Using Michigan Public Records

Screen job applicants with Michigan public court records

Hiring a new employee is one of the most common reasons for using Michigan 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. Free Michigan divorce 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 Michigan bankruptcy records.

2. Michigan 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. Michigan requires convicted sex offenders to be kept on a list for a specified period after their conviction.

 

Use public records in Michigan to get general information on individuals

A Michigan record can include information on births, deaths and divorces. Many cities and counties in Michigan have websites with this information that is freely available to the general public.
Try: Oakland County allows you to order vital records such as birth, death and marriage certificates. The county clerk of Marquette County provides a variety of public records including vital records and criminal records.

Use Michigan court 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.
Try: The Michigan State Police provides procedures to search criminal history records with and without fingerprints. You can also perform a background check with the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) once you register.

Use Michigan criminal records 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.
Try: BackgroundCheckUnlimited.com offers a search in Michigan by first and last name and also provides resources related to background checks. Intelius allows you to perform background check in Michigan by name and social security number.

 

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

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