| It seems the old fashion ways of meeting people have | | | | the county office where the marriage or divorce |
| gone the way of the Model-T, the dinosaurs and | | | | occurred. Criminal records are public records too. |
| Walkman. Today, dating sites, such as eHarmony, and | | | | Often the files are automated, which enables you to |
| Yahoo Personals play significant roles in bringing | | | | conduct the background check from your home |
| people together for a variety of reasons and, in just a | | | | computer. However, in some locations the records |
| short amount of time. On the good side, many of | | | | may be on paper and are located in the courthouse or |
| these relationships blossom into friendships, romance or | | | | state or local office where the judicial proceeding |
| even marriage. However, the issue of personal safety | | | | occurred. |
| is increasingly garnering more attention from everyone, | | | | In the case of juvenile who were convicted of crimes, |
| but especially women. | | | | most states expunge the records of minors when |
| Often, there comes a point after meeting a new | | | | they reach the age of 18. Some states may allow you |
| person that you begin to wonder if you really know | | | | to view information on traffic tickets; or whether there |
| them. As the relationship becomes more intimate you | | | | have been arrest or time spent incarcerated. |
| may begin to ask questions, such as: I wonder if he's | | | | However, in some states certain records like birth |
| telling me the truth about never being married before? | | | | certificates are confidential. If you do not have the time |
| Is he living with his mother or girlfriend? You may even | | | | or the patience to search through county and |
| whether your partner has children, alimony or child | | | | courthouse records, there are Internet-based firms that |
| support payments. Have you been wondering if your | | | | specialize in background checks. For a fee, they will |
| love one has given you their real name, or have | | | | allow you to search their database, which is generally |
| question about his or her past. | | | | a collection of data they have gathered from across |
| All of us have heard the horror stories of a person | | | | the country. All you are required to do is furnish them |
| dating or marrying someone they thought they knew, | | | | with as much information as you can about the |
| only to find out that the person was a career criminal | | | | subject of your search. |
| or a drug dealer. Some people may have a history of | | | | Generally, you have a choice of how extensive a |
| spousal abuse or child abuse in their background. Most | | | | search you want conducted. You can request basic |
| people with this sort of background will not readily | | | | information, such as verification of a person's identity |
| volunteer to reveal this information upfront. But, you | | | | and address, or can request a more extensive profile. |
| have a right to know the background of someone you | | | | This type of search may yield you a whole basket full |
| are dating or plan to marry. | | | | of information. The information may include relatives, |
| Just as the Web has speeded up the process and the | | | | criminal search, civil searches, automobile ownership, |
| rate at which we meet people, it has also accelerated | | | | personal assets and marriage and divorce records. |
| our ability to find out more about individuals. You can | | | | Whether you choose to perform a background check, |
| easily go beyond what a person tells you or the | | | | and to what extent, are totally up to you. Put keep in |
| information he or she shares in the online profile. The | | | | mind that the people who are the most deceiving |
| great thing about it is that you don't need to hire an | | | | typically possess a character that makes them more |
| expensive private investigator. Many people are taking | | | | difficult to spot. They tend to be good-looking, charming |
| this extra precaution with the people they meet online | | | | and convincing. Many of these people join dating sites, |
| and in other settings. The traditional "dinner and a | | | | and participate in other networking settings, for the |
| movie" has been replaced with "dinner, a movie and a | | | | express purpose of identifying their next mark. You |
| background check." There are online services that can | | | | don't have to be included in the statistics of people |
| assist you in learning more about the person you are | | | | who become victims. |
| dating or intend to marry. | | | | While it perfectly natural to want to trust someone you |
| All you need is some basic information about them, | | | | meet and grow closer to, it won't hurt to do a little |
| such as a full name, an address and a social security | | | | homework on the person. You can use background |
| number. There are ways to locate these records on | | | | checking services to find out things about your date, or |
| your own. In most states, marriage and divorce | | | | the person you're planning to marry and avoid a |
| records are public records, which you can search | | | | potentially unpleasant experience. |
| through yourself. The files are typically maintained in | | | | |