Skip Tracing and Asset Discovery: Finding Hidden Debtors and Assets
When debtors disappear or hide assets, standard collection methods fail. Skip tracing—the art and science of locating people and assets—becomes essential. This comprehensive guide covers professional techniques for finding debtors and uncovering hidden assets to maximize debt recovery.
Understanding Skip Tracing
What Is Skip Tracing?
Skip tracing is the process of locating a person who has:
Moved without providing forwarding address
Disconnected known contact methods
Deliberately hidden to avoid debt
Changed business locations
Failed to update contact information
**Etymology:** "Skip" refers to someone who has "skipped town" to avoid obligations.
When It's Necessary
Skip tracing becomes critical when:
Mail returns as undeliverable
Phone numbers are disconnected
Email bounces back
Business location is empty
Debtor cannot be personally served
Known addresses are outdated
Legal Framework
Permissible Use
Skip tracing is legal for:
Debt collection purposes
Legal process service
Judgment enforcement
Commercial transactions
Background verification
Fraud investigation
Regulatory Compliance
Must comply with:
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
State privacy laws
Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
Restrictions
Cannot:
Misrepresent identity or purpose (pretext calls prohibited)
Access protected information illegally
Use information for purposes beyond collection
Violate privacy rights
Harass third parties during search
Basic Skip Tracing Techniques
Public Records Search
County Records:
Property deeds and tax records
Marriage and divorce records
Business registrations
Court filings and judgments
Vehicle registrations
Professional licenses
State Records:
Corporate filings (Secretary of State)
Professional licensing boards
Motor vehicle records
Voter registration
UCC filings
Federal Resources:
Bankruptcy filings (PACER)
Federal court records
Social Security Death Index
Postal Service forwarding addresses
Online Databases
Public Search Engines:
Google (with advanced operators)
Bing and other search engines
Social media platforms
Professional networks (LinkedIn)
Business directories
Specialized Databases:
LexisNexis Accurint
TLO (Trans Union Online)
CL
EAR
Equifax Locate
Experian Skip Tracing
Social Media Investigation
Platforms to Check:
Facebook (personal connections)
LinkedIn (professional information)
Twitter/X (location and activity)
Instagram (photos often geotagged)
TikTok (younger individuals)
What to Look For:
Check-ins and location tags
Employment updates
New addresses in photos
Friend/connection networks
Business pages and groups
Posts about moving or relocation
Advanced Skip Tracing Methods
Telephone Research
Reverse Phone Lookup:
Identify phone number owners
Find associated addresses
Discover related numbers
Check business listings
Phone Append Services:
Add phone numbers to known addresses
Find cell phones from old landlines
Discover new contact methods
Credit Header Information
Credit headers contain:
Current address
Previous addresses
Phone numbers
Date of birth
Social Security number (last 4)
