A public record search gathers information from government records to help verify details about a person, business, or property. Depending on the type of search, it may uncover tax information, judgments, liens, corporate filings, UCC records, flood zone information, court records, and more.

These searches play an important role in real estate transactions, lending, legal matters, and business due diligence because they help identify potential issues before they become costly surprises. At Charles Jones, we've been helping customers access accurate public record information for more than 100 years, making the process faster and easier.

The right searches depend on the property and the transaction, but most real estate closings involve several types of public record research. Common searches include tax searches, judgment and lien searches, title searches, flood determinations, and, for certain New Jersey properties, tideland or wetland searches.

Each search looks at a different part of the transaction. Together, they help uncover unpaid taxes, liens, ownership issues, flood risks, or other concerns that could delay closing. If you're unsure which searches are needed, our team can help you determine the right combination based on your transaction.

Although they're often ordered together, a judgment search and a title search answer two different questions.

A title search focuses on the property itself. It reviews the ownership history and recorded documents, such as deeds, mortgages, easements, and property liens, to help confirm that ownership can be transferred.

A judgment search focuses on the people or businesses involved in the transaction. It looks for judgments, bankruptcies, tax liens, and other public records that could affect the closing.

Because each search uncovers different types of information, many real estate transactions require both.

A UCC search is commonly requested when a lender is financing a business or accepting business assets as collateral. It shows whether another lender has already filed a security interest against those assets.

UCC searches are often used for commercial loans, equipment financing, mergers and acquisitions, and other business transactions where understanding existing obligations is essential. Having this information upfront helps lenders, attorneys, and businesses make informed decisions before moving forward.

Tax searches help confirm whether there are outstanding taxes, assessments, municipal charges, utilities, or other items that could affect a property before closing.

Finding these issues early gives everyone involved time to resolve them before they delay the transaction. Buyers, lenders, attorneys, and title professionals rely on tax searches to help ensure there are no unexpected financial obligations waiting after the sale is complete.

A flood determination identifies whether a property is located in a FEMA-designated flood hazard area and whether federal flood insurance requirements may apply.

The report helps lenders meet federal compliance requirements while giving buyers and property owners a better understanding of potential flood risk. Charles Jones also offers Life-of-Loan Flood Monitoring, which tracks FEMA map updates and alerts lenders if a property's flood status changes during the life of the loan.

Corporate status reports are used whenever someone needs to verify that a business entity is properly registered and in good standing.

Attorneys, lenders, title professionals, compliance teams, and businesses often request these reports during financing, mergers and acquisitions, contract negotiations, licensing, and other due diligence activities. Depending on the state, a report may include information such as the company's legal status, formation date, registered agent, and filing history.

Public record research supports a wide range of industries where accurate information is critical for making informed decisions.

Some of the organizations that rely on these services include title companies, real estate professionals, attorneys, mortgage lenders, banks, government agencies, insurance companies, corporations, and investors. Whether they're closing on a property, underwriting a loan, verifying a business, or researching ownership records, these organizations depend on reliable public record information to help reduce risk, stay compliant, and keep transactions moving.

From single searches to large, ongoing workflows, Charles Jones provides public record research solutions designed to support organizations of every size with the accuracy, responsiveness, and expertise they need.