Civil Records Search

A civil records search (also known as a civil background check or civil court records search) looks into non-criminal lawsuits and legal actions involving your candidate. While criminal checks focus on violations of criminal law, civil searches uncover cases in civil court, from lawsuits over money, contract disputes, property issues, and landlord-tenant matters, to restraining orders and family law matters. ScoutLogic’s civil records check typically involves searching county and federal court databases for any cases in which the individual was a party to a lawsuit (either as the plaintiff, defendant, or in some other involved capacity).

While civil cases may not carry the same stigma as criminal convictions, they can still be highly relevant to hiring decisions, especially for higher-level positions or roles that involve fiduciary responsibilities.

Identify financial or fraud red flags. Civil court records may reveal issues such as past fraud, embezzlement, or breach of contract cases involving the candidate, which may be relevant to a position involving financial decisions. A civil search can provide more detailed information on lawsuits, foreclosures, or liens, which may be helpful in roles where financial integrity is crucial.

Avoid surprises. Civil records can highlight behavior that might not be criminal but is still concerning. Insight into past litigation behavior can act as a character or integrity indicator, supplementing other background information.

Stay compliant. Some regulated industries or high-security roles require a broader scope of background checks. For instance, someone in a position that handles sensitive information or has a high-level security clearance might undergo a civil check as part of their vetting, because espionage or intellectual property theft issues often surface in civil courts. Similarly, roles in finance or government contracting sometimes require checking civil records, such as bankruptcies or SEC filings.

ScoutLogic provides civil records searches with the same level of thoroughness and efficiency as our other services.

Civil court coverage. If requested, we can search both county-level civil courts and federal civil courts for records involving your candidate. Our civil search capabilities span the nation, similar to our criminal searches, utilizing a combination of electronic court databases and manual court record retrieval as requested.

Relevant results focus. Civil courts generate a large volume of records, many of which are likely to be irrelevant. ScoutLogic’s team reviews civil search results to filter out noise and highlight what is important to the client. We aim to provide actionable insights, not overwhelm you with every trivial lawsuit.

High-quality data and verification. Accessing civil records can sometimes be challenging – not all courts have centralized databases like those for criminal records. ScoutLogic invests in quality data sources and has a network of court researchers.

Customization and scope control. Not every employer needs a civil search on every candidate. You can decide when these searches are important depending on a specific role.