Public Notices are advertisements ordinarily placed to satisfy legal requirements. The majority are placed by government agencies who are legally required to convey information to the general public.

A local government agency may publish an invitation for bids or proposals on a certain project. A public utility may publish a notice of a rate hearing at which public testimony is invited. Banks must file a notice when opening a new branch. Law enforcement agencies or the IRS may file a notice listing seized property to be sold at auction.

A public notice may be placed by an individual or an attorney in a divorce action to serve as a summons when one of the parties cannot be located, or in an estate action in order to locate heirs who may wish to file claims against the estate. Affidavits, or legal proof of publication, are provided for ads published in this classification.

All Public Notices require special handling and must be placed by mail, fax or in person. Due to the legal nature of these notices, we prefer not to take them over the phone.

Ads that read: "I WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR" . . . are not Public Notices. These advertisements run in Announcements and must be placed in person at the Classified Counter.