GAO/OSI-97-2

Investigators Guide to Sources of Information

Chapter 1
Local and State Governments

Local Government

Building Inspector
Coroner/medical Examiner
Court Clerk
Health Department
Personnel Department
Public Schools
Recorder
Registrar of Voters
Regulatory Agencies
Surveyor
Tax Assessor
Tax Collector
Welfare Commission

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

BUILDING INSPECTOR

The following information is available from a building inspector's office:

building permits, which generally show the name of the applicant, the address of construction, the estimated cost of construction, and the name of the builder or contractor;

blueprints and plans, which show construction details and are often submitted with applications for building permits; and

building inspectors' reports, which contain information regarding compliance with construction specifications.

CORONER/MEDICAL EXAMINER

Coroner registers generally contain the name or description of the deceased; date of inquest, if any; property found on the deceased and its disposition; and the cause of death.

COURT CLERK

Court clerks often maintain court files on such civil actions as liens, name changes, and divorces. These files generally include the complaint (identifying the plaintiff(s), the defendant(s), and the cause of action); the answer to the complaint; and the judgment rendered. Also, depositions introduced as exhibits become part of the court records. The court clerk's minutes or the file jacket may indicate whether a transcript of the proceedings was taken.

Divorce case complaints usually identify the plaintiff and defendant; place and date of marriage (which points to the appropriate county recorder's records); date of separation, if applicable; names, ages, and birthdates of any children; community property; and grounds or charges, if any; and the attorneys retained by the parties. The plaintiff's signature is usually on the complaint and the defendant's signature can be found on the cross-complaint or answer.

Probate indexes will list probate actions alphabetically, by name of the estate or petitioner, and will give the filing date and the docket number. Individual case files often list causes of action and rulings regarding the estate, and status of potential beneficiaries who may be minors, adopted, incompetent, or insane.

Court clerks also maintain criminal court files, which may contain information describing the crime and the charges in an indictment. These files may also contain the complainant's signature (exemplar); a transcript of the preliminary hearing (usually consisting of testimony of the complainant, defendant, witnesses, and arresting officer); the names of the prosecuting and defense attorneys; the probation officer's report, with complete background investigation of the defendant; and any subpoenas issued in the case.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Health departments often license and inspect properties, identify and investigate local health problems, educate businesses on local health issues, and provide direct emergency services.

Death certificates are usually available at health departments. A death certificate provides the decedent's name; address; sex; age; race; social security number; birthplace; birthdate; and date, place, and time of death. Additionally, a death certificate generally provides the medical and coroner's certificate and information about the decedent's parents, including their occupations.

PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT

Personnel departments maintain the following information:

personal history statements on employees and political leaders; and

employment records, efficiency reports, and records of salary liens on employees.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Public schools maintain the following information:

student records showing grades, disciplinary actions, and, in some school districts, biographies; and

teacher biographies showing personal background, education, and former employment.

RECORDER

Recorder offices maintain the following information:

documents pertaining to real estate transactions, including deeds, grants, transfers, mortgages, releases of mortgages, powers of attorney, and leases that have been acknowledged or approved;

mortgages on personal property;

wills admitted to probate;

Uniform Commercial Code filings;

official bonds;

notices of mechanics' liens;

transcripts of judgments that are made on real estate liens;

notices of attachment of real estate;

papers pertaining to bankruptcy;

certified copies of decrees and judgments of courts of record;

Department of Defense DD 214 forms that are recorded by some veterans as evidence of veteran status, particularly in those states that grant veterans reduced property tax rates; and

marriage licenses and certificates that can provide the names, ages, cities of residence, and places of birth of the licensees; date and place of marriage; names of witnesses to the marriage and their residence; and names of the cleric, judge, or justice of the peace who performed the ceremony.

REGISTRAR OF VOTERS

Registrars of voters may maintain the following:

affidavit of registration, which includes the registrant's name and age, occupation, and address at the time of registration, and

nomination papers of candidates for public office.

REGULATORY AGENCIES

Applications for business licenses, which are filed by local regulatory agencies, have valuable information on certain types of businesses and professions. Also, such applications often have useful information about individuals engaged in those businesses or professions. In many cities, the following types of businesses and professions would be regulated and their owners and/or practitioners would be required to apply for licenses:

businesses seeking liquor licenses;

professionals, including those trained as certified public accountants, dentists, doctors, plumbers, electricians, and optometrists;

businesses that health and fire departments periodically inspect, including restaurants, bars, and night clubs; and

businesses operating under names other than the owners' names (such businesses must register under assumed names and are included in the "doing business as" files).

SURVEYOR

Surveyor offices maintain maps of elevations, baselines, landmarks, important sites, roads, rights of way, and easements.

