public records
Government files anyone
Public records are documents or information created and maintained by government agencies that are accessible to the general public.
They include court records, property deeds, birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, corporate filings, and arrest records.
Journalists, attorneys, and employers commonly search public records for background checks or investigations: The scandal came to light through public records requests.
Federal transparency statute
- freedom of informationPublic access to state records
- sunshine lawsLegislation mandating government transparency
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
open government · right to know · oversight · audit · watchdog · whistleblower · redaction · exemption
Official record of arrival
- death certificateOfficial record of passing
- marriage licenseLegal authorization to wed
- divorce decreeCourt document ending marriage
- censusOfficial population count
ancestry · family tree · lineage · heritage · naturalization · obituary · passenger manifest · land grant
Grants formal authorization
- licensesOfficial permissions to act
- zoningSectioning areas by use
- property taxLevy on owned land
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
municipal · county · state · federal · register · registrar · clerk · agency
Place for storing things
- depositorySecure storage location
- catalogingSystematic organization into records
- indexingSystematic organization for retrieval
- filingStoring documents systematically
recordkeeping · preservation · microfilm · digitization · retrieval · retention · storage · classification
Organized investigation documents
- docketCourt's case schedule
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- verdictOfficial court decision
- lawsuitCivil court proceeding
litigation · deposition · affidavit · subpoena · testimony · plaintiff · defendant · injunction
FOIA
Federal transparency statute
- freedom of informationPublic access to state records
- sunshine lawsLegislation mandating government transparency
- disclosureAct of revealing information
accountability · open government · right to know · oversight · audit · watchdog · whistleblower · redaction · exemption · unsealed
birth certificate
Official record of arrival
- death certificateOfficial record of passing
- marriage licenseLegal authorization to wed
- divorce decreeCourt document ending marriage
census · ancestry · family tree · lineage · heritage · naturalization · obituary · passenger manifest · land grant
permits
Grants formal authorization
- licensesOfficial permissions to act
- zoningSectioning areas by use
- property taxLevy on owned land
assessment · municipal · county · state · federal · register · registrar · clerk · agency · ordinance
repository
Place for storing things
- depositorySecure storage location
- catalogingSystematic organization into records
- indexingSystematic organization for retrieval
filing · recordkeeping · preservation · microfilm · digitization · retrieval · retention · storage · classification · inventory
case files
Organized investigation documents
lawsuit · litigation · deposition · affidavit · subpoena · testimony · plaintiff · defendant · injunction · lien
deed
Written property conveyance
plat · easement · encumbrance · mortgage · transfer · conveyance · assessor · appraisal · ownership · boundary
- Credit Reportscredit report, credit reports, credit score, credit scores, credit bureau
- Government Reformbudget reform, fiscal reform, government reform, policy reform, regulatory reform
- government transparencyFOIA, freedom of information, sunshine laws, open data, open meetings
- police reformpolice brutality, police misconduct, body cameras, community oversight, qualified immunity
- background checkscriminal record, criminal check, criminal record check, employment verification, reference checks
- civic techcivic engagement, e-government, e-governance, open data, open government
public recordsclassified documents
Files with access restrictions
sealed records · classified information · state secrets · privileged information · trade secrets
public, publish, records, publication, publishing, published, publisher, publicly, publishable