The deep end · Step 12 of 13

Public records

Government records like property records and voter lists can show where you live, and doxers use them.¹ This step explains which records do, what you can change, and what you can't.

Why opting out isn't enough

Property and court records and voter registration lists are common sources of the information doxers share.¹ People-search sites also collect from federal, state, and local public records, like property, driving, voter, and criminal records.²

That means opting out of people-search sites, which Step 6 covered, has a limit. Opting out doesn't delete your information from public records.² And if your public records change, your information could appear on those sites again.²

Records that often include your address

• Property records. When you buy a home, the deed is recorded with your county. In Wake County, North Carolina, for example, deeds must include the buyer's address, and the county puts its records online as public record.³
• Voter registration records. Voter lists are government records that are often covered by public records laws.⁵ Names and addresses are commonly released. Who can get a list, and how they may use it, depends on the state.⁵
• Court records. In federal courts, the public can view most filings through an online system called PACER.⁶ Federal rules require people who file to remove certain personal details, including home addresses in criminal cases.⁶
• Business filings. If you register a business, the forms you file with your state can become public. California's Secretary of State, for example, says that when you file documents with it, you are making a public record.⁷

What can and can't change

Some of these records can't be changed or removed. Washoe County, Nevada, says its official records "can never be modified or removed from public access."⁴ Wake County says recorded documents can't be pulled from public view on request.³

Some offices will remove certain sensitive numbers. California's Secretary of State will redact a Social Security number from certain filings. But it says other personal information generally has to stay in the public record unless a specific law protects it.⁷

You have more control over what you file from now on. The same office says personal information that the law doesn't require should not be included in a filing.⁷ That is a good habit for any government form: fill in what is required, and nothing extra.

Programs that shield some records

Some states let certain people keep some records private. Address confidentiality programs let survivors of crimes like stalking use a substitute address with public agencies.⁸ They are meant to keep a person's real address from being found through public records.⁸ Not every state has one.⁸

For voter lists, some states keep the information of people in these programs private. Some also protect other groups, such as law enforcement officers, judges, and certain medical professionals.⁵

This site does not give legal advice. We can't tell you whether a law applies to you or what you should do about it. A licensed lawyer in your state can.

To find official programs and resources where you live, see resources by state. If you want to know whether other legal options fit your situation, ask a licensed lawyer in your state.

What to do

1. List the records that might show your address: your home's deed and property tax record, your voter registration, any court cases you were part of, and any business you registered.
2. Look each one up the way a stranger would. Start with your county's property records website and your state's business search.
3. Write down which records show your home address. Keep this list with the notes from Step 3.
4. For anything you file from now on, include only what is required. Where a mailing address is allowed, use it. Step 11 covers mailing addresses.
5. If you think you may qualify for an address confidentiality program or another protection, check resources by state and contact the program directly.
6. Your information may come back on people-search sites when your records change.² Step 13 covers checking again.

Last checked: November 8, 2026