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Government Resources for Public Information:

Investigation involves the gathering of facts and information about specific individuals, entities, products, events, or incidents as opposed researching case or statutory law.

State and local public records are usually easily accessible in person by making a request for copies and paying the copying fees. Also, a limited amount of recent public information is available at government internet sites. Information about officials and contact information for Oklahoma state government, courts, and attorneys are listed in the Oklahoma Legal Directory located in most law libraries.

Copies of public records from federal agencies may require written requests for information and often require following of the Freedom of Information Act. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) provides the rules for record request from the appropriate federal agency including proper forms (if applicable), information required with specificity, fees, and procedural requirements. Some types of information available from federal agencies include securities filings, patent, trademark, trade names and copyright filings, professional licenses, aircraft registration and lien filings, and social security verification,

Prior trial court case records, which are not sealed, are matters of public record. The Court Clerk for the district court in the jurisdiction maintains the records by case numbers and by names of plaintiffs(s) and/or defendants(s).

Unreported appellant court case records are matters of public record. The Court Clerk for the appellant court maintains the records by case/docket numbers and by names of plaintiffs(s) and/or defendants(s). Most unreported appellant court case may be found in the Oklahoma Bar Journal and some may be available at www.onenet.net/oklegal/. Reported appellant court cases are published in the Pacific Reporter and are available in searchable form on the Oklahoma Supreme Court Network (www.oscn.net). Clerk of the Courts 521-2163.

Federal court case records, which are not sealed, are matters of public record. The Court Clerk for the federal district court, bankruptcy court, and appellant courts maintains the records. Consult the particular court rules for obtaining copies. Telephone numbers for Clerks within Oklahoma are below under federal government section.

Types of documents that are a matter of public record with State or Local Government include:

court cases

corporation information

limited partnership information

limited liability company information

state trade names

state trademarks

state professional licenses

traffic fines

real property information

tax liens

UCC lien filings

birth certificates

death certificates

marriage licenses

County, City, and Local Governments:

County governments in Oklahoma are a constitutional form of government composed of eight elected officials. There are three County Commissioners who form the Boards of Commissioners and administer county government. Other elected officials are the Assessor, County Clerk, Court Clerk, Sheriff, and Treasurer who get all their powers and duties delegated by the Oklahoma State Legislature which can be found in Oklahoma Statutes. For current statewide elected county officials, courthouses, and contact information, refer to the published Oklahoma Legal Directory or Oklahoma Counties webpage www.state.ok.us/osfdocs/county.html. This Oklahoma Counties webpage is also accessible through the State of Oklahoma Home Page by clicking on county officials at www.state.ok.us.

Links to Oklahoma Colleges and public school webpages are also available at the Oklahoma Counties webpage.

County Court Clerk has public records of all court cases filed within the county including traffic violations and marriage licenses. Dockets and case status of traffic, marriage licenses, small claims, civil and criminal court cases are searchable at www.oscn.net by clicking dockets and selecting the appropriate appellant court or county court. Counties available are Oklahoma, Tulsa, Payne, Canadian, Cleveland, Comanche, Garfield and Rogers. Construction is in progress for a court clerk records at www.oklahomacounty.org and www.tulsacounty.org . See the county clerk for the appropriate jurisdiction to obtain copies from court cases. Okla. County Court Clerk Civil and Probate Division 713-1725. Okla. County Jury Clerk's telephone 713-1102. For other Oklahoma counties refer to Oklahoma Counties webpage www.state.ok.us/osfdocs/county.html.

County Assessor's Office has public records on real property, business personal property, and manufactured homes located within that county. Real Property information available includes ownership, last book and page of recorded document establishing ownership, name and address for mailing the tax statement, property address, legal description, tax ID number, homestead exemption, market value, assessed value, tax rate and tax assessed. Some factual property information may be available such as lot size, buildings, date built, number of rooms, and square footage. If you either know the owner's name, property address, legal description, or tax ID number you can find the information. These records confirm the name(s) and addresses of owners and type of ownership if you have a judgment lien to file; however, the County Clerk's office records would provide records of all liens and their priority on the real property. To verify if property tax has been paid requires consulting the records of the County Treasurer. County Assessors' records may be searched online at www.oklahomacounty.org and www.tulsacounty.org. Okla. County Assessor's telephone 713-1200.

