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