How to Opt Out of PublicRecordsNow (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)

PublicRecordsNow is a court records and public document aggregator that compiles criminal records, civil case information, property records, and other government-sourced data into searchable profiles. Unlike people-search sites that focus on contact information, PublicRecordsNow leans heavily toward legal and financial record aggregation. This makes it a particular concern for anyone with past legal involvement — even dismissed charges or resolved civil matters — who wants to minimize exposure of that history.

What PublicRecordsNow Shows About You

PublicRecordsNow focuses on document-type records rather than lifestyle data. A typical PublicRecordsNow report contains:

• Full name and age
• Current and past addresses
• Criminal records — arrests, charges, dispositions
• Sex offender registry status
• Civil court records — lawsuits, judgments, small claims
• Bankruptcies and financial judgments
• Property records — ownership, tax assessments
• Voter registration data
• Marriage and divorce records
• Business registrations — companies you own or are listed as an officer
• Liens — tax liens, mechanic's liens, contractor claims

The depth of court record aggregation is greater at PublicRecordsNow than at general people-search sites. Sites like Spokeo may show a single criminal record summary, while PublicRecordsNow may show the original case filing, charge descriptions, case numbers, and disposition records.

Why Court Record Aggregators Are a Distinct Privacy Problem

Court records are public documents. When a court files a criminal case, civil suit, or other legal document, that filing becomes part of the public record — accessible to anyone who visits the courthouse or, increasingly, through online court portals. Data brokers like PublicRecordsNow index these public court portals and create searchable databases.

This creates several issues that go beyond the general people-search problem:

Dismissed and expunged charges: Many state expungement orders only require deletion from state law enforcement databases — they do not compel private data brokers to remove records. PublicRecordsNow may continue displaying an expunged record because the original court filing was public before the expungement.

Old civil disputes: A small claims court case from 10 years ago, a neighborly dispute, or a resolved landlord-tenant disagreement may be permanently visible on PublicRecordsNow even though the matter was fully resolved.

Out-of-context records: Court records displayed without context — the charge was reduced, the case was dismissed, the judgment was satisfied — can misrepresent a person's actual legal history.

How to Opt Out of PublicRecordsNow: Step-by-Step

PublicRecordsNow provides an opt-out mechanism. The process is email-based.

Step 1: Search for your profile

Go to publicrecordsnow.com and search for your name. Include your state to narrow results.

Step 2: Navigate to the opt-out page

Look for the "Do Not Sell My Info" or privacy/opt-out link in the site footer. PublicRecordsNow's opt-out page URL has changed over time — check the footer for the current link.

Step 3: Search for and select your record

Enter your name and state in the opt-out form. Select the record(s) corresponding to you.

Step 4: Enter your email address

Provide an email address for verification.

Step 5: Verify and submit

Click the verification link in the confirmation email. Processing time is typically 3–7 business days.

Alternative: Email opt-out

Email support@publicrecordsnow.com with your full name, date of birth, current city and state, and a request for profile removal under applicable privacy law. Include links to any specific records you want removed.

Addressing the Underlying Court Record Problem

Removing your PublicRecordsNow profile addresses the aggregator but not the underlying court records. The same records exist on:

• The court's own website (many state and federal courts have public case search tools)
• PACER (federal court records)
• Other data broker aggregators (BeenVerified, TruthFinder, PeopleFinders, ArrestFacts)

For expunged or sealed records, the proper remedy is:

1. Submit the expungement order to the court's public records manager with a request to restrict online access
2. Submit opt-out requests to each data broker displaying the record
3. For records appearing on Google via court websites, request removal via Google's outdated content removal tool after the court record is sealed

For dismissed charges that were never expunged, expungement petition is the legal path to permanent removal from court databases — and a necessary prerequisite to getting data brokers to comply with removal requests for those specific records.

Public Records vs. Data Broker: What's the Difference?

PublicRecordsNow occupies a gray zone between "public records database" and "data broker" — and understanding that distinction matters for knowing what legal protections you actually have.

True public records are government documents: court filings, property deeds, voter registration rolls, business licenses, marriage certificates. They are produced by government agencies and are legally accessible to any member of the public. Any person can walk into a county courthouse and request a copy of a property deed or a court filing. This public accessibility is intentional — it supports government transparency and accountability.

Data brokers aggregate, organize, cross-reference, and resell this information at scale, turning individual accessible-but-obscure documents into instantly searchable profiles. The FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) regulates specific uses of aggregated consumer data — credit decisions, employment screening, housing applications — but it does not restrict the general publication or sale of aggregated public records for informational purposes.

This is the legal gray zone that sites like PublicRecordsNow operate in. They are not selling credit reports, so FCRA does not cover most of their activity. They are aggregating government documents, so copyright claims do not restrict the underlying data. When you opt out of PublicRecordsNow, you are exercising their voluntary privacy policy commitment — not a statutory right enforceable under federal law in most states. The exceptions are California (CCPA/CPRA), Colorado (CPA), Virginia (VCDPA), Texas (TDPSA), and a growing list of states with comprehensive privacy laws that give residents explicit deletion rights regardless of the broker's voluntary policy.

PublicRecordsNow vs. Other Court Record Aggregators

If you have any past court involvement — even minor, resolved, or dismissed — prioritize all five of these court-record-focused aggregators alongside the general people-search sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does removing my PublicRecordsNow profile remove me from court records?

No. PublicRecordsNow displays copies of public court records. The opt-out removes your PublicRecordsNow profile from public search results, but the original court records remain in the court's database and are still accessible through the court directly.

My charge was dismissed. Why does PublicRecordsNow still show it?

Dismissed charges remain in court records as public documents. The dismissal creates an additional entry in the court's database, but the original arrest or filing record typically remains visible. The only way to remove dismissed charges from court databases is through expungement, which requires a court order in most states.

Can I opt out of PublicRecordsNow if I'm currently involved in a legal proceeding?

Yes. The opt-out removes your profile from PublicRecordsNow's public search results and does not affect ongoing legal proceedings or access by parties to the litigation. Courts, attorneys, and authorized parties can still access court records directly through the court's own database.

How long does PublicRecordsNow take to process a removal?

PublicRecordsNow typically processes removals in 3–7 business days. If your profile is still visible after 10 business days, follow up with the email opt-out method.

Will removing my PublicRecordsNow profile help with employment background checks?

Partially. FCRA-compliant background check companies used for employment decisions typically pull directly from court databases, not from consumer data broker sites like PublicRecordsNow. Removing yourself from PublicRecordsNow reduces your visibility to informal lookups but may not affect formal employment background checks.

Can I get my court records removed from PublicRecordsNow if I was found not guilty?

PublicRecordsNow shows publicly filed records regardless of outcome. A "not guilty" verdict does not automatically remove the arrest filing or the original charge record from their index — it adds a disposition entry, but the underlying record remains. You can request removal through their opt-out process and explicitly cite the not-guilty verdict in your request. Additionally, if your state allows expungement or record sealing for dismissed or acquitted cases, pursuing that legal remedy removes the underlying court record. Once a court grants expungement and restricts online access, PublicRecordsNow should reflect the change on their next data refresh — though this can take 30–90 days after the court order is entered.

OfflistMe covers 500+ data brokers with a one-time fee of $7.00. No subscription, no recurring charges. Start your removal here.

Related Guides

• How to Remove Arrest Records and Mugshots from the Internet
• How to Opt Out of ArrestFacts
• What Shows Up on a Background Check?
• Complete Data Broker Opt-Out Guide
• How to Request Data Removal Without Risk