What is a public record reported on your credit?

I am not positive EXACTLY what it means but it is definitely NOT good. It is something along the lines of the possiblilty that there had previously been a lean against your home, filed bankruptcy, were taken to collections for late payments or being sued for not paying you bills. Like I said, I am not positive on the exact meaning, but it means something like that you have done and has become public record within the "system".