In New York, background checks are commonly requested by private employers as part of the hiring process. The state provides individuals with access to their own criminal records through the Personal Criminal History Review Program, allowing them to view what prospective employers or agencies may see.
Additionally, New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records are available upon request and can reveal:
License suspensions or revocations
Accidents
Moving violation convictions
For legal matters, access to New York court case records can assist in locating:
Divorces
Civil judgments
Liens
Other case filings from local and state courts
Conducting an asset search in New York can involve several types of public records. While personal financial accounts such as bank or investment information are protected under privacy laws, many other asset categories are accessible to the public.
Key resources for asset information include:
Real estate and property records: These can be searched through county clerk offices and publicly recorded documents, providing ownership history, transaction dates, and assessed values.
Business ownership and corporate filings: The New York Department of State – Division of Corporations offers online searches for:
Corporations
Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
Limited Partnerships
UCC (Uniform Commercial Code) filings
These tools allow you to verify the status, ownership, and filing history of New York-registered business entities.
Many public record searches in New York are conducted to retrieve vital documents, such as:
Birth certificates
Marriage licenses
Death records
These records are typically maintained by the New York State Department of Health or local city and county registrars.
Whether you’re conducting a comprehensive background investigation or simply requesting a single document, having access to the correct agency is essential. New York state agencies provide detailed instructions, downloadable forms, and online application options for most public records.
Rather than browsing the internet randomly, begin your search with PublicRecordCenter, a trusted resource that provides:
Categorized directories of New York agencies and departments
Links to official government websites
Grouped search tools for background checks, asset discovery, court filings, and more
Instructions and forms for requesting records from the correct office
Whether you're a private citizen, business, or legal professional, PublicRecordCenter helps reduce time and confusion by guiding you directly to the appropriate New York government source for any type of public record request.
