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Civil Court Background Checks

Know about liability risks upfront

A criminal background check will show if a person has been convicted of a crime. A civil background check will show if the person has had any civil action against them and if they have had to pay financial restitution due to this civil action.

What Are Civil Court Background Checks?

When you get a criminal background check, you are getting information about crimes against the state. These include things like felonies, misdemeanors, and any criminal case that is pending. However, a civil background check will show cases that were brought to court by individuals who feel they were victimized or wronged by the defendant.

A criminal case ends up with jail time or fines. With a civil case, financial penalties, fines, and judge's orders may be applied. With a criminal case, the burden of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt. With a civil case, it is the preponderance of the evidence. 

There have been several famous criminal cases where the accused person is found not guilty but also found financially responsible when they are tried in criminal court. The person may not get sent to jail, but they may have to pay a massive financial settlement.

A criminal background check will show if a person has been convicted of a crime. A civil background check will show if the person has had any civil action against them and if they have had to pay financial restitution due to this civil action.

 

What Information Will You See on a Civil Background Check?

You can do civil background checks on federal, state, or local levels. Cases are typically divided between lower courts and upper courts based on the value of the claim.

If a claim is under $5,000, it is typically handled by lower courts. If the claim is over $5,000, it will be handled by upper courts. You can uncover both of these types of claims with a civil background check.

A civil background check will uncover claims that have to do with eviction notices, car accidents, discrimination, personal injury, customer rights, product liability, and nonpayment for goods. Additionally, you can see child support issues, divorce, child support issues, estate disputes, and other family law matters on a civil background check.

Federal civil records will disclose civil rights issues, tax disputes, issues involving interstate commerce, government regulations, and financial institutions. Bankruptcies filed by candidates will also show up on a civil background check since bankruptcy court is a civil court. Whether it is at the local or federal level, civil background checks will show if an individual was a plaintiff or a defendant in a civil case.

Ensure your candidate isn't involved in ongoing litigation.

With results in under 72 hours, this $20 add-on service is a must-have.

What are the Benefits of Civil Court Background Checks for a Business?

Civil background checks must comply with the Fair Credit Report Act (FCRA). This is an aspect of federal law that ensures that customer's information is treated securely, that information is accurate, and that information is provided and used fairly. Some business owners think that the FCRA solely applies to credit reports. However, if your company is doing background screening using a third-party vendor, FCRA guidelines must be adhered to.

This includes letting the candidate know that you are going to do a background check on them. It would help if you let them know how the results might impact hiring or retention decisions. The candidate must give written consent. The candidate must have the opportunity to review the report and contest possible errors.

Civil background checks are a vital part of the hiring process. They provide a different type of insight into your potential employees. The information garnered could be used to gain insight into your employees' behaviors, values, and judgments. This type of information is essential if you are looking to hire someone for a management position or a financial responsibility.

For example, if a civil background check reveals that a candidate has hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax liens, they may not be the person you want to have in charge of your business account. Additionally, if you find that a candidate was sued by a previous employer and accused of stealing company secrets, you likely would not want to hire that individual, and you would not include them as part of your executive team.

You should do a civil background check before contracting a potential hire. However, over the course of an employee’s life, their circumstances might change. Although you strive to know what is going on with your employees, they may hide information that could negatively impact their job performances or your organization’s reputation. Depending on your organization's needs, you may wish to run civil background checks multiple times throughout the work life of an employee.

   

Why Choose eKnowID for Your Civil Court Background Check Needs

eKnowID has built a reputation for providing reliable background checks. This is why employers around the world trust them.

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Thanks to their years in the field, eKnowID understands that employers want peace of mind. They want to know that everyone they hire is trustworthy and reliable. A background check by eKnowID eliminates the guesswork. It helps you and your partners know that you are building the right team while at the same time avoiding risks that could put your company and its reputation in jeopardy.

eKnowID uses innovative technology, is a trusted source for background checks, and offers clients a money-back guarantee. eKnowID takes the approach that making the right hiring decision is easier if you know who you are hiring. The group has made the process simple. Once you go through the sign-up process, a member of eKnowID will reach out to you personally. They will walk you through the steps needed to get the background check. Once the background check is complete, you will have access to the reports and will be informed of any additional steps you might need to take.

The hiring process is challenging. Restrictions caused by the pandemic minimize the amount of face-to-face contact you may have with a new hire. Getting a civil court background check can help give you a full picture of a candidate, ensuring they are the right fit for your organization.