It’s easy to think we know everything about our partners. As you become closer to them, you might realize that there are inconsistencies or our instincts tell us they are hiding something. If you think your partner is holding something back from you, running a background check on them can be helpful. It may feel like you are betraying their trust, but if you just can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right in your relationship, there are ways to satisfy those sneaking suspicions.
The simplest way to start is with a background checking website like Unmask.com or something similar. These websites can help you unearth information about your partner’s past, like criminal records or previous relationships. If you’re still not satisfied or you prefer to do your own detective work, the following list will help with your search.
Search Their Name
It is sometimes shocking what information you can find with a simple web search of your partner’s name. Many of us are guilty of putting information on online platforms that we then forget about completely. You can start by searching their full name, and if needed, plug in more relevant information like their location or date of birth to help narrow down your search.fdsfs
Our social media profiles are often telling, even if we don’t realize it. Most of us do not regularly check our profiles for incriminating content from the past, so it’s possible to gain insight about a person from an old post or long-forgotten Twitter profile. Checking who your partner is friends with on social media can also offer up some helpful information.
Check for a Criminal Record
Checking for a criminal background is a risky, but sometimes necessary endeavor. Running a criminal record check on your partner may reveal some hard–to–swallow information.
If you want to run a criminal record check on your partner, you can start by consulting your state’s official website. Most court information is openly available to the public, so if your significant other has had any legal battles, you’ll be able to find out. Misdemeanor and felony convictions will also show up here, as will instances of incarceration.
You can find your state’s official website by doing a web search for your state’s name, plus “criminal records.” If your partner has lived in different states, be sure to search each one. The easiest way to do a comprehensive search for criminal records is to use an online background check site. These sites will often show arrest records and not just convictions.
Check their Financial History
Checking someone’s financial history can be a bit tricky. Legally, you need to have someone’s permission before you can pull up their credit history. It is a federal crime run a credit check without their written permission. If you are comfortable doing so, simply asking your partner to provide you with their credit history can be an excellent way to settle your mind. Or, if your partner gives you the go-ahead, you can request a free report on credit–checking websites.
A background check report will not include specific credit history. Still, it can give you an overall idea of someone’s financial status with tools such as evictions, bankruptcies, liens filed against them, and property tax records.
Check for Past Marriages and Divorces
Checking your partner’s marriage and divorce records can provide useful information such as instances of divorce or whether they have children from a previous marriage. You may even find out that your partner is still married to someone else.
Like criminal records, marriage and divorce records are available to the public through your state’s official website. If your partner is withholding information about a previous marriage or divorce, it will show up in the search. You will need to know which court oversees divorce in your state to perform the search.
There are restrictions on who can access marriage records, in some instances. For states like California, Oregon, and South Dakota, you may have to pay a fee to access your partner’s records.
Things to Consider
Performing a background check on your partner can cause significant trust issues if they find out you went behind their back. Think carefully about why you want to perform the search in the first place. It may be worth it to confront them directly about any information you are seeking to avoid upsetting them. On the flip side, performing a stealthy background check might be a better option if you’re feeling uneasy about your partner’s past.
