.

You are legally responsible for actions taken by your employees. Therefore, it is important to conduct a comprehensive Massachusetts background check that includes MA public records searches. This is particularly imperative if your business operates in an industry that has high risks involving security or legal liability, such as construction or childcare services. A complete search in MA will include:

1. Massachusetts court records

2. Massachusetts police records

3. Massachusetts bankruptcy records

4. Massachusetts divorce records

5. Massachusetts vital records

6. General Massachusetts public records

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Conduct a free Massachusetts public records search

Free Mass court records are available - albeit on a limited basis - and should be viewed with caution. You will find plenty of free sites on the Internet, many of them proclaiming to offer free Massachusetts police records, Massachusetts divorce records, and various other types of Mass public records information. But some of these sites return inaccurate information, so you should validate any free information before relying upon it to make a hiring decision.

I recommend: RhinoReviews will help you find a reliable public records search site. PeopleLookUp offers only limited information if you do not pay for their extended services, but the free data provided is usually accurate.

Search county court websites for free Massachusetts court records

The Records of all state and federal agencies are considered public records that must be made available to those who request them unless a valid reason for denying access exists, such as national security or protected privacy rights. As a result, you should be able to obtain common court records like Massachuesetts bankruptcy records and MA divorce records.

I recommend: Different counties are at various stages of technology use, so you will probably not be able to find all court records are online. See the Massachusetts Court System website to guide you to available records.

Use a paid service to obtain Massachusetts public records information

Online public records search providers can save you tons of time and money. These sites can save you from having to contact local courts directly and from spending time validating free information. Reputable sites are usually the fees, but not all online search services return the same information. Survey several options before spending your money.

I recommend: Intelius and USInfoRegistry both offer comprehensive employment background checks for reasonable fees. These sites return instant results and include public records from both State and Federal repositories.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember that you are responsible for your employment decisions and you can be held liable for wrongly denying someone employment. Make sure to double-check and cross-check and negative information revealed.
• •  Don't rely only on public records. Compare information discovered in MA public records searches with the information the applicant provided on a resume and/or job application.
• •  School (K-12) and university records are not public records. It is a good idea to require applicants to provide transcripts of high school and college coursework.

Making the most of Massachusetts public records will require you to have a guide or referral. You can conduct Internet searches of many government agencies for free but you will spend a lot of time looking at irrelevant links and websites if you have no idea where to start.

You will first need to obtain some basic information on the individual or property you are seeking Mass. public records on. For example, if you are seeking information on an individual, it will be helpful to know some addresses where that person has previously lived.

There are three general types of public records in Massachusetts:

1. Massachusetts police records that include files on registered sex offenders, past convictions or current information on current inmates in a particular prison. These records can help you perform a Massachusetts background check on prospective employees.

2. Massachusetts vital records such as census records, consumer protection information or legislation minutes. You may find these records helpful when researching a product or political candidate.

3. Real estate records like property appraisals, ownership and taxes. These types of records can be useful when buying or selling a home.

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Find Massachusetts court records from local government agencies

City and county clerks in Massachusetts can frequently provide a great deal of current information on an individual when you know their name and address.

I recommend: The Massachusetts Court System displays links to county courts and also allows a search capability of the site. Mass.gov has links to information on each community in Massachusetts including its homepage.

Learn more about the laws regarding Massachusetts public records

The records that are publicly available vary widely by state. You will want to have at least a general idea of what information you can expect to find before conducting your search.

I recommend: The Public Records Division provides extensive information on obtaining Public Records in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles has information on obtaining a variety of driving related information.

Perform a specific Massachusetts public records search

Many cities and counties in Massachusetts maintain a variety of records on individuals and property that are freely available to the general public.

I recommend: The Barnstable County Registry of Deeds allows the public full access to it online records. The Town Clerk of Lexington maintains vital records such as births, deaths and marriages for Middlesex County.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Exhaust free sources of information before you consider paying for Massachusetts divorce records. Sites that charge a fee may only provide information you could obtain elsewhere for free. Fortunately, libraries frequently subscribe to services that you would normally need to pay a fee to access. You should also bear in mind that many public records are simply not available online.

Online searches for public records are now easy to do via the Internet. Many states have their public records online, thereby making research on records easy, and in most cases, free.

Public records can be a valuable resource in finding important information about a person including birth, death, unpaid bills, locating a registered sex offender's address, state government jobs and unclaimed property. Knowing the jargon of public record searching can make the search easier.

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

Sex offenders

A sex offender is defined as a person convicted of crimes that include rape, sexual harassment, molestation and the production and/or distribution of pornographic media. Massachusetts maintains a searchable database on the Internet that lists predators/offenders registration information as well as their photographs.

I recommend: The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) administers the website that allows for a search on sex offenders. This site also gives public education and outreach information as well as community participation and coordination of efforts by various involved agencies in this outreach effort.

Abandoned Property Division

The Abandoned Property Division manages unclaimed property, which is an asset left unclaimed, inactive or abandoned by its owner. Some examples of unclaimed property are dormant bank accounts, stocks, insurance proceeds, deposits, dividends, credit refunds and uncashed checks that have been inactive for more than three years.

I recommend: The Massachusetts Department of State Treasurer Abandoned Property Division maintains custody of any type of unclaimed property until the owner claims it.

Commonwealth Employment Opportunities (CEO)

The State of Massachusetts is one of the largest employers in Massachusetts. The Human Resources Division (HRD) maintains the Commonwealth Employment Opportunities (CEO) website that lists many different types of career options within the government. Those who elect to work within the State system have to meet certain requirements and qualifications, which can help the job seeker to choose the best type of employment for them.

I recommend: The search for state employment in Massachusetts has been made much easier by utilizing the Internet to post and advertise these positions which can be found at the Commonwealth Employment Opportunities (CEO) website.

VINELink

The Massachusetts Department of Corrections provides a database, VINELink, that allows for a search on inmates in an effort to help keep the public safe and informed. It also gives crime victims free, confidential and accurate information about a specific inmate's escape, release or transfer.

I recommend: To access the search option for inmate information for Massachusetts, the VINELink website is available 24 hours a day to all consumers and victims. Further information about the additional services provided can be found on the website as well.

Attorney search

A search for Massachusetts attorney information can be done online and includes information such as whether an attorney, has been the subject of any public discipline and/or disability and their license to practice law in the State. This information can help consumers when making a choice about the type of representation they require.

I recommend: The Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers maintains an extensive database that is accessible by the public and includes a listing of attorneys registered to practice in the State of Massachusetts.

Division of Professional Licensure Boards

Massachusetts has 31 boards of registration regulating nearly 50 healthcare trades and professions such as doctors, chiropractors, podiatrists, osteopathic physicians, registered nurses, electricians and alarm system installers, hearing instrument specialists and other professions listed on the website.

I recommend: The Division of Professional Licensure Boards within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business maintains a searchable database that has practitioner's practice information such as license, disciplinary actions, suspensions and other important professional information.