Is everything public record?

[danaf]

My sister in law 'fake sold' her house to her sister in law earlier this year. Her sil lives in Germany with her military husband.

At the time, I didn't really pay much attention but now knowing what I do - it seems to me the only reason she would do this is to avoid a suit, avoid taxes, or she plans on filing bk. At the time this was going on, her Mom told me it was just temporary. I was busy with my own life and didn't pay attention to the details. She doesn't work (never has - the house was the product of her prior marriage) - has 2 kids and lives off her boyfriend and the money her mom gives her.

I am just so curious. I hate to admit it. Is there a way to find out why she did this without asking. Would there be public records of a suit or of her filing bk?

[HHM]

Unless you want to pay for or subscribe to one of those "background check" websites...it may be difficult to do the leg work on your own.

For BK there is PACER, but you would need to know which district she filed in before searching.
Family law cases are typically not public record. Depending on how web-savy the court is, you might be able to find out if she was involved in a family law case, but you would not see any documents.
For regular civil courts, you might be able to find out if a case was filed (assuming you already knew which court she might have been sued in), but usually you cannot access the documents.