Does anyone know of a reputable site or company for doing background checks, to find out items that are a matter of public record?

Let's just say this is in reference to a relation, that I suspect is lying big time about his/her financial situation, in an attempt to take advantage of both myself and my mother.

Or would a local lawyer be able to do the same? Said lawyer has already discovered that said relation lied about having their house foreclosed on four months ago, and simply "walked away" from the house and mortgage - didn't even bother to cancel the utilities.

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Mooresville, NC
'87 300D 212K miles
'87 300D 151K miles - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD 67K miles
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Court records can be searched online in many counties. This includes real estate transactions such as foreclosures, civil cases and criminal cases. In our county it now costs about $1 per search. It used to be free a couple of years ago. Google county court records and county real estate records. It would be nice to see a credit report but you can't get that without a written release by the person you are checking. If the relative is asking for money, I'd ask for a signed release to check their credit report before giving money.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

We have used the company called Sterling for our national background checks and paid a few bucks to the state to check the local records. The state background check is more comprehensive than simply getting court records or so they tell me. If they have a professional license it will show that up to.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Why bother paying someone for info? You already have the info that you need -- if she didn't do you the favor of telling the truth, you already know that she doesn't need your help.

(Though technically, if she walked away and stopped paying her mortgage, this was an "un-contested foreclosure.")

When you say "Background" check, do mean what you see when you turn around?

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Getting a check is simple and pretty cheap. Make sure you get her real name, any A/K/A, and her prior names, if any with the correct date of birth as well. Why pay a lawyer? I doubt they teach that topic in law school. As the other posts indicate, there are a bunch of services out there on the net which give background info for a few bucks. If she has a forclosure on her credit report, I doubt she has a high credit score. I would be concerned where that person lived, how long, what law suits or issues developed. Love is free, so why borrow or lend money ? Good luck.

Talk to her old/ex neighbors.
While its no very reputable, a talk to her ex or ex's will get you all sorts of stuff.
Does she use different names in different situations?
Does she have a FB page? Email ? You can search an email addy on FB. Many people have one internet name ~ like layback40, such names show up all over the place. Be careful though, maybe, like mine, others have used it on some sites without my knowledge.
Reputable searches will find very little, crooks are normally one step in front of them.
If she has had a previous job, ring them & ask for a job reference.
Does she have a car? Check to see if the title is clear.
If her story changes regularly, run! People have a habit of telling a lie to cover a previous one. Eventually they cant remember who they told what.

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I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

WTF? Just say no.

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Can I ask why you are even going down or looking at going down that road? If you already have what you have, what is your point? To prove he/she is actually a great guy in disguise? I would NEVER want to lend such an individual money even with collateral. STAY THE HELL AWAY.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

^^^

I would... if the collateral is worth 5x the money and there's sufficient collateral to make taking it and reselling it worth while

Bingo. I think this comment sums it up the best.