How to Conduct a Collin County Background Check

Michelle Wilson - October 9, 2023

Background checks can help people gather critical information about someone’s past in virtually every area of their life. These details often include criminal history, personal verification, credit history, and professional verifications. Users can choose to perform the background check independently, or they can use a platform specializing in such services. Although manually searching through records is free, it’s often time-consuming and missing critical pieces of data. 

How to Perform a Free Background Check in Collin County

Collin County offers various search options for individuals wanting to perform their background check. Search options vary according to requirement but include an online judicial search, case search, or case record inquiry. Anyone wishing to retrieve archived case records can request the historical records in person or in writing. 

Search Options Available on the Collin County Website

When building a background check, you must consider the various search options. The Collin County website segregates the search options by: 

Case Search

Using the case search function is helpful for anyone wanting to pull specific records through the archive. Case data is possible with the following details:

– Any active cases within the County Court of Law or Collin County District. These records will include Justice and Probate Courts. 

– Any historical cases between 1984 and now

– Any historical criminal cases between 2000 and today

Online Judicial Search

An online judicial search offers a standard search engine for anyone wanting to evaluate court cases online. The platform includes past or present court cases with varying degrees of severity. Users can search through traffic tickets, felonies, divorces, or civil cases. Search options allow name, citation number, or case details. Finally, the online judicial search offers current inmates, including mug shots and bond amounts. 

Case Record Inquiry

The case record inquiry service allows individuals to search for and view specific details for all case types. Any case can only be viewed individually, and users must select the case type from the drop-down menu before searching. Anyone interested in a case record inquiry can find the following cases:

– Any active case in County Court at Law or Collin County District. These records will include any Probate or Justice courts. 

– Any historical cases held in either County Court of Law or District Court between 1984 and today

– Historical cases before 2009 in Justice Courts

– Any probate cases between 1984 and today

– Historical cases between 2000 and today in County Court at Law

– Historical cases between 1988 and today in the District Courts

Historical Cases Inquiry

If the court case you’re looking for doesn’t appear in the online results, you can manually request a copy of the records in writing. Alternatively, you can visit any clerk’s office to request these details. Historical case searches must have occurred between 1800 and 1987 for those occurrences in District Courts. Likewise, historical case inquiries for County Court at Law must occur between 1800, and anyone can request a historical case record that’s not available online.

The request must be in writing or in person at the clerk’s office. Historical case searches requiring a manual lookup include:

– Historical criminal cases through District Courts between 1800 and 1987

– Historical criminal cases through County Court at Law Courts anytime between 1800 and 1999

– A historical Civil Case before 1984

– A historical Justice Court case held before 1984

Performing the Search Using the Collin County Website

Before searching online, consider the court case you’re trying to find. Compare the known information with the above search option to choose which will likely pull results. To select your search option, click on the hyperlink. 

What Details Show on a Collin County Background Check?

The details will vary according to the platform if you’re using a third-party website to perform the background check. The contents of a background screening will likely include the criminal history, credit report, personal identity verification, and professional evaluations. While online reports are more accurate than manual search options, evaluating the report carefully is crucial. Always report inaccurate or missing information to the reporting agent. 

Professional Verification and Review

A background check will verify and confirm all professional qualifications when a report generates. These details may include any education and employment verification. An employment verification will list any prior employers, titles, and dates. Likewise, the education review will confirm any post-secondary education, the attending school, dates attended, and any degrees or certifications received. 

Credit History

The credit history may not always appear on a background check, but isn’t damaging to your score or report. Credit reporting will include current financial accounts, judgments, liens, collection activity, and bankruptcies. 

Criminal History

A background check will always highlight any previous criminal history available. If an individual holds a record, these details are displayed in the report, along with verifying information related to the crime. Such elements include the criminal charge, case number, convictions or charges, sentencing details, and disposition information. 

Verifying Personal Identity

Confirming someone’s identity is a vital portion of the online background check. Personal verification might include:

• The Social Security number verification.
• Current mailing address.
• Date of birth.
• Previous names.
• Any aliases attached to the identification. 

Motor Vehicle Records

A motor vehicle record will detail pertinent information about an individual’s driving history. Details may include the driver’s license number, expiration dates, class details, previous infractions on the file, and any violations. These details have the driver’s license number, issuance date, expiration, sanctions, class details, and any previous violations.

How to Perform a Collin County Background Check

Unless you’re performing an individual background check, obtaining consent before running a background check is always a good idea. The FCRA requires anyone performing a background check to receive written authorization before beginning the report. 

Decide on Your Background Check

Although many search options are available for a background check, not every opportunity is the same for accuracy. Manual screening is a cost-effective option, but it isn’t easy to confirm details or results without proper database access. Using a background check website offers a comprehensive search option but typically charges a fee for the service. 

Review the Information

Once you receive the background report, carefully review the results. Look for any discrepancies in the document, particularly areas with potential overlap. Criminal history and credit reporting are two areas that may have crossing information with another person, particularly if you have a common name. If you notice any issues, contact the reporting company promptly. 

Conclusion

Overall, there are two standard methods of building a background report in Collin County. Users can manually search through records and databases to compile the information independently or use an automated third-party website. The third-party platform often has access to thousands of databases and public records, making the report streamlined. While each method has clear benefits and drawbacks, choosing the best option for your background check needs is critical.