We here at the Free Public Records Directory are sometimes contacted about removing personal information from public records. It seems a good idea to cover this idea on a broader basis. Neither our site, nor any other directory of public links, has the ability to remove information from public record files. Public records are generated in numerous ways - from buying a house, registering to vote, having a phone listing, to filing business records. These records are generated and then stored in a number of places - county auditor offices, recorders offices, secretary of state files, directories and many other places, including, of course, on the internet. A number of states and agencies are working to limit access to, or remove altogether, personal information, such as social security numbers, from these records. The records themselves, however, are public. Documents such as deeds, liens, and court files have always been public; it is the advent of the internet that has generated the ability to search these records from anywhere that has made people so concerned. What used to involve a trip to the courthouse or to a county office now often requires just a few minutes at the computer.
As with most things, there are positives and negatives about having all this information so readily available. People worry about their privacy when records are readily accessible. However, the ability to check on others whom you may want to hire as a contractor, retain as a lawyer or perhaps have a relationship with is of vital importance. Then there is also the ability to see what houses are selling for in your area or in an area you are interested in moving to - seeing the records for oneself helps provide key information and removes some of the dependency on relying on others, such as mortgage brokers, to make important decisions. For documents to not be made public requires legislative authority. No one company can make the decision to remove records from public view and any company that tells you otherwise is wrong. �
4 responses so far ↓
1 DONNA CANCASSI // Feb 1, 2008 at 7:48 pm
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARE PUT AT RISK BY HAVING THEIR INFORMATION MADE PUBLICALLY ACCESSABLE. WHAT HAS THE GOVERNMENT LAW DONE TO PROTECT THEM FROM BEING FOUND AND PUT AT RISK OF HARM?
2 Nathan // Feb 4, 2008 at 9:32 am
Donna - Many states have “address confidentiality” programs that abuse victims can use to help keep their contact information out of state and private databases. The programs provide victims, who have moved to a new location, a government managed mailing address and forwards mail to the victim participants. The program addresses can be used for all government purposes including driver licensing, voter registration, vehicle licensing, and process service.
It’s important to be signed up with the program before a relocation because propagation of a new address can be very rapid and unpredictable.
For our part, we’ll work on adding links to these programs on our directory pages.
3 Crystal // Feb 14, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I am from NC, I do not feel confortable with my name and address listed on a computer for people to access anytime they wish. What do I have to do to make sure my information is permanently removed?
4 private // Apr 17, 2008 at 1:03 pm
It sickens me. It prevents me from everything. This must be kept private. There are numerous negative affects on my life and people around me because of this public information. I could say so much. I feel like I can’t pursue anything or give any information about myself for fear people will go online and read more information. People get more curious the more private I am, and then I just break down when they find that information out. Why, why, why?! Can’t this be made completely private?
People I did not want to know where I lived figured it out, and have been causing problems for my parents ever since, and I am not even there!
It has caused my ailing parents many years of worry. They’ve had to endure random pizza deliveries and other such things.
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