Skip tracing isn't just for bail bondsmen. Real people need to locate someone every day — and the methods matter.
What skip tracing is
Systematic research to locate individuals who don't want to be found. Not magic. Not hacking. Methodical work across databases, records, and networks.
The distinction: A database returns records associated with a name. An investigator confirms which records belong to your subject — and which path leads to them now.
Common real-world scenarios
Skip tracing comes up in situations that aren't as dramatic as TV — but matter just as much:
- Locating a family member who's been estranged
- Attorney tracking a witness for a case
- Business verifying a former employee's credentials
- Estate executor finding beneficiaries
These aren't edge cases. They're the majority of actual skip tracing work — and they're harder than they look.
Why it's harder than it sounds
People who don't want to be found take steps. They use relatives' addresses, limit social media exposure, avoid official records. The layers between you and the answer take real access to unravel.
Outdated records
Database records update slowly. Someone who moved eighteen months ago may still show at the old address across multiple databases simultaneously. A database search returns noise — not signal.
Privacy blocks
Credit header blocks, phone opt-outs, utility data gaps — these aren't database bugs. They're intentional privacy measures that a subject has invoked. An automated system sees the absence of data and moves on. A licensed investigator works around it.
No identity verification
A record attached to "John Smith, born 1974" might be a completely different John Smith. Without cross-referencing multiple data points simultaneously, you can't confirm the record belongs to your subject. You just know a record exists somewhere.
The automated tool finds records associated with a name. The investigator confirms which ones belong to your subject — and which path leads to them now.
Why a licensed investigator
We have database access and industry relationships that go beyond what a Google search returns. We're also trained in the legal boundaries of information gathering — so the results are usable, not just interesting.
There's a difference between finding someone and finding them in a way that holds up. If you're in litigation, serving process, or enforcing a judgment, "I found them on Facebook" doesn't cut it. Cross-referenced, source-documented findings do.
If you've tried to find someone and come up empty, that's not a dead end. It's a sign you need a different approach.
Book a session to discuss your case
Pre-paid. From $75. DCJS-licensed, serving all 50 states.