TAX ASSESSOR

Tax assessor offices maintain maps of real property, including information on a property's dimensions, address, owner, taxable value, and improvements.

TAX COLLECTOR

Tax collector offices maintain the following information:

names and addresses of payers of property taxes, including payers who are not the apparent owners;

legal descriptions of property;

amounts of taxes paid on real and personal property;

delinquency status of taxes; and

names of former owners of property.

WELFARE COMMISSION

Information filed by welfare commissions is gathered by social workers, psychologists, and physicians. Generally, the information gathered--frequently provided by welfare recipients--is not verified. Welfare commission files contain such information as the recipient's address, previous employment, prior earnings, and property owned. Welfare files also contain information on (1) the property owned by the recipient's relatives and (2) the relatives' health and criminal records.

STATE GOVERNMENT

ATTORNEY GENERAL

State attorneys general are good sources of information on (1) efforts made in the areas of statewide criminal justice, civil enforcement, and consumer protection and (2) the functions or administrative structure of the state offices responsible for these areas. The following table lists addresses and telephone numbers for state attorneys general.

Table 1.1: State Attorneys General
State Address Telephone number

Alabama State House, 3rd Fl.
11 South Union Street
Montgomery, AL 36104-3760 (334) 242-7300

Alaska Post Office Box 110300
Diamond Court Building
Juneau, AK 99811

123 Fourth Street, 6th Fl.
Diamond Court House
Juneau, AK 99801 (907) 465-3600

Arizona 1275 West Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007 (602) 542-4266

Arkansas 323 Center Street
200 Tower Building
Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-2007

California 1300 I Street
Post Office Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550 (916) 323-5370

Colorado 1525 Sherman Street, 5th Fl.
Denver, CO 80203 (303) 866-4500

Connecticut 55 Elm Street
Post Office Box 120
Hartford, CT 06141-0120 (860) 566-2026

Delaware Carvel State Office Building
820 North French Street
Wilmington, DE 19801 (302) 577-8338

District of Columbia Office of the Corporation Counsel
441 4th Street, N.W., Rm. 1060 North
Washington, D.C. 20001 (202) 727-6248

Florida The Capitol Building
Plaza Level, Suite 01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050 (904) 487-1963

Georgia 40 Capitol Square
Atlanta, GA 30334-1300 (404) 656-4585

Hawaii 425 Queen Street
Honolulu, HI 96813 (808) 586-1282

Idaho 700 West Jefferson Street
Post Office Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0010 (208) 334-2400

Illinois James R. Thompson Center
100 West Randolph Street, 12th Fl.
Chicago, IL 60601 (312) 814-2503

Indiana Indiana Government Center South, 8th Fl.
402 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 233-4386

Iowa Hoover State Office Building, 2nd Fl.
Des Moines, IA 50319 (515) 281-3053

Kansas Judicial Building
301 S.W. 10th Street
Topeka, KS 66612 (913) 296-2215

Kentucky Capitol Building, Suite 116
700 Capitol Avenue
Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 564-7600

Louisiana 300 Capitol Drive
Post Office Box 94005
Baton Rouge, LA 70804 (504) 342-7013

Maine Six State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333 (207) 626-8800

Maryland 200 Saint Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202-2021 (410) 576-6300

Massachusetts One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108 (617) 727-2200

Michigan Law Building, 7th Fl.
Post Office Box 30212
525 West Ottawa Street
Lansing, MI 48909-0212 (517) 373-1110

Minnesota 102 State Capitol
St. Paul, MN 55155 (612) 296-6196

Mississippi Post Office Box 220
Jackson, MS 39205

450 High Street
Jackson, MS 39201 (601) 359-3692

Missouri Post Office Box 899
Jefferson City, MO 65102

207 W. High Street
Supreme Court Building
Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573) 751-3321

Montana 215 N. Sanders
Post Office Box 201401
Helena, MT 59620-1401 (406) 444-2026

Nebraska 2115 State Capitol Building
Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 471-2682

Nevada 198 South Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89710

100 North Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701-4717 (702) 687-4170

New Hampshire 33 Capitol Street
Concord, NH 03301 (603) 271-3658

New Jersey Dept. of Law and Public Safety
Office of Attorney General
Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
CN 080
Trenton, NJ 08625 (609) 292-4925

New Mexico Post Office Drawer 1508
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1508

407 Galisteo Street, #260
Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 827-6000

New York N.Y. State Dept. of Law - the Capitol
Albany, NY 12224 (518) 474-7330

North Carolina Post Office Box 629
Raleigh, NC 27602-0629

2 E. Morgan Street
Raleigh, NC 27601 (919) 733-3377

North Dakota State Capitol
600 East Boulevard Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58505-0040 (701) 328-2210

