An AKA search is a search that can automatically be ordered if additional alias names are entered when a report is ordered. AKAs are specified right after the package or individual searches are chosen, assuming that you have enabled AKAs to be ordered by that client. AKAs can be ordered for the following search types: County Criminal, County Civil, Federal Criminal, Federal Civil, Statewide Criminal, Instant Criminal, Sex Offender, Bankruptcy, and Workers Compensation.

You can choose which clients and which client types are allowed to order AKAs, and you can configure it separately for individual searches and packages. The process is nearly the same for both. When you configure settings for a client type, it affects all clients of that type. Client Type settings can be overridden at the client level by enabling Override Client Type Ordering Options, under the clients Ordering Options tab.

To enable or disable AKAs for a client type:

1. Navigate to client type or specific client -> Ordering Options.

2. Here you will see the settings that control whether or not the client type can order additional names for both single-search orders and packages. Check or uncheck the options to enable or disable the adding of AKAs.

3. If you choose to allow AKAs for packages (the second option highlighted in yellow above), then you can also determine whether the system charges extra for the AKA searches. Add AKAs for free: The system will not charge extra for the searches of AKAs, though any court fees for the extra names will be charged. Add AKAs at normal price: The system will charge for each AKA at the regular a la carte price for the search type.

4. There is one additional setting that affects AKAs for the client type - whether or not the SSN Trace / Past Address History tool auto-populates AKAs or not. You will see this option as "Ability to populate searches via Past Address History tool" (you may have renamed the search). If you check this box and a SSN trace is ordered, they will be presented with a screen that allows them to choose whether or not to include AKAs from the trace.

If you do not check this option, then once the applicant contact info is entered for an order, the system moves right on to the ordering process. It auto-populates all possible counties from the trace, but it does not populate any AKAs.

5. Save your changes by clicking the Update Client Type Settings button.

Whether a client orders searches, or whether you order them on behalf of a client through the administrator module, the process of adding AKAs to an order is the same.

Once you have chosen the order contents (either individual searches or a package), the next screen will be the Client Report Ordering page where the applicant's information is entered. Under the Additional Names section, there is a link to "Add a name" where you can add up to three AKAs - providing fields for the first, middle, and last name for each AKA. AKAs can also be removed by using the Remove Additional Name link under the AKA.

As you continue through the process of placing the order, many of the requested search types will be repeated for each AKA. However, AKAs can be individually removed if desired.

If the client has the "ability to add profile names" option enabled in their Ordering Options, the client will have the "Additional Names to Search" option on the ordering screen:

If the client has the "ability to auto populate alias names," and if the SSN address history retrieves any additional aliases, they are automatically displayed for the client to review here:

The ability for the client to remove aliases is also found under Ordering Options, labeled "Restrict Auto Population Modifications:"

If there are no restrictions on the account, the client will also be able to choose which search types to order the AKA name(s) on:

The alias option for certain search types can be configured at the Client Type level (under Search Options) and/or at the package level. The applicable search types pre-determined by deverus will have an "Include Alias Names" option in both of these places. You must choose if you want the AKA option set to No for any search type or package in which the AKA option has been made available.

Client Type -> Search Options:

Package Settings:

Middle names do not impact AKAs. Two versions of the same name, with only a middle initial or middle name variance, would not populate separately.

Each AKA ordered will be listed on the report level with a link to "cancel associated searches.” This will remove the AKA from the report profile and cancel all searches associated with that AKA on the report. After clicking this link, the system will give the user the option to enter notes, and select whether or not the searches are to be invoiced. The "cancel associated searches" process does not prompt the user to change the price, as this is for multiple searches/search types.