The public records can help any practitioner when it comes to finding witnesses. The best place to start, if all you have is a name, is the New York Department of Motor Vehicles computer. This statewide list can be used with just a first and last name, though the cost is reduced if you have a middle initial and/or a date of birth. Be sure to check the automobile registrations as they are updated more frequently than the driver's licenses. If the person has moved to another state, their New York license printout may indicate to which state and the date of transfer. You could then access that state's motor vehicles department for a current location. One note: it is a national trend to tighten up on the access to drivers address information.

Several states tax individuals on their personality such as cars, boats, etc. These states maintain lists, often called "grand lists", by town with all the residents whose property is taxed. This allows you to find someone who is renting an apartment and who has an unlisted phone.

Real property tax assessment rolls are often indexed alphabetically. This will allow you to check to see if a person is paying taxes on real estate in a given county or town. The tax assessor's information may also contain another address where the tax bill is sent. Be sure to ask for this additional data.

If the person you are looking for has been involved in any litigation, the case file should be reviewed. This means checking the name in the litigation index in the counties of former residence and, if possible, employment. Second addresses may show up in affidavits of service or in deposition transcripts.

Uncovering Fraud

Law firms are often called upon to investigate suspected employee theft, embezzlement etc. for their clients. Public records may disclose that an employee is living way over his head or is involved in heavy debt problems. Check the employee in the real property, UCC, grand list and motor vehicle indexes. If large recent purchases are found - too large to be accounted for with a stated salary - this may prove an indication of another income source. Be sure to cover the Surrogate's Court to rule out any inheritance. An employees wife's maiden name check would help as the inheritance may be from her side.

For employees with suspected heavy debt burdens, check judgments, Federal Tax Liens and litigation [as a defendant ]. If he or she owns property, check mechanics liens and lis pendens. Oftentimes, it is a new employee with whom the problem occurs. Check the employee's job application file and obtain the names of any previous employment. Check the company in all the aforementioned indices. Also, be sure to check the corporate, partnership or business records for that company to see just what his interest was.