Spouse information
Employment data
**Note:** Permissible purpose required under FCRA for credit pulls.
Utility and Service Providers
Traceable Services:
Electric and gas utilities
Water and sewer departments
Cable and internet providers
Trash collection services
Technique:
Public utilities often confirm service addresses
Deposits indicate new account opening
Account transfers suggest moves
Asset Discovery Techniques
Real Property
County Records Search:
Property ownership records
Tax assessments and bills
Recent transfers or sales
Mortgage recordings
Homestead exemptions
What This Reveals:
Property values
Equity position
Liens and encumbrances
Exemption status
Foreclosure proceedings
Personal Property
Motor Vehicles:
DMV records (state-dependent access)
Vehicle registration databases
Title records
Lien information
Make, model, year, value
Boats and Watercraft:
Coast Guard documentation
State registration
Marina records
Storage facility information
Aircraft:
FAA registration database
Public and searchable
Shows owner name and address
Current registration status
Business Assets
UCC Filings:
Uniform Commercial Code filings show:
- Equipment financing
- Inventory loans
- Accounts receivable financing
- Other secured interests
Business Records:
Secretary of State filings
Assumed name certificates (DBAs)
Business licenses
Industry-specific registrations
Corporate Ownership:
Subsidiary relationships
Parent companies
Related entities
Officer and director information
Financial Asset Discovery
Bank Accounts
Location Methods:
Debtor examination under oath
Subpoena to likely institutions
Check deposits from debtor
Wire transfer information
Automated Clearing House (ACH) activity
Post-Judgment Tools:
Information subpoenas
Third-party discovery
Garnishment writs
Freeze orders
Investment Accounts
Types:
Brokerage accounts
Retirement accounts (often exempt)
Mutual funds
Stocks and bonds
Cryptocurrency holdings
Discovery Methods:
Financial institution subpoenas
Broker-dealer records
Transfer agent information
Public SEC filings (large holdings)
Business Interests
Ownership Stakes:
Partnership interests
LLC membership
Corporate stock ownership
Joint venture participations
Value Indicators:
Financial statements
Tax returns (if obtainable)
Sales revenue
Asset holdings
Profit distributions
Professional Skip Tracing Tools
Commercial Databases
LexisNexis Accurint:
Comprehensive public record aggregation
Address history
Phone numbers
Associates and relatives
Business affiliations
Asset records
TLO (Trans Union Online):
Real-time data access
Batch processing capability
Deep web search
Multi-state coverage
Historical data
CLEAR by Thomson Reuters:
Law enforcement and legal use
Extensive public records
Predictive analytics
Custom reporting
Costs:
Subscription fees: $50-$300/month
Per-search fees: $1-$10 per lookup
Bulk pricing available
Some require credentials or licensing
Interview Techniques
Debtor Interview
When you reach the debtor:
Verify identity carefully
Ask open-ended questions
Listen for inconsistencies
Request financial disclosure
Note assets mentioned
Get updated contact information
Third-Party Contacts
Who to Contact:
Former employers
Professional colleagues
Neighbors at last known address
Business associates
Family members (carefully)
What to Ask:
Current address or location
Employment information
Contact methods
Asset knowledge
Business status
**Compliance Note:** Never disclose the debt to third parties. Say you're trying to "locate" or "reach" the person "regarding an important business matter."
Post-Judgment Discovery
Examination of Judgment Debtor
Court-ordered exam includes:
Employment information
Income sources
Bank account locations
Real and personal property
Business interests
Account numbers
Financial statements
Preparation:
Detailed question list
Asset categories to explore
Document requests
Follow-up investigation plan
Information Subpoenas
Target institutions:
Banks where debtor likely has accounts
Employers for wage information
Business partners for ownership details
Property management companies
Storage facilities
Safe deposit box locations
Technology-Enabled Skip Tracing
Social Engineering
Digital Footprint Analysis:
Email header information
IP address tracking
Website registration data (WHOIS)
Domain ownership records
Online purchase histories
Data Aggregation:
Combine information from multiple sources
Cross-reference addresses
Verify identities across platforms
Map relationship networks
Artificial Intelligence Tools
Emerging capabilities:
Predictive location modeling
Pattern recognition
Automated public record correlation
Social media sentiment analysis
Anomaly detection
Industry-Specific Techniques
Construction/Contractors
Locate through:
Bonding companies
Contractor licensing boards
Building permits
Subcontractor relationships
Material supplier accounts
Professionals (Doctors, Lawyers, etc.)
