Guides to public records
How each kind of record works across the states, which office keeps it, and how to order an official copy.
Guides by record
- Deeds and land recordsFind a deed, read the index and order a certified copy from the recording office.
- Property records and ownersWho sets values, who bills the tax, and how to look up a parcel or an owner.
- Court recordsWhich court and which clerk keeps a case, and the official case searches.
- Marriage recordsWho issues marriage licenses and certified copies, and how far back they go.
- Divorce recordsDecree from the court clerk or a certificate from the state, and who may order.
- Birth certificatesWho keeps birth certificates, who may order one, ID and fees by state.
- Death certificatesWho may order a death certificate, the ID needed and the fee in each state.
- Probate records and willsWhere wills are filed after a death and how to search or copy probate files.
Requests, liens and business names
- Public records requestsEach state's public records law: who can ask, response time, fees and appeals.
- Liens and judgmentsWhere mortgages, tax liens, judgment liens and UCC filings are recorded.
- Business names (DBA)Where assumed names are filed: county clerk or Secretary of State, by state.
- Free vs paid record sitesHow to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.
Offices explained
What each office does and what it is called in every state.
- County clerkWhat a county clerk keeps: deeds, marriage licenses, probate, elections, by state.
- Recorder or register of deedsRecorder, register, registry or clerk: who records deeds in each state.
- Clerk of courtWhich clerk keeps court files, divorces and probate cases in each state.
- Assessor vs treasurerWho values property and who collects the tax, state by state.
- Town clerkStates where town and city clerks keep land and vital records.
- Vital records officeThe state office for birth and death certificates, with fees.
State guides
Every state guide lists who holds each record, the public records law, the official directories and the counties.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming