What Will A Background Check Show?

Do you want to investigate someone? Whether that person is a fiancé, family friend, daycare provider, neighbor, boss, business partner, handyman, or new tenant, a background check is recommended. With a few clicks of the mouse and an affordable fee, you can learn just about anything about anyone you know.

As great as it is to hear that you can find out just about anything about anyone, is that really true? It depends. Background checks contain a lot of varying information. It depends on who you are looking into, what information is available about that person, who is performing the check, and how much you pay. In most cases, the more you pay, the more extensive your results will be.

With that said, what information is typically included in a background check?

Known aliases. By watching too much television, many only believe that aliases are names used to hide an identity. Yes, they can be, but many people use slight variations of their name. For example, Jane Doe may sign public record documents with the aliases of Jane A. Doe, Janice Doe, and so forth. When further investigation is needed, aliases provide much needed assistance.

Criminal history. Criminal and incarceration records are available to the general public. For that reason, they should always be included in a background check. Results should be extensive and include more than an arrest date, but a short explanation of the crime. Although not technically considered a criminal history, driving violations may be included in results.

Bankruptcies and liens. You cannot tell a lot about a person without gaining a small amount of insight into their financial status. For that reason, a background check should include this information. Amount in a savings account will not be disclosed, but bankruptcies, foreclosures, and bank liens, should be.

Address history. An address history is important and should be included in a background check. Some investigators want to do more than just request a background check, but talk to former neighbors. In that instance, former addresses are required. At the very least, an address history should go back four years.

Current address and information on home. If the person who you are investigating is a homeowner, you should be provided with detailed information on their home. In addition to the address, home value should be disclosed.

Neighborhood information. For cheap background checks, this information is not always included. An extensive background check will produce more results concerning one’s neighborhood. Information that may be included are the names of neighbors, crime statistics, and a detailed map.

Small claims and judgments. If a person filed a small claims lawsuit against another person or business, that will appear on a background check. On the other hand, if the person you want to know more about had a civil lawsuit filed against them, it will also appear in background check results.

Relatives and known business associates. As previously stated, a background check may answer questions, but it may lead to more. In that case, inquisitions are made. To find out about someone, it is important to know his or her associates. Extensive background checks will divulge immediate relatives and known business associates. Even if only provided with a name, a standard internet search could lead to contact information.

The above mentioned records are just a few of the many that will appear in background check results. In short, the more information you want, the more extensive search you need to perform or pay for.