Ohio Rhodes Tower
30 East Broad Street, 17th Fl.
Columbus, OH 43215 (614) 466-4320

Oklahoma 2300 North Lincoln Boulevard
Suite 112
Oklahoma City, OK 73105 (405) 521-3921

Oregon 1162 Court Street, NE
Salem, OR 97310 (503) 378-6002

Pennsylvania Strawberry Square, 16th Fl.
Harrisburg, PA 17120 (717) 787-3391

Rhode Island 150 South Main Street
Providence, RI 02903 (401) 274-4400

South Carolina Post Office Box 11549
Columbia, SC 29211-1549

1000 Assembly Street
Columbia, SC 29202 (803) 734-3970

South Dakota 500 East Capitol
Pierre, SD 57501 (605) 773-3215

Tennessee 500 Charlotte Avenue, Suite 114
Nashville, TN 37243 (615) 741-6474

Texas Post Office Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711

209 W. 14th Street
Austin, TX 78701 (512) 463-2191

Utah 236 State Capitol
Salt Lake City, UT 84114 (801) 538-1326

Vermont 109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-1001 (802) 828-3171

Virginia 900 East Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219 (804) 786-2071

Washington 1125 Washington Street S.E.
Post Office Box 40100
Olympia, WA 98504-0100 (360) 753-6200

West Virginia State Capitol, Building 1, Rm. E26
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
Charleston, WV 25305-0220 (304) 558-2021

Wisconsin Post Office Box 7857
Madison, WI 53707-7857

114 E. State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702 (608) 266-1221

Wyoming 123 Capitol Building
Cheyenne, WY 82002 (307) 777-7841

**Table 1.1: State Attorneys General**
State	Address	Telephone number
Alabama	State House, 3rd Fl. 11 South Union Street Montgomery, AL 36104-3760	(334) 242-7300
Alaska	Post Office Box 110300 Diamond Court Building Juneau, AK 99811 123 Fourth Street, 6th Fl. Diamond Court House Juneau, AK 99801	(907) 465-3600
Arizona	1275 West Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85007	(602) 542-4266
Arkansas	323 Center Street 200 Tower Building Little Rock, AR 72201	(501) 682-2007
California	1300 I Street Post Office Box 944255 Sacramento, CA 94244-2550	(916) 323-5370
Colorado	1525 Sherman Street, 5th Fl. Denver, CO 80203	(303) 866-4500
Connecticut	55 Elm Street Post Office Box 120 Hartford, CT 06141-0120	(860) 566-2026
Delaware	Carvel State Office Building 820 North French Street Wilmington, DE 19801	(302) 577-8338
District of Columbia	Office of the Corporation Counsel 441 4th Street, N.W., Rm. 1060 North Washington, D.C. 20001	(202) 727-6248
Florida	The Capitol Building Plaza Level, Suite 01 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050	(904) 487-1963
Georgia	40 Capitol Square Atlanta, GA 30334-1300	(404) 656-4585
Hawaii	425 Queen Street Honolulu, HI 96813	(808) 586-1282
Idaho	700 West Jefferson Street Post Office Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0010	(208) 334-2400
Illinois	James R. Thompson Center 100 West Randolph Street, 12th Fl. Chicago, IL 60601	(312) 814-2503
Indiana	Indiana Government Center South, 8th Fl. 402 West Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204	(317) 233-4386
Iowa	Hoover State Office Building, 2nd Fl. Des Moines, IA 50319	(515) 281-3053
Kansas	Judicial Building 301 S.W. 10th Street Topeka, KS 66612	(913) 296-2215
Kentucky	Capitol Building, Suite 116 700 Capitol Avenue Frankfort, KY 40601	(502) 564-7600
Louisiana	300 Capitol Drive Post Office Box 94005 Baton Rouge, LA 70804	(504) 342-7013
Maine	Six State House Station Augusta, ME 04333	(207) 626-8800
Maryland	200 Saint Paul Place Baltimore, MD 21202-2021	(410) 576-6300
Massachusetts	One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108	(617) 727-2200
Michigan	Law Building, 7th Fl. Post Office Box 30212 525 West Ottawa Street Lansing, MI 48909-0212	(517) 373-1110
Minnesota	102 State Capitol St. Paul, MN 55155	(612) 296-6196
Mississippi	Post Office Box 220 Jackson, MS 39205 450 High Street Jackson, MS 39201	(601) 359-3692
Missouri	Post Office Box 899 Jefferson City, MO 65102 207 W. High Street Supreme Court Building Jefferson City, MO 65101	(573) 751-3321
Montana	215 N. Sanders Post Office Box 201401 Helena, MT 59620-1401	(406) 444-2026
Nebraska	2115 State Capitol Building Lincoln, NE 68509	(402) 471-2682
Nevada	198 South Carson Street Carson City, NV 89710 100 North Carson Street Carson City, NV 89701-4717	(702) 687-4170
New Hampshire	33 Capitol Street Concord, NH 03301	(603) 271-3658
New Jersey	Dept. of Law and Public Safety Office of Attorney General Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex CN 080 Trenton, NJ 08625	(609) 292-4925
New Mexico	Post Office Drawer 1508 Santa Fe, NM 87504-1508 407 Galisteo Street, #260 Santa Fe, NM 87501	(505) 827-6000
New York	N.Y. State Dept. of Law - the Capitol Albany, NY 12224	(518) 474-7330
North Carolina	Post Office Box 629 Raleigh, NC 27602-0629 2 E. Morgan Street Raleigh, NC 27601	(919) 733-3377
North Dakota	State Capitol 600 East Boulevard Avenue Bismarck, ND 58505-0040	(701) 328-2210
Ohio	Rhodes Tower 30 East Broad Street, 17th Fl. Columbus, OH 43215	(614) 466-4320
Oklahoma	2300 North Lincoln Boulevard Suite 112 Oklahoma City, OK 73105	(405) 521-3921
Oregon	1162 Court Street, NE Salem, OR 97310	(503) 378-6002
Pennsylvania	Strawberry Square, 16th Fl. Harrisburg, PA 17120	(717) 787-3391
Rhode Island	150 South Main Street Providence, RI 02903	(401) 274-4400
South Carolina	Post Office Box 11549 Columbia, SC 29211-1549 1000 Assembly Street Columbia, SC 29202	(803) 734-3970
South Dakota	500 East Capitol Pierre, SD 57501	(605) 773-3215
Tennessee	500 Charlotte Avenue, Suite 114 Nashville, TN 37243	(615) 741-6474
Texas	Post Office Box 12548 Austin, TX 78711 209 W. 14th Street Austin, TX 78701	(512) 463-2191
Utah	236 State Capitol Salt Lake City, UT 84114	(801) 538-1326
Vermont	109 State Street Montpelier, VT 05609-1001	(802) 828-3171
Virginia	900 East Main Street Richmond, VA 23219	(804) 786-2071
Washington	1125 Washington Street S.E. Post Office Box 40100 Olympia, WA 98504-0100	(360) 753-6200
West Virginia	State Capitol, Building 1, Rm. E26 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East Charleston, WV 25305-0220	(304) 558-2021
Wisconsin	Post Office Box 7857 Madison, WI 53707-7857 114 E. State Capitol Madison, WI 53702	(608) 266-1221
Wyoming	123 Capitol Building Cheyenne, WY 82002	(307) 777-7841

BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS

Bureaus of Vital Statistics have birth certificates on file and are an excellent source of information about people. Birth certificates can provide a child's name, sex, date of birth, and address of place of birth; the names of the attending physician, midwife, and/or other assistants; the parents' names, ages, addresses, race, places of birth, and occupations; the mother's maiden name; and the number of siblings. (In some states, birth certificates may be found at the local level, such as at the health department.)

DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES

State Departments of Motor Vehicles maintain information on driver's licenses, vehicle registrations, titles, automobile transfers and sales, car dealers, car salespersons, emission inspection facilities, and--in some states--auto repair businesses. Of those states requiring that photographs of licensed drivers appear on their licenses, most maintain the photographs. Many states are changing to digital photographs.

REGULATORY AGENCIES

Departments and agencies that regulate individual and business activities within a particular state can be valuable sources of information. Individuals obtain licenses for activities such as driving, hunting, and fishing and for such professions as medical, legal, and public accounting. Businesses are also often required to obtain licenses and permits to operate and file periodic reports such as for worker's and unemployment compensation, sales tax, and state income tax. The following state regulatory departments and agencies maintain information valuable to investigators:

Bureau of Professional and Vocational Standards or Department of Licensing;

Controller/Treasurer;

Department of Agriculture;

Department of Industrial Relations;

Department of Natural Resources;

Gambling Commission/Horse Racing Board;

Secretary of State;

Department of Corrections;

Liquor Commission;

Lottery Commission;

Securities Commission; and

Utility Commission.

This document was last updated April 20, 1997

Investigators Guide to Sources of Information

Chapter 1Local and State Governments

Local Government

State Government

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

BUILDING INSPECTOR

CORONER/MEDICAL EXAMINER

COURT CLERK

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

RECORDER

REGISTRAR OF VOTERS

REGULATORY AGENCIES

SURVEYOR

TAX ASSESSOR

TAX COLLECTOR

WELFARE COMMISSION

STATE GOVERNMENT

ATTORNEY GENERAL

BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS

DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES

REGULATORY AGENCIES

Chapter 1
Local and State Governments