How to search a name in public records?

I am trying to find information on someone because of something that took place in the 1970's. Unfortunately all i have is a first and a last name, a city and a state (however i do not know the actual city in which the person lived). I have been trying to search online public records but i have had no luck thus far. Any advice or suggestions?How to search a name in public records?
Most public records are not searchable "on the web" for the time period you are asking. Depending upon what you are looking for, you may or may not be able to find the info online via the Internet.



Since you don't state what sort of "public record" you are seeking, I can't think of ways you may be able to find the type of information you seek.



Here are some guesses of mine of what you may be looking for:

* involvement in a criminal activity, a criminal court case, a conviction and sentencing in a court case

* a birth, a christening/religious naming ceremony, a wedding, a death

* a serious accident causing the person in question to be taken to the hospital and needing a long recovery or a serious accident resulting in the death of the person

* someone's kindergarten report card

* college graduation and degree information

* an FBI file on a person's domestic political activities

* a CIA file on a foreign agent's spy activities



In other words, what sort of "public record" do you seek? If you add the city and state you know of, that will help in directing you to possible good sources too. Without those key components, any direction will be just guesses. You can add that info to your question as "Additional Details."



Best wishesHow to search a name in public records?
With the exception of the people on the state lists for sex offenders, under "Megan's Law", and some spotty other places, about all you'll find on-line for free are birth, marriage and death dates and places, and those for people who have been dead for 0 - 400 years.



Ancestry.com has a trove of newspapers, for subscribers. Google has some too, for free, but not as many.



Court documents - details of Smith vs. Jones on the matter of a loan that wasn't paid back - may be "public", but that just means you can buy a copy. Some court records are "private" or "sealed", which means no one can buy a copy. They aren't on-line, again with rare exception.



I have one suggestion - be as specific as you can without giving away embarrassing facts about living people. Beloit? Biloxi? Bigamy? Bank robbery?