Public records are rarely held in one place. A directorship may appear in a corporate registry, a court matter may be held by a local courthouse, property information may sit within a separate land record, and relevant reporting may only be available through local-language media.
Global Screenings supports national and international public record searches across the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Africa, Australia, Europe, North America and South America. The records available, the search method and the level of identifying information required vary from one jurisdiction to another.
Public Record Research Across Different Jurisdictions
Some countries provide searchable online databases for court, company, property or regulatory information. In other locations, records may require a manual request, an in-person search or assistance from a local source.
Countries such as Pakistan, India and Bangladesh can involve a mixture of electronic and manual verification, particularly where records are maintained by local courts, police authorities, educational institutions, registries or other regional offices. Rural and less-digitised locations may require additional research time.
The purpose of an international public record search is therefore not simply to search the same database in every country. It is to identify the sources that are relevant and available for the subject, location and purpose of the assignment.
Public Record Search Services
Depending on the country, source availability, identifying information and lawful purpose, a public record search may include the following areas.
Criminal, Police and Court Records
- Criminal record checks where lawful and available
- Police record verification
- Civil and criminal court record searches
- Litigation history searches
- National criminal or theft database searches where available
- Sex offender registry searches where lawful and accessible
Where a more focused review of court jurisdictions is required, the assignment may also include our Court Records Checks.
Financial and Insolvency Records
- Bankruptcy and insolvency searches
- Judgment searches
- Tax lien searches
- Financial and credit history searches where relevant and permitted
Corporate, Ownership and Professional Records
- Directorship searches
- Disqualification searches
- Property ownership searches where records are available
- Regulatory searches
- Professional or business-related public records included in the agreed scope
Watchlist, Integrity and Reputation Searches
- Sanctions and watchlist checks
- Politically exposed person screening
- Conflict-of-interest checks
- Media and internet searches
- Adverse information connected with an individual or organization
Tenant and Personal Background Searches
- Tenant-related public record screening where available and permitted
- Relevant court, financial or identity-related records included in the authorized scope
When Public Record Searches May Be Required
Public record research can support several types of screening and due diligence assignments. It may be useful when:
- Reviewing a candidate as part of an employment screening programme
- Checking an executive, director or shareholder
- Assessing a vendor, supplier or business partner
- Reviewing litigation, insolvency or regulatory history
- Confirming property, ownership or directorship information
- Investigating a possible conflict of interest
- Examining media and public information connected with a subject
- Supporting a tenancy, insurance, legal or other authorized review
For vendor and third-party assignments, public records may be considered alongside broader Vendor Screening or integrity due diligence checks.
Online Database Searches and Manual Verification
An online database can be useful, but it may not contain every local record. Coverage may be incomplete, delayed or limited to particular courts, regions or record categories.
Manual verification may be required where:
- The relevant record is held by a local courthouse or authority
- The jurisdiction does not maintain a complete online database
- A possible result needs to be confirmed at source
- The record is available only in a local language
- Additional identifiers or documentation are required
- The subject is connected with a rural or less-digitised location
Structured national and international databases may also be reviewed through our Global Database Searches, depending on the purpose of the assignment.
Matching Records to the Correct Subject
A public record should not be linked to a person or organization on the basis of a similar name alone. Common names, spelling variations, transliteration, incomplete dates of birth and changes in company names can all create possible matches.
Where available, results should be compared with identifying information such as:
- Full legal name and known name variations
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Current and previous addresses
- Company name and registration details
- Directorship or ownership information
- Court or case jurisdiction
The final report should make clear whether a record appears to be confirmed, remains a possible match, could not be verified or was not found within the sources searched.
Media and Internet Research
Media and internet searches can provide useful context around a person or organization, particularly where a matter has been reported publicly but does not appear in a structured database.
Local-language research can be important in international assignments. A relevant article, court report, regulatory notice or business reference may not be published in English.
Any adverse media finding should be considered carefully. The source, date, identity match and status of the matter should be reviewed, and an allegation should not be presented as a confirmed fact. More detailed media research may be available through Reputation Intelligence.
Coverage and Important Limitations
Public record access depends on the country, authority, type of record, lawful purpose and information supplied for the subject. Some records are publicly searchable, while others may be restricted, archived, sealed, incomplete or available only through an authorized request.
A search that returns no record does not necessarily prove that no relevant information exists. It may mean that the record is held elsewhere, is not publicly accessible, uses different identifying information or falls outside the period or jurisdiction searched.
Public record findings are intended to support an authorized screening, verification or due diligence process. The organization requesting the search remains responsible for deciding how relevant information is reviewed and used.
