Legal Records - The Secret Inside Sealed Records

Legal records can be found in county courthouses and may be civil or criminal in nature. These are not only paper records, but also contain the rest of the evidence that is needed in a court case.

Legal records encompass a broad range of records that emerge after legal proceedings have taken place. These are automatically filed as public records, except in some circumstances wherein legal records have been sealed, such as in the case of juvenile cases and those relating to sexual abuse.

Aside from paper documents, a legal record contains all the evidence pertaining to a particular case. This means that there may also be photographs, video and audio tapes, e-mails and computer files that have been used in conjunction with the case and the decision that the court has enacted. Since some cases may become damaged over time, the court still holds the right to disallow them from being viewed publicly, although electronic or microfilm versions may still be available.

Legal records: What to Learn from Them

There are generally three types of court records that you can find. First, the civil cases include any cases that are not criminal in nature. These pertain to any dispute relating to contracts, personal injury cases, and appeals to the district court. Civil cases may also consist of cases on medical malpractice, automobile negligence, and any claims that are related to business.

Another type of legal record is comprised of the documents following a domestic dispute. Aside from divorce and annulment cases, these may also include cases regarding child alimony, child support and alimony. There is usually a separate court in every state where trials for criminal cases take place.

Policies regarding public records may vary from one state to another, but it remains the basic right of every individual to peruse through them and examine them. You can usually request for copies of a legal record in person, through postal mail or fax, but never over the phone. Online copies of some court records are also available, but these should not by any means be misconstrued as comprehensive.

Other exceptions on public records may pertain to those cases with trade secrets, law enforcement records, library records, and medical records that have been completed by physicians. If a transcript or a document falls under the physician-patient confidentiality clause, then this section may be withheld from public viewing.

The confidential information is separated from the rest of the court records, but can be accessed if there is a specific court order that decrees that they be opened, or if you can prove that your personal welfare is at stake.

Due to the sensitivity of some cases, certain legal records are naturally inaccessible. However, that doesn't mean that you can never get your hands on them, especially if you undergo due process. Read more articles about legal records at the Court Records section of RecordsSiteReviews.