Notable Government Records In History

Government records are those documents that every citizen can obtain from the federal authorities. These can be used for various purposes, both for personal and business intentions. Throughout history, these records have served several important roles for each and every person in the country.

These records were previously unavailable to the general public; however, a legislation changed all that. Nowadays, people can now request certain government records on the right agency, and they can easily obtain and use them.

While there are ethical and legal restrictions on requesting government records, it is still fairly easy for one to get his or her hands on the data.

The availability of government records have done wonders to society. For once, people can now protect themselves by verifying and checking information on just about anyone they meet. For example, businesspersons are able to find out which of their applicants are considered "safe" for hiring, i. E., those who have no prior criminal records.

Important Government Records

There are many types of government records in existence. Each record serves a certain purpose. History has proven, however, that there are some of them whose importance are greater than the others. These records are the following:

Bankruptcy Records

When a person goes bankrupt, the first thing he or she is expected to do is to file for bankruptcy protection. This type of protection puts a stay on the ability of his or her debtors to collect any more of his or her debts under the premise that he or she is financially unable to pay them off.

A bankruptcy case then ensues, wherein the bankrupt person's assets are liquidated or his or her debts are restructured. All of these information are recorded in court dockets.

These records are particularly useful for those who are looking to enter into a business partnership. Some people may be uncomfortable or unsure about entering into a partnership if he or she is doubtful of the other party's ability to handle finances.

These bankruptcy records help to assuage or confirm these doubts for the person.

Criminal Records

Next to bankruptcy records, criminal records help someone look closer into the background of potential employees or even just other people, such as their neighbors and even new family members.

When a person commits an offense, the investigation bureau and the police force always keep a record of that person's crime. These offenses can be looked at and scrutinized by the public in order to protect themselves from dangerous persons in society.

Court Records

The courts maintain archives of their cases as well. While criminal offenses and cases can easily be examined using criminal records, civil offenses are another case.

For example, if you are looking into the background of a person applying for a loan, you can check court records to see if he or she has previous cases of fraud or money laundering. This will help you decide whether or not the person is at risk of going on default with his or her loan repayments.

Anyone can get his or her hands on these records. A request to the appropriate office or agency is all you need to accomplish. This is provided, however, that your intentions are legitimate: obtaining personal information for purposes of blackmail is considered invasion of privacy and is a ground for denial of your request.