Know every fee before you order
Some courts and state agencies charge a fee to access their records. When a search touches one of those jurisdictions, Sure Check passes the fee through at cost with no markup. Here is every fee, so you always know what to expect.
No markup, ever
Court and state fees are billed exactly as the court or agency charges them.
Most counties are free
The large majority of U.S. counties charge no access fee. Only the counties listed below do.
Shown on your invoice
Every fee appears as its own line item, so you can see exactly where it came from.
Look up a fee
Search by state or county. Fees are per name, per county or jurisdiction searched. A fee only applies when your candidate’s history includes that jurisdiction.
How these fees work
A quick guide to what you will see on your invoice.
County court fees
Our county criminal searches cover every county where your candidate has lived. If one of those counties charges an access fee, that fee is added at cost. Some courts also charge per year searched, so we note the standard search scope next to those counties.
Statewide searches
Some states run a central criminal repository. Each statewide search has a search price plus the state’s own fee. The state fee is passed through at cost, with no markup.
Driving records (MVR)
Every state DMV charges a fee to release a driving record. The fee depends on the state that issued the driver’s license, not where the candidate lives today.
Per name, per jurisdiction
Each fee is charged once per name for each county or jurisdiction searched. If a candidate has lived in two counties that charge a fee, both fees apply.
Frequently asked questions
Still have a question? Our team is happy to help.
Why do some courts charge a fee?
Each court and state agency sets its own rules for public record access. Some charge a fee for every name searched to cover their costs. These fees are set by the government, not by Sure Check, and every screening company pays the same amount.
Does Sure Check add a markup to these fees?
No. Court and state fees are passed through at exactly the amount the court or agency charges.
How do I know which fees will apply to my candidate?
It depends on where your candidate has lived. Our address history search finds every county tied to the candidate, and we search each one. If any of those counties are on this list, the fee applies. If you place an order manually, the portal shows the total before you submit.
My county isn’t listed. Is there a fee?
No. If a county isn’t on this list, it doesn’t charge an access fee.
Can court fees be refunded?
Court fees are collected by the court as soon as the search is submitted, so they can’t be refunded once an order is placed.
Why are New York fees higher?
Several New York counties, including the five New York City boroughs, require record searches to go through the New York State Office of Court Administration, which charges its own fee for every name searched. Every screening company pays this same fee.
Questions about a fee?
Call us at 866-949-5250 or email info@surecheckbackground.com.