LibGuides: Court Records, Law, and Legal History: Public Records

Public Records

This type of document may include court, real estate, property, vital records and more. States will vary in ease of access and in which records are publicly available. Birth, death and marriage records are not always publicly available.

Freedom of Information Act
Enacted in 1967, this allows access to United States government records. This site contains an FAQ and information about how to make a request.
FOIA 101: Demystifying Public Record Laws in Each State
Each state has its own laws regarding access to public records (Freedom of Information). This page discusses some of the available options.
Open Government Guide
Complete compendium of information on every state’s open records and open meetings laws. From Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
State Freedom of Information Laws
This site by the National Freedom of Information Coalition provides information for each state.

Ancestry Library
This collection includes public records from the U.S. Census; military, court, land, and probate records; vital records; and more for genealogical and historical research.

With more than 1.5 billion names in over 4,000 databases, Ancestry Library includes records from the United States Census; military records; court, land and probate records; vital and church records; directories; passenger lists and more!