FAQS - Public Notices

A public notice is a legally-required announcement. There are three basic types of public notices:

• Citizen Participation Notices allow the public the time and opportunity to respond to proposed government action. These notices also fulfill the requirement of "due process of law" found in Federal and State constitutions. Such notices include notices of public hearings, intentions to create new taxation or benefit zones, and publication of local budgets.
• Business and Commerce Notices are related to government contracts and purchases. Such notices verify that the government is following the principles of equal opportunity and allow the public to verify that the government is not misusing taxpayers' money.
• Court Notices are prepared by non-governmental bodies. Notices to creditors, and claims on deceased's estates serve as notification to the public and allow time to respond, object or assert a claim. Public notices requesting service by publication serves notice to the public of pending lawsuits where one or more party is unable to be contacted by mail or other methods. Public notices announcing the auction of foreclosed property by the sheriff provide notice to the public that real property is being sold at public auction and is available for purchase by any interested, qualified party.

America's founders determined long ago that the public must have access to information concerning government activities and civil proceedings. Legal notices are published in newspapers to ensure this access and to safeguard the public's right to know.

Newspapers are effective instruments because they function as a neutral third party and are objective in their publishing of legal notices. Notices published in newspapers are accessible by all segments of society, and they are easily archived for public record, confirming that notice was given. With an archived print notice, there is no question as to what information was given to the public; a printed notice cannot be deleted and replaced with a modified version.

There are many listings in The Daily Reporter that are not under the "public notice" heading. What are these?

These listings consist of information that is public record, but the information does not necessarily come from, nor pertain to the courts as do public notices. Marriage licenses, real estate transfers, building permits, new corporations and even abstracts of lawsuits filed fall into the category of listings of public record.

The listings of public record are published as a service to the community because the provide details of transactions that can be essential to the daily workings of businesses and individuals who need to be aware of what is happening in the community: Who is going out of business, who is starting a new business that might compete with theirs, what new households might need their services - the information is as varied as its potential uses.

For its subscribers, The Daily Reporter even can send searchable, sortable databases of requested categories via e-mail. For information, contact the newspaper's circulation department at circulation@sourcenews.com or (614) 228-NEWS (6397).