County Clerk's Office has public real property deeds, mortgages, and other documents affecting title to real property. These may include state tax liens, federal tax liens, UCC filings, mechanic's and materialman's liens, physician liens, and judgment liens. Names or legal descriptions are needed to search records. County Clerk records may be searched online at www.oklahomacounty.org and www.tulsacounty.org. Okla. County Clerk's telephone 713-7184.

County Treasurer has public records of county property taxes, special assessments, and some city property assessments as reflected by the October 1^st certification of the Treasurer. County Treasurer records may be searched by owner's name or tax ID number online at www.oklahomacounty.org and www.tulsacounty.org. Okla. County Treasurer's telephone 713-1300.

County Law Library maintains some resources available online including Oklahoma/Canadian County local court rules at www.oklahomacounty.org. County Law Library's telephone is 713-1460.

County Sheriff public records include missing persons, most wanted and other general public service information at www.oklahomacounty.org. Okla. County Sheriff's telephone 713-1051.

County Election Office maintains voter registration records that include name, address, date or year of birth, sex, race, party affiliation, and voting precinct. Okla. County Election Board's telephone 713-1515. Statewide county election filings and voting results are at the State of Oklahoma Home Page at www.state.ok.us

City Hall and the City Clerk have public records regarding licensing required by city ordinances. General information is available at www.okc-cityhall.org or www.cityoftulsa.org

City/County Planning Department has records regarding real property zoning and construction.

City Department of Public Works has records of public streets, roads, bridges, and drainage required by city ordinances or action by city council.

City Traffic Department maintains records of traffic accident reports, traffic signals and markings.

Municipal Court has court records regarding violations of city ordinances.

Oklahoma City Traffic Court telephone 297-2361. Oklahoma City Criminal Court telephone 297-2645.

Cities/Counties nationwide general information including population is available at

http://www.mit.edu:8001/geo .

County Courthouses nationwide general information including address and telephone is available at www.familtytreemaker.com/courtlst.html.

Better Business Bureau maintains records of consumer complaints against local businesses.

Telephone inquiries for Central Oklahoma at 239-6081.

State Government Agencies:

The State of Oklahoma has a constitutional form of government. Elected officials are the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Superintendent of Schools, State Auditor and Inspector, Insurance Commissioner, Commissioner of Labor, and Corporation Commission (consisting of three commissioners). The State Legislature consists of 51 senators and 101 state representatives. The State Legislature has created by statute several state agencies, commissions, and offices to maintain a variety of state services. The Governor by executive order has created many boards and commissions. For current elected state officials, state agencies, and contact information, refer to the published Oklahoma Legal Directory or the State of Oklahoma Home Page at www.state.ok.us.

The following agencies may provide the information listed and many Oklahoma agencies have general office information and searchable records at the State of Oklahoma Home Page www.state.ok.us.

Attorney General maintains records regarding consumer protection, medicaid fraud and worker's compensation fraud. (405) 521-3921.

Dept. of Transportation maintains public records of highways/streets with markings plus information regarding traffic signs, lights, traffic markings, and speed limits. 521-2531.

