Editorial Policy
Public-Record.org is committed to publishing accurate, verified, and genuinely helpful public records information. This page explains how we create, verify, review, and maintain our content — and the standards every article on this site must meet before publication.
1. Purpose & Scope of This Policy
This Editorial Policy governs all informational and educational content published on Public-Record.org — including state guides, county public records pages, record-type explainers, how-to guides, and frequently asked questions. It applies to every member of our editorial team: researchers, writers, editors, and fact-checkers.
Our goal is to be the most accurate, practical, and trustworthy independent resource for navigating U.S. public records. This policy exists to protect that standard and to hold our team accountable to readers who rely on our information for real-life decisions.
2. Content Creation Standards
Every article published on Public-Record.org must meet the following non-negotiable standards:
2.1 — Verified Official Sources Only
All government website URLs, phone numbers, physical office addresses, fee schedules, and form references cited in our content are sourced from official government websites (.gov domains), verified county clerk portals, state judiciary systems, or other confirmed primary sources.
We never use placeholder data, assumed URLs, or fabricated contact information. If an official source cannot be located or verified for a specific jurisdiction, we either omit that data point and clearly state that it is unavailable, or mark it with a visible [VERIFY] tag for our editorial team to resolve before publication.
2.2 — No Broken Links Published
Every external link in every article is manually tested before publication to confirm it loads correctly and points to the intended destination. Links that return 404 errors, redirect to unrelated pages, or lead to parked/expired domains are never published. Our content review checklist includes a mandatory link verification step.
2.3 — Actionable & Practical Information
We do not publish generic, surface-level overviews. Every guide on Public-Record.org must provide specific, actionable information that a reader can immediately use — including the exact official website to visit, the specific form to fill out, the phone number to call, the fee amount, the processing time, and the step-by-step process from start to finish.
Our editorial standard is: “Can a first-time user follow this guide from beginning to end without getting stuck or needing to search elsewhere?” If the answer is no, the article goes back for revision.
2.4 — Local Accuracy & County-Specific Detail
Public records access varies significantly between states and counties. We do not apply generic, one-size-fits-all guidance across jurisdictions. Each state and county guide includes jurisdiction-specific details: the correct local office name, the correct website URL for that specific county, local phone numbers, embedded Google Maps for office locations, local fee structures, and any county-specific tips or processing notes.
2.5 — Complete Schema Markup
All articles include structured data (JSON-LD schema markup) to help search engines understand and correctly display our content. Depending on the page type, this may include Article, GovernmentService, LocalBusiness, FAQPage, BreadcrumbList, HowTo, and WebPage schema types — each populated with accurate, verified data matching the visible page content.
3. Human Editorial Review Process
No article is published on Public-Record.org without passing through a structured human review process. Here is how every piece of content moves from research to publication:
4. AI-Assisted Content Disclosure
In the interest of full transparency, we disclose that some content on Public-Record.org is produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Here is exactly how AI is used — and how it is not used — in our content process:
AI tools may assist with initial content drafting, structuring article templates, generating FAQ sections, and formatting structured data markup. AI is used as a productivity tool to help our team produce content more efficiently at scale.
AI-generated content is never published without human review. All factual data — including government website URLs, phone numbers, physical addresses, fee amounts, and step-by-step procedures — is independently verified by a human researcher against official sources before publication. AI does not replace our verification process; it supplements our writing workflow.
Every article on this site, regardless of whether AI tools assisted in its creation, undergoes the same human editorial review and fact-checking process described in Section 3 above. Our commitment to accuracy is not diminished by the use of AI tools — it is enforced by human oversight at every stage.
5. Source Hierarchy & Linking Standards
We follow a strict source priority when linking to external resources in our content:
| Priority | Source Type | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1st (Primary) | Official government websites | .gov domains, official county clerk portals, state judiciary search pages, vital records office sites |
| 2nd | Verified government-affiliated portals | State-authorized e-filing systems, court-approved online search tools, official PACER system |
| 3rd | Established reference sources | National Archives (archives.gov), U.S. Census data, Bureau of Justice Statistics |
| 4th (Supplementary) | Third-party databases & tools | People search services, background check providers — always clearly labeled as third-party with appropriate disclosure |
We always prioritize linking to free official government resources over paid third-party services. Third-party tools are referenced only as supplementary options and are clearly disclosed as non-government services with appropriate affiliate or sponsored link disclosures where applicable.
