What Is a Public Record? What Is Public About You
“Public record” sounds simple, but what it covers depends on who holds the document and which law applies.
By Siddharth ShankarUpdated October 21, 2026A public record is generally a government record that the law presumes open to the public. In the US, the federal FOIA and state public records laws set the rules, and each state defines the term differently. Exemptions can cover drafts, national security, personal records, attorney-client material, law enforcement techniques and trade secrets. Data brokers and people-search sites collect public records, which is why they can show details about you.
Your email is the key to most of your accounts. Has it already leaked?
Free · About 30 seconds · No sign-up · Email not stored
You will hear that your address, your court case or your marriage is “public record.” The phrase means something specific, and it is the legal root of much of the personal data that circulates online.
A simple definition
One legal glossary, from the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, defines a public record as court records available to the general public (not confidential). In wider use the term covers government records of many kinds that the law presumes open.
Who decides what is public
According to a MuckRock explainer, the federal Freedom of Information Act and state public records laws set the framework, and each state has its own definition. Some laws cover all three branches of government, while others exclude the legislature or the governor. Government records are presumed open because the law says so.
Quick check before you read on: is your email in a known data breach? Free, about 30 seconds.
Free · About 30 seconds · No sign-up · Email not stored
Examples of public records
The explainer lists meeting minutes, surveillance footage and contractor agreements, and suggests requests such as the incident report for a police altercation. For individuals, public records often include:
- Property records and deeds. See how property records make your address public.
- Many court records. See court records and your name.
- Voter registration data in some places. See voter registration.
- Business and professional licence listings.
- Vital records such as marriage, birth and death records, which vary by state.
What can be withheld
MuckRock says records can be withheld or redacted in several categories, and the categories vary by state:
- Drafts, until a final product exists.
- National security information.
- Personal records and attorney-client privilege.
- Certain law enforcement techniques.
- Trade secrets and proprietary details.
The article warns that national security redactions have been overused.
How public records end up online
Data brokers and people-search sites collect public records in bulk, link them to a name and publish or sell the result. That is why a document that sat quietly in a county office can appear as a profile online. See what data brokers are and how people-search sites get your information.
A mental model
Think of three layers: records that anyone can inspect, records that only certain people can get, and records that are sealed or closed. A single event, such as a lawsuit, can create records in all three layers. Your privacy depends on knowing which layer each record sits in, and which website has copied it.
Rights over your own records
Public does not mean permanent. Courts can seal or expunge some records, agencies can correct errors and some states give added protection to certain groups. Ask the office that holds the record what options exist, and consider legal advice for serious cases.
The cost of oversharing to the government
When you file a form with an agency, a court or a licensing board, ask whether the information will be public. Use a business address where one is allowed, and leave optional fields blank. Once data enters a public file, it is hard to take back.
What you can do
1Find out what is public about you
Search for yourself and look at the sources. See how to find yourself on people-search sites.
2Opt out where you can
Use each site’s opt-out. See how to opt out of people-search websites.
3Ask the source about restrictions
Some records can be sealed, redacted or removed under certain conditions.
4Request records yourself
Sources
- Public.Law: Public record (Criminal Glossary, San Diego Superior Court) (definition of public record)
- MuckRock: What is a public record? (FOIA and state laws, coverage differences, exemption categories, examples)
Frequently asked questions
What is a public record?
A government record that the law presumes open to the public, though what counts depends on the law and the state.
Is everything the government holds public?
No. Records can be withheld or redacted, for example for national security, personal records or trade secrets.
Why does my address appear on people-search sites?
Many such sites collect public records, such as property and court records, and link them to your name.
Can I remove a public record?
Not by opting out of a site. The issuing agency or court controls it, and some records can be sealed or restricted.
Do all states define public records the same way?
No. Each state has its own definition and exemptions.
See if your email has already leaked
- Checks your email against known data breaches
- Shows which sites leaked it, when, and what leaked
- We do not store the email you check
Compare data removal services
See which services work in your country, what they cost, and the free do-it-yourself route.
Compare removal services →Prefer a one-time report first? Scan My Shadow, our sister service, $9.99.