Secretary of State maintains public records of filings for corporations, limited partnership, and limited liability companies. Copies of certificates of incorporation, articles of limited partnership, limited liability company documents, and any amendments, mergers, or dissolutions plus trade name registration may be requested in person or by phone for pickup or mailing after 24 hours. Out of state businesses are required to file domestication documents to do business within the state. Information that is available by telephone includes the proper corporate or entity name, date of registration, registered office, registered service agent, and whether the corporation is in good standing by paying the required franchise tax each year. Telephone for ordering copies is (405) 521-3911 and telephone corporate record information is 1-900-555-2424 for three name inquiries for which there is a $5.00 charge. (Also can charge on Discovery Card.) Copies of agriculture liens are available by fee with online ordering. Correct entity names and who to serve is valuable information for litigation. The secretary of state may be the service agent for defunct corporations as provided in the Oklahoma Rules of Civil Procedure. General office information and all forms are downloadable at www.sos.state.ok.us.

Search nationwide for service agents for corporations organized in other states online at www.geocities.com/resident_agent_info/residentagent.html.

Department of Public Health maintains public records of required health state licenses including home health care and nursing homes. Most information is searchable online at www.health.state.ok.us.

Bureau of Vital Statistics maintains the public records of birth and death certificates. With required information, certified copies may be obtained in person or by phone for a fee.

271-4040.

Departments of Libraries maintain copies of government documents like Dept. of Transportation manuals. Telephone 521-2502 x231.

Department of Motor Vehicles maintains public records of licenses of drivers and registration of motor vehicles. The information request requires a form and is only available to limited users. 521-2375.

Corporation Commission maintains oil and gas and public utilities records.

Bar Associations maintains public records of licensed attorneys by name and if they are in good standing by telephone at 524-2365.

Department of Securities maintains public records of registered public and many private securities offering plus financial advisors, broker-dealers, and agent registration records. Whether there has been a consumer complaint on any entity or person registered is available by telephone at 280-7700.

Oklahoma Tax Commission maintains some public records regarding ownership registration of automobiles, boats and trailers, and other taxed personal property. The Franchise Tax Division will provide the names and addresses of corporate officers and directors from the last Franchise Tax Return (due 8-31 annually) for a fee by telephone ordering at 521-3161.

Department of Insurance maintains public records of all insurance companies and agents doing business within the state with request by telephone at 521-2828.

Department of Labor has valuable information on state labor rules and regulations and safety standards of various industries. 528-1500 x200.

U.S. Federal Government

Securities filing including business information

Census information

Aircraft accident information

Labor statistics

Motor vehicle safety performance

Patent & Trademark filings include trade names

Safety standards for products

Safety standards for occupations

Tax forms

Topographical maps

Weather reports

Many links to federal government can be found at: www.fedworld.gov or www.findlaw.com or www.hg.org or www.washlaw.com or www.whitehouse.gov.

Federal Courts maintain public court records.

U.S. District Court for W.D. of Okla. Court Clerk 231-4792

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for W.D. of Okla. Court Clerk 231-5141 and telephone inquires 1-800-872-1348 and online via Pacer/Racer service.

U.S. District Court for E.D. of Oklahoma Court Clerk (918) 687-2471

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for E.D. of Okla. Court Clerk (918) 581-7181

U.S. District Court for N.D. of Oklahoma Court Clerk (918) 699-4700

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for N.D. of Okla. Court Clerk (918) 581-7181

Note: Many federal court records are available by subscription with Pacer.

Library of Congress maintains searchable catalogs and links a vast amount of sources.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintains public records of registration of aircraft and aircraft liens in Oklahoma City. For information on all accidents and incidents involving aircraft, contact FAA Accident/Incident Analysis Branch of Air Traffic Services, Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C.

Other Useful Locating Tools:

Oklahoma Links http://www.morelaw.com

Okla. Bar Assoc. http://www.okbar.org

American Bar Assoc. http://www.abanet.org

Attorneys - Nat'l locator http://www.martindale.com

Attorneys - Nat'l locator http://wld.com

Nat'l Center of State Ct. http://www.ncsc.dni.us

Nat'l Law Links http://findlaw.com

Nat'l Law Links http://www.washlaw.com

Nat'l Law Links http://www.hg.org

Switchboard - ATT http://www.switchboard.com

Yahoo People Finder http://www.people.yahoo.com