6. Corrections & Error Reporting
Accuracy is our highest editorial priority. Government websites change frequently — offices move, phone numbers update, URLs restructure, fees change, and online portals get redesigned. Despite our best efforts, errors can occur. Here is how we handle them:
How to Report an Error
If you find incorrect information on any page — a broken link, wrong phone number, outdated fee, incorrect address, or any other factual error — please email us immediately at contact@public-record.org with the following details:
Our Correction Process
Critical errors (broken official links, wrong phone numbers, incorrect government office information) are corrected within 24–48 hours of being reported and verified.
Non-critical updates (fee changes, minor process updates, formatting improvements) are addressed during our regular content audit cycle.
When a significant correction is made, we update the article’s “Last Updated” date to reflect the change. We do not silently alter published content without updating the revision date.
7. Content Audit & Update Schedule
Published content is not static. We conduct periodic audits to maintain accuracy:
What We Audit
High-traffic pages and pages covering frequently-changing jurisdictions are audited more frequently. All articles display a “Last Updated” date so readers can assess the recency of the information.
8. Affiliate & Advertising Disclosure Policy
💰 How We Fund This Site
Public-Record.org is a free-to-use informational resource. We earn revenue through affiliate partnerships with third-party people search and background check services. When you click on certain links or widgets on our site and complete a purchase or sign up for a paid service, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
8.1 — Editorial Independence
Our affiliate relationships do not influence our editorial content. Government links, official contact details, step-by-step instructions, fee information, and all factual content are produced independently of any advertising or affiliate relationship. We will never substitute a paid third-party service in place of a free official government resource.
8.2 — Clear Affiliate Disclosure
All affiliate links and sponsored widgets on our site are clearly identified with appropriate disclosures such as “Sponsored,” “Affiliate Link,” or a disclosure statement near the relevant content. All affiliate links include rel="nofollow noopener sponsored" attributes in compliance with Google’s Webmaster Guidelines and FTC endorsement disclosure requirements.
8.3 — No Deceptive Practices
We do not use deceptive design patterns that disguise affiliate widgets as official government search tools. Third-party search widgets are clearly labeled as non-government services. We do not use misleading language such as “Official Records Search” for any paid third-party tool.
9. Legal & Compliance Disclaimers
9.1 — Not a Government Website
Public-Record.org is a privately-operated informational website. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any federal, state, county, or local government agency. Any resemblance in name or branding to any government entity is coincidental and not intended to imply government affiliation.
9.2 — Not Legal Advice
Nothing published on this website constitutes legal advice, professional counsel, or a substitute for consultation with a qualified attorney. Public records laws vary significantly by state and jurisdiction. Readers should consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to their legal situation.
9.3 — FCRA Compliance
Public-Record.org is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq. Information available on this website does not constitute a “consumer report” under the FCRA. You may not use information obtained from this website for purposes of evaluating consumer credit, employment screening, tenant screening, insurance underwriting, or any other purpose governed by the FCRA.
9.4 — Accuracy Limitation
While we take extensive steps to verify all information published on this site, we cannot guarantee that every data point is current or error-free at all times. Government agencies update their websites, change their contact information, modify fees, and restructure processes without notice. We encourage readers to verify critical information directly with the relevant official agency before making important decisions.
10. Editorial Team Accountability
This editorial policy is binding on every member of our content team. Every researcher, writer, editor, and fact-checker working on Public-Record.org content is expected to understand and follow these standards. Content that does not meet these standards is not published.
Our editorial leadership is responsible for enforcing this policy, conducting periodic content quality audits, and updating this policy as our standards evolve. Any questions about this policy or its application should be directed to our editorial team at contact@public-record.org.
📨 Questions or Concerns?
If you have questions about our editorial standards, want to report an error,
or have feedback about our content — we want to hear from you.
Email: contact@public-record.org
Public-Record.org — Independent Public Records Research & Education