Government & private industry require record keeping to regulate, license or hire. Individuals & entities create a paper trail of information that is a history of daily life. The trail starts with a birth certificate, a Social Security Number or articles of incorporation. There are many records--some accessible, some not--that create an identity. This book examines these paper trails--where they exist, when they are on the internet, when they affect your life, & how you can use them to your benefit. It helps people who are trying to: find a missing person; locate assets or financial information; check the background of an individual; or check the background of a business. Chapters include: what are public records? public record & public information categories; public record searching; searching for court records; searching for real estate, UCC, & other county records; searching for state public records; state profiles; state agency public record restrictions table; the appeals & regional records services facility locator; & U.S. appeals courts & regional records services facility addresses & phone numbers.