Background checks are absolutely legal for you to do. Under the Freedom of Information Act, criminal records, marriages and divorces are all public records and that makes it easy for you to look up anyone you feel you should know more about.

Who should you know more about? How about the person you are considering hiring to watch your children in the afternoon? The person you’re considering to pay to do a room addition in your home or even a new love interest. If the person seems vague or won’t fully answer you questions – they are either struggling with conversational skills or they are hiding something.

There are no free databases that will allow you to do complete background checks and criminal records look ups. The most you’ll usually get is a list of possibles and then you have to pay for the check to narrow down your list. It’s far easier to just get a free account and then pay the small fee to get the information delivered right to your computer screen.

Another big concern many people have regarding background checks is will the subject of the DIY investigation know you’ve looked at their records? The answer to that question is no. The criminal background checks are discreet and no one besides yourself will know you’ve looked up anyone’s records (unless you tell!).