Add random/primary_data_sources.md

random/primary_data_sources.md

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+Primary Public Data Source You Leave Behind
+
+
+Purpose  
+Help any adult understand, in one sitting, which first-hand records of their life are already public (or “public-on-request”) and where opposing counsel, an ex-partner, a reporter, or a bored stranger with a dial-up PC can retrieve them.
+
+Structure  
+• One-line definition of the record type  
+• Exact primary source (the first place the data is filed)  
+• Typical public index or lookup tool (how anyone finds it)  
+• Real-world caution note (what people forget)  
+
+----------------------------------------
+
+1. Civil Litigation Filings  
+   – Definition: Anything you or your lawyer file or attach in a lawsuit.  
+   – Primary source: Clerk of Court case file (paper → scanned PDF).  
+   – Public index: PACER (federal), state e-filing portals, or county “Odyssey”/“TrueFiling” dockets.  
+   – Caution: Even sealed settlements often leave the original complaint visible.
+
+2. Criminal Case Dockets & Discovery  
+   – Definition: Charges, plea agreements, evidence lists, body-cam.  
+   – Primary source: District Attorney file + Court Clerk.  
+   – Public index: State court “Portal”, PACER for federal, many counties via “JUSTICE 360” or “CourtView”.  
+   – Caution: Expungement orders do not always purge the arrest blotter photo from police Facebook.
+
+3. Bankruptcy Schedules  
+   – Definition: Every bank account, crypto wallet, firearm, lawsuit, and co-signer you list.  
+   – Primary source: U.S. Bankruptcy Court.  
+   – Public index: PACER; free mirror RECAP.  
+   – Caution: SSN is truncated, but full account numbers often remain.
+
+4. Real-Property Chain-of-Title  
+   – Definition: Deeds, mortgages, liens, HOA covenants, foreclosure notices.  
+   – Primary source: County Recorder / Registrar of Deeds.  
+   – Public index: Recorder’s “Grantor/Grantee” web search; GIS parcel viewer.  
+   – Caution: Transfer-on-death deeds still reveal your heirs’ addresses.
+
+5. UCC & Business Filings  
+   – Definition: Collateral pledged in commercial loans; corporate formation docs.  
+   – Primary source: Secretary of State, Division of Corporations.  
+   – Public index: “Sunbiz” (FL), “SOSDirect” (TX), or national UCC search engines.  
+   – Caution: Even dissolved LLCs retain officer names and signatures forever.
+
+6. Professional & Occupational Licenses  
+   – Definition: Medical, legal, real-estate, contractor, barber, concealed-carry.  
+   – Primary source: State licensing board.  
+   – Public index: Board web portal; some states (CA, TX) provide bulk CSV downloads.  
+   – Caution: Home addresses on original applications can persist even after you update them.
+
+7. Vital Records Indexes  
+   – Definition: Birth, death, marriage, divorce.  
+   – Primary source: State Vital Statistics Office or Family Court Clerk.  
+   – Public index: “Index-only” lists (names, dates, counties) are FOIA-able in many states. Full certificates require ID.  
+   – Caution: Divorce “asset schedules” are often unsealed.
+
+8. Voter Registrations & Histories  
+   – Definition: Address, party affiliation, turnout history.  
+   – Primary source: County Board of Elections.  
+   – Public index: State voter file sold for <$50; some counties post searchable maps.  
+   – Caution: Change-of-address cards update driver’s license and voter roll simultaneously.
+
+9. Campaign & Lobbying Disclosures  
+   – Definition: Donations >$200, employer, occupation, lobbyist client lists.  
+   – Primary source: FEC (federal), state ethics commission.  
+   – Public index: FEC.gov “Individual Contributor Search”, OpenSecrets.org mirror.  
+   – Caution: Refunds or re-designations still leave the original line item.
+
+10. Tax Liens, Judgments, Wage Garnishments  
+    – Definition: IRS, state, or local tax debt plus court-ordered money judgments.  
+    – Primary source: IRS Centralized Lien Unit or County Clerk.  
+    – Public index: IRS “Automated Lien System” (ALSO) bulk data; county lien books.  
+    – Caution: Withdrawn liens stay in the index with a “withdrawn” flag.
+
+11. Driving & Vehicle Records  
+    – Definition: License status, crashes, DUIs, vehicle ownership.  
+    – Primary source: DMV abstracts.  
+    – Public index: “DPPA-permitted” lookup services (insurers, PI’s) for $5–$15.  
+    – Caution: Plate readers in parking lots feed open-data dashboards in some cities.
+
+12. Civil Protection / Restraining Orders  
+    – Definition: Petitions alleging abuse, stalking, or harassment.  
+    – Primary source: Family Court Clerk.  
+    – Public index: State protection-order registry; many counties show docket online.  
+    – Caution: Even temporary orders remain searchable after dismissal.
+
+13. Domain Name Registrations  
+    – Definition: Your name, address, phone, email tied to a domain.  
+    – Primary source: Registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap).  
+    – Public index: ICANN “WHOIS” (unless privacy-shielded).  
+    – Caution: Historical WHOIS snapshots (DomainTools) survive privacy add-ons.
+
+14. Social-Media Public Posts & Live Streams  
+    – Definition: Tweets, TikToks, YouTube uploads set to “public”.  
+    – Primary source: Your account.  
+    – Public index: Platform search, Google cache, Internet Archive Wayback Machine.  
+    – Caution: Screenshots circulate long after deletion.
+
+15. Public-Records Requests You Make  
+    – Definition: Emails, letters, or forms asking a government agency for documents.  
+    – Primary source: Agency FOIA/FOIL log.  
+    – Public index: Many agencies publish requester names & topics quarterly.  
+    – Caution: The request itself can reveal litigation strategy.
+
+16. Government Research & Open-Data Releases  
+    – Definition: Survey answers, grant applications, agency datasets.  
+    – Primary source: Agency collecting the data.  
+    – Public index: Data.gov, local open-data portals, ICPSR archives.  
+    – Caution: “De-identified” datasets can sometimes be re-identified with auxiliary data.
+
+----------------------------------------
+
+Usage Cheat-Sheet  
+1. Pick any row.  
+2. Visit the “Public index” URL.  
+3. Search your own name exactly as it appears on official IDs (nicknames, maiden, middle initial).  
+4. Note what you find; decide whether to seal, redact, or accept the exposure.
+
+End of document