Where's the money? How much money is available? If you are contemplating suing for damages, you will want to know whether the potential defendant has significant assets or whether that person is "judgment proof." This is also known as looking for the "deep pocket." Similarly, if you have obtained judgment against somebody, you will want to locate property in order to levy execution in satisfaction of the judgment amount.

One determinant of the value of property is whether there are liens against the property and whether those liens are superior to those of your client. Another question might be whether the defendant you are considering is being sued by others. These and other questions can be answered by using private services that report on public records of property ownership and lien filings.

Lexis and Westlaw, for example, have libraries that can help you to identify an expert witness or track an accident witness; look for bankruptcies involving and/or liens against a business or individual; check pending and agency enforcement actions; simplify due diligence; capture business information, e.g., annual sales, parent/subsidiary, relationships, and executives names; identify real and personal property assets; research multinationals and uncover banking relationships; uncover hidden assets nationwide or outside the U.S.; verify license credentials and status, as well as death records and current military service; and review verdict and settlement reports.

It may also be necessary to track individuals or organizations that start to experience financial or legal problems. This may indicate whether steps should be taken to protect the clients' positions or whether bankruptcies may be imminent. Tracking can supply numerous other clues about the strengths and weaknesses of both clients and potential adversaries.

Many people track public notices of filings of lien claims, foreclosures, tax delinquencies, lawsuits, and bankruptcies in the local legal newspapers and in business journals. They may also subscribe to private services that gather and supply similar information which may not appear in public notices.

Print:

The sourcebook to public record information : the comprehensive guide to county, state, & federal public records sources (JK2445. P82 S64 2003) (9th Floor -- Reference Desk)

 

Please note that not all Lexis and Westlaw public record databases are accessible through the Library's subscription.

Assets

LEXIS - Public Records > Find Filings > Judgments & Liens

Westlaw - All Databases  > Public Information, Records and Filings  > Asset Locator

Liens

LEXIS - Public Records > Find Filings > Judgments & Liens (not all databases are accessible on the Library's subscription)

Westlaw - Database SB-LIEN-ALL

Lawsuits

LEXIS - Public Records > Find Filings > Civil & Criminal Court Filings & Regulatory Actions

Westlaw - Database LS-ALL

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