[kevsgeni]

When a search for "public records" is done on Yahoo! 229 million results come back. The majority of the results are for companies that offer public records searches for a fee. If they are public records, why is there a fee? Where are they getting their information?

[RickJ]

If they are public records, why is there a fee? Where are they getting their information?

The fee is for the service, not the records themselves. The service is that someone has 1. Learned where to get them, 2. Learned howto get them, 3. actually got them, and 4. compiled them.

What type of public records are you looking for?

[kevsgeni]

I would like records that could aid in finding a missing person (address, phone #, etc). I would like to know where to find the info without paying someone. I can do the research but haven't been able to find a free site.

[RickJ]

You are speaking of a "trade" that involves training and experience.

Get a good book. The one that I started with was You Can Find Anybody, by Joseph Culligan.

At your local library, see what they have near 363.2336. Any book of that nature will cover the basics well.

What sources you go after will depend on what you know about the person to begin with, like where they went to school (check with the Alumni Assoc. if they have one), if they are in a trade for which they must be licensed (to get info from the State), where they lived, worked or went to church (to ask neighbors, employers and pastors), etc...

Don't forget Google, too. Search for "firstname lastname", "firstname middleinitial lastname", "lastname firstname" and "last name firstname middleinitial" (use the quotes).

... just some starters, hope it helps.