How to choose a route
Use a public database when the responsible government publisher already provides one. Use a records request when an identifiable existing agency record is not published. Contact the court or archive when its rules, rather than an executive-branch request process, control access. State and local records follow the law and practice of their own jurisdiction.
Each guide links to its controlling practical source and states the verification date. It is still important to recheck the source before acting because fees, interfaces, processing queues, and office procedures can change. Browse record types when you know what you need but not who maintains it.
This site provides general public-information navigation. It does not search private people, supply consumer reports, or advise whether a record may be used for a regulated decision. Restrictions stated by the government custodian and applicable law remain controlling.