Hiring a new employee is one of the most common reasons for using Virginia 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. Virginia public court 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. Virginia state public 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. Virginia requires convicted sex offenders to be kept on a list for a specified period after their conviction.

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Use public records in Virginia to get general information on individuals

A Virginia record can include information on births, deaths and divorces. Many cities and counties in Virginia have websites with this information that is freely available to the general public.

I recommend: The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Loudoun County provides specific instructions for obtaining copies of marriage licenses. Chesterfield Connections allows you to conduct titles searches and also offers copies of public records.

Use Virginia criminal records to get information on an individual's 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 Virginia State Police provides instructions for obtaining two different types of criminal record checks. Watson allows you to access the internal database for the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Watson is used for making criminal background checks.

Use criminal records in Virginia to conduct background checks

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: Criminal Records runs criminal background checks in Virginia by name in addition to other searches for information. US Search performs background checks and people searches in Virginia under a variety of criteria.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You will first need to obtain some basic information on the individual for whom you are seeking public records. Virginia 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.

For businesses in Virginia, or companies doing business in Virginia, information from court records can provide background on potential employees or on business partners. Criminal backgrounds or disciplinary action can be uncovered during a check of public records.

In the aftermath of such an investigation, companies can prevent on-the-job problems or disastrous business alliances. Particularly if your business is in the sensitive position of dealing with children or the elderly, checking Virginia public records is the wise course of action.

Check Virginia public court records for the following information:

1. Divorce records and alimony payments;
2. Convictions;
3. Lawsuits;
4. Corporate information;
5. Disciplinary actions.

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Contact local agencies regarding Virginia public records

If the potential employee's address is known, when it comes to public records, Virginia clerks or courts at the local level can provide information regarding Virginia criminal records, births, marriages and divorces. This information will be the most up-to-date available.

I recommend: The Virginia State Police website provides information on conducting a check for Virginia criminal records. You can access public records on birth, death, marriage and divorce from the Virginia Department of Health. In Virginia, free public records access exists, but expect to pay a fee if you request copies to be made.

Consult an online service for public records in Virginia

To access Virginia public records, online services can save much time in uncovering information and are usually quicker and easier than contacting the courts. The fee is usually worth the investment. The down side is that not all online services are equal in terms of actual information provided, and those advertising 'Virginia free public records' frequently are not free.

I recommend: Check Net Detective, a favorite of law enforcement officials, journalists and employers for Virginia public records. Virginia also is represented at Court Records. Both sites come with a money-back guarantee.

Check on professional connections

Regarding public records, Virginia background checks on companies or professionals with whom you plan to do business can turn up interesting information. For corporations, you can find background information, tax liens and financing statements, as well as Virginia bankruptcy records. For professionals, you can uncover complaint histories and disciplinary actions through public records in Virginia.

I recommend: The Office of the Clerk Virginia State Corporation Commission can provide information on corporations, LLCs and partnerships. The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation has background on professionals and any disciplinary actions lodged against them.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Develop a plan for personnel issues ahead of time if information is uncovered during a Virginia state public records search that will affect employment.

Making the most of Virginia 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 for which you are seeking public records. Virginia records are easier to obtain if you know some addresses where that person has previously lived.

There are three general types of public records in Virginia:

1. Virginia criminal 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 investigate individuals such as prospective employees.

2. Non-criminal public records in Virginia 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 Virginia public court records from local government agencies

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

I recommend: Virginia’s Judicial System has links to all the district courts in Virginia and also allows a site search. The Commonwealth of Virginia displays a list of websites for its various government entities including cities and counties.

Learn more about the laws regarding Virginia state 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 Office of the Attorney General has a link to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and also offers a range of other online services. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles offers a variety of motor vehicle services online including a request of driving records.

Perform searches to access Virginia public records

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

I recommend: My Virginia Genealogy has a variety of court records available in Patrick County for genealogical research. Fairfax County allows you to conduct a property search by number, unit and street. You can also sort the results.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Exhaust sources for free Virginia court records before you consider paying for them. 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.