Find via:
Professional licensing
Practice locations
Hospital affiliations
Continuing education records
Professional associations
Retail/E-Commerce
Trace using:
Business licenses
Vendor accounts
Merchant services
Domain registrations
Sales tax permits
Red Flags and Warning Signs
Debtor Is Hiding When:
Forwarding addresses lead to mail drops
Phone numbers go to voicemail services
Social media suddenly goes dark
Business shows "temporarily closed" for extended period
Multiple address changes in short time
Use of variations of name
Asset Hiding Indicators:
Recent transfers to family members
New business entities formed
Property titles changed
Sudden business closures
Equipment sales or liquidation
Bank account closures
Documentation and Reporting
Information to Record:
Source of information
Date obtained
Verification method
Confidence level
Follow-up actions needed
Costs incurred
Organization Systems:
Chronological timeline
Asset inventory
Contact log
Document repository
Visual relationship maps
Ethical Considerations
Professional Standards:
Truthful representation
Respect privacy boundaries
Comply with all regulations
Avoid harassment
Protect confidential information
Use information only for stated purpose
When to Stop:
Debtor is deceased
Bankruptcy filed
Statute of limitations expired
Cost exceeds likely recovery
No assets found after thorough search
Hiring Professional Skip Tracers
When to Outsource:
Initial efforts unsuccessful
Debtor known to be sophisticated
Multi-state or complex search needed
Specialized databases required
Legal compliance concerns
Time or expertise limitations
What Professionals Offer:
Database access
Investigative experience
Legal compliance knowledge
Nationwide resources
Field investigation capability
Court testimony if needed
Cost Expectations:
Basic locate: $50-$200
Comprehensive search: $200-$500
Asset investigation: $500-$2,000+
Field investigation: $100-$200/hour
Legal Use of Information
Proper Purposes:
Serving legal papers
Collecting valid debts
Enforcing judgments
Investigating fraud
Verifying identity
Prohibited Uses:
Personal curiosity
Stalking or harassment
Identity theft
Unauthorized credit checks
Sale to unauthorized parties
Alexander Strauss & Associates
Our Skip Tracing Capabilities:
Access to all major databases (LexisNexis, TLO, CLEAR)
Experienced investigation team
Multi-state licensing
Legal compliance protocols
Asset discovery specialists
Court-admissible documentation
When We're Engaged:
We provide skip tracing when:
Debtor location unknown
Standard contact methods failed
Judgment enforcement needed
Asset hiding suspected
Legal service required
Multi-state investigation needed
Our Advantage:
25+ years experience
Legal expertise for court proceedings
Ethical investigation practices
Network of field investigators
Attorney partnerships for subpoenas
Post-judgment discovery tools
No Recovery, No Fee:
Skip tracing costs included in contingency
Only pay when we successfully collect
Free initial consultation
Practical Examples
Case 1: Business Owner Relocate
Situation: $50,000 owed, business closed, owner gone
Process:
1. Secretary of State search → new business entity found
2. New entity address → led to new location
3. Property records → purchased home in new city
4. Social media → employment at new company
5. Result: Located, served, judgment obtained
Case 2: Hidden Assets
Situation: Debtor claimed indigence, judgment uncollected
Discovery:
1. UCC search → found recent boat loan
2. State records → boat registration in another state
3. Marina records → located vessel
4. Court order → boat seized and sold
5. Result: $30,000 judgment satisfied
Tools and Resources
Free Resources:
County clerk websites
Secretary of State databases
Federal court PACER system
Social media platforms
Search engines with advanced operators
Paid Services:
LexisNexis Accurint ($)
TLO / TransUnion ($$)
CLEAR ($$$)
Spokeo ($)
Been Verified ($)
Professional Associations:
National Association of Professional Process Servers
Council of International Investigators
National Association of Legal Investigators
Conclusion
Effective skip tracing and asset discovery require:
1. **Systematic approach** - Check all available sources methodically
2. **Legal compliance** - Stay within regulatory boundaries
3. **Persistence** - Don't give up after first dead end
4. **Documentation** - Record everything for potential legal use
5. **Professional help** - Know when expertise is needed
**Key Takeaway:** Most people and assets can be found with proper tools, techniques, and persistence. The investment in skip tracing and asset discovery often makes the difference between writing off a debt and successful recovery.
**Need professional skip tracing or asset discovery?** Contact Alexander Strauss & Associates at (469) 531-0092 or visit our [contact page](/contact) to